Fruit and Floral Centerpiece Runner
Learn how to make a beautiful fruit and floral centerpiece runner for your next party tablescape!
Fruit & Floral Centerpiece Runner
If you’re looking for a gorgeous centerpiece idea, look no further! I love creating a “runner” down the table using flowers and fruit. They’re simple yet elegant, and I love the fresh, natural element they add to the table. Garland runners are often used to decorate wedding reception tablescapes, but I wanted to create a colorful version that’s achievable for at-home entertaining. Whether it’s a birthday party, bachelorette party, dinner party, or other festive celebration, this fruit and floral centerpiece runner is super simple to recreate.
It adds the perfect pop of color while also being a low-profile centerpiece so you can easily talk and see friends at the table. I do love dramatic, tall centerpieces, but they’re often not conducive to visiting with those seated at the table. Problem solved with this pretty runner!
I highly suggest visiting your local grocery stores to pick up inexpensive flowers first. I love to pop into Kroger, Public, Trader Joes and Whole Foods. Nashville does have a fabulous wholesale florist (Import Flowers), but I can pick up a few affordable options before I head over to a florist for a few finishing blooms. Be sure you have enough for the length of your table. You’ll naturally need less if you plan to seat people at either end of the table like I did here.
Add in greenery like eucalyptus to let the runner branch out into the tablescape. We even added a few cut greenery stems from my own yard. Use what you have! You can also use berries like I did in mine.
DIY Fruit & Floral Centerpiece
- You’re going to think I’m nuts, but let me let you in on a little secret. Shot glasses. Clear, glass shot glasses make the perfect miniature vases for this floral “garland”. You naturally want to keep your blooms in water or they’ll wilt before your party. Use a mix of some blooms in shot glasses of water along with some blooms placed in floral tubes. You can find floral tubes at most craft stores (like Michaels). Both of these will allow you to set up this floral centerpiece before your party.
- Tuck the floral tubes filled with blooms inwards towards the table. Add in the miniature vases of flowers and tuck everything together to create the appearance of a low “runner”. Just play around with the design and keep tweaking it until you love how it looks. There is no right or wrong!
- Right before your party, add the fresh fruit slices to hide the mini “vases” or floral tubes so they won’t show. To prep ahead, simply slice the fruit and store in a container with a damp paper towel to prevent the slices from drying out. Keep chilled in the refrigerator. Once you have them sliced, it’s very simple to tuck them throughout the runner.
- The fresh fruit makes the table smell AMAZING! I suggest all the citrus fruits like grapefruits, lemons, limes, and oranges! I have a tip below for making the fruit prep easier!
You can easily tailor this idea to your own color scheme. This is the perfect centerpiece idea for bridal showers, dinner parties, elegant birthday parties, and more. Wouldn’t all white blooms be beautiful for a bridal luncheon? And pink for a baby shower for a girl? Adore! You could even host a tropical-themed party and use all tropical fruits – pineapples galore! There are so many possibilities for this DIY centerpiece runner which is why I love it.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors. While monochromatic is beautiful, I was tapping into my love for color with bright blue and white plates along with the vibrant runner. It just screams let’s celebrate!
I also have a video so you can see me sharing this centerpiece runner in action! Sometimes it helps to see something in action. If you love the video, please let me know in the comments below as I’m trying to gauge interest in creating more videos.
Love this tablescape? I’ve linked a few of the items you can see on my table as well as similar items! If you’re curious about something you don’t see linked below, leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to answer any questions! You can also check out more of my party tablescapes here!
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Love the video. And great job! Video can be so scary to put out there.
Thank you, Katie!
I absolutely love this table!!! The arrangement is beautiful! Would love to see “in progress” shots to really see how you use the shot glasses!
Hi Katie! Thanks so much! Did you take a look at the video? It might help to see it explained a bit more. Basically, the fruit helps hide any mini glasses or floral tubes. I’ll try to get some in-action shots though! xo!
Yes! Loved the video! I would just love to see how you have the flowers placed prior to filling it with the greenery and fruit if that makes sense. Love everything you do!
Thanks Katie! I’m not sure I have one from this shoot (darn it!) but if I can recreate one, I totally will ASAP! :)
Love the videos!!! ????
Thank you, Jennifer!
This is a stunning table setting! I just love the centerpiece and the fruit added in. Super festive! Great stuff Courtney!
Great job and the table is lovely! Very inspirational.. I think I could even smell the citrus. ha ha
thanks, Liz!
I would also love to see you assemble and create this beautiful runner in another video. . You did a great job of telling us the “how to’s” I guess I need more of a visual. Lol
Everything you do is amazing and so individual and current.
Would love a video for a thanksgiving runner.
Martha
Thanks Martha! I don’t shoot videos too often (it’s a bit of “production”, no pun intended), but I will try to show more in-depth next time! Thank you for this feedback!
Where are the blue answers white plates from that are shown? Loveeeee them!
I really enjoyed your video and love your tablescape. Your instructions were great, but I would also like to see more of the process. Thank you for sharing!! Holly
This would be my ideal tablescape for a Spanish themed wedding
Hi
I love this centre table arrangement
Pls link me to a step by step video on how to make this?
I feel like a moron but where is the video? I can’t find it… GORGEOUS centerpiece!
This table is adorable! Where did you find your blue and white plates?
Hi Jane! They’re from HomeGoods.
Courtney ~ Hopefully you still enjoy receiving ooohs and ahs over your work! You’ve got such creative talent and a great eye for details. Thanks very much for the post and the video. Any chance I can convince you to consider a step by step with photos and directions for those of us who are eager but less gifted?! Specifically, I’m curious about your base for the arrangement. Did you start w oasis? It’s sounds like maybe not, as you mention water sources,like picks and shot glasses. Still, you achieved such height, so I’m most curious….Thanks, again and happy day!
My question, too-
What is the base? What does this sit on for height and table protection? It is Beautiful!
Thank you!
Where can I find the video please ? Love this Tablescape! 2022
I have been looking everywhere for blue and white quality plastic salad/dessert plates. Where did you get these from?
Hi Greta, these are not plastic, I’m sorry.