For Meg's wedding, we decided to use a pumpkin for a centerpiece decoration on each table. We really lucked out when Aldi grocery store had very large pumpkins for sale for 2.29 each! We bought 25 which required three trips to the store. We put the boys to work washing them off with the hose and a scrub brush.
By Googling "Pumpkin Centerpiece" we were able to see many ways that a pumpkin could be used as a decoration beyond the typical Jack-o'-Lantern.This idea seemed promising and Kristy took it upon herself to obtain the supplies and try it at her home.She brought her finished project over to us to evaluate. We loved it and picked up the needed supplies from the Dollar Store.
Tuesday before the wedding was set aside for creating all the centerpieces.We needed time to get them finished but had to balance avoiding last minute pressure while not cutting into our pumpkins too soon to cause them to spoil.These were definitely big pumpkins!
We removed the stems using a screwdriver and tried to just barely shape the tops to receive a candle without cutting into the guts. We were hoping that the glue gun used to hold the candle in place would "seal" the pumpkin and retard spoilage. This turned out to be the case!
Within 2 hours we had all the candles glued in. These off- white pillar candles smelled like vanilla! I had test burned one candle already and after 4 hours of burning it had lost only an inch of wax. I knew it could last through a 4 hour reception.
Next we glued on silk leaves in fall colors, beautiful fake "berries", small twigs and acorns from the yard.We covered up the large amount of glue used to hold the candle itself in place.This was so much fun to do. Each pumpkin was totally unique.
Next, we rubbed olive oil into each pumpkin. Kristy had told us that that was the secret. Sure enough, the olive oil gave each pumpkin a rich, deep color and finish that made them even more beautiful.
While preparing for this project, I realized that we would need a way to store and transport these big boys to the reception hall when the time came. So, I picked up boxes at costco to fit 25 pumpkins (one or two in each).As each pumpkin was completed , we put it into the box.
We carried them to our Pumpkin Storage Room to await Friday's decorating of the hall. At the reception, these centerpieces exceeded expectations because they were so timely and natural looking and the candlelight was so pretty and fragrant. I'm hoping that the next person who googles "pumpkin centerpiece" gets a chance to see these! This entire project came in under budget because of the great deal we got on the pumpkins themselves and was terrific fun to make.At the end of the evening, we invited our guests to take a pumpkin home to enjoy for as long as it lasts!
