Flower and Centerpiece Choices

Flowers are beautiful and candles really glow, but some of these centerpieces that I've seen that I like........my money is really low!

I already have like 400+ votive candle holders (which will be for sale after the wedding....interested?) I am going to try to use soy candles in them because they don't leave that nasty black sooty-looking stuff on the sides of the class.

I would like for the guest tables to have centerpieces that are a tall cylinder vase with 1/2-1 orchid stem submerged in water with a floating candle on top. This vase would be surrounded by 8 votive candles. Similar to this:
For my head table, I would like curly willow branches with hanging votive candles off them, similar to this:
The food tables will have four flower arrangements similar to this:
We plan on surrounding the wedding cake with votive candles. The groom's cake is going to also be surrounded by candles, but in square votives.

Now, I SAY I like all of these things, but when I began to look up the prices of the cylinder vases, for the numbers that we'll need, I SCREAMED and LAUGHED at the computer. On top of that, the price of orchids.........let's just say that the orchids will be used ONLY on the guest table and we'll have to find another flower to submerge in the water with the floating candle.

Luckily, my godmother has willow trees in her yard, so they may work. Additionally, I am working with someone who is using some for her wedding the week before and we are working on shipping costs and price now. If it's to my liking, I will just use hers. If not, Godmommy, here I come!! Pull out the mini-saw! :)

To be continued..........sigh.....