If you’ve ever planned a banquet, you know that centerpieces are essential. They somehow pull the room together, turning a collection of tables into a picture perfect space.

The good news is, as the season for bowling banquets, sports teams, and schools is upon us, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on flowers to get that perfectly pulled-together look for your awards banquet. With some bulk candy and a little creativity, you can make candy centerpieces that will be the talk of the dinner.

Perfectly Simple Centerpiece

A centerpiece doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful. This simplest and most versatile of centerpieces is also completely customizable to match your school colors, team colors, or organizational branding.

What You’ll Need:

Unused fishbowl or similar rounded bowl

Candy scoop

Candy

Plate

Flowers or other decorations (optional)

How to make it:

1. Set a large plate in the middle of the table.

2. Fill the fishbowl 1/3 to half full of candy and add the scoop.

3. Set the fishbowl on top of the plate.

4. If desired, add a couple of flowers or other small decorations near the base of the bowl.

You can fill the bowl with almost any small unwrapped candy. M&M’s are a great option because they come in so many colors. Sixlets or Gumballs work well too, and add some shimmer to the table. Or for a practical option, choose buttermints perfect for enjoying after dinner.

Going for the Gold Centerpiece

The best awards are gold. Decorate your table with easy to make gold centerpieces that remind attendees exactly why they’re here.

What you’ll need

3 tall clear containers of varying heights

Rolo candy

Placemat or paper doilies

Wide cloth ribbon (optional)

How to make it

1. Set the paper doily in the center of the table

2. If desired, add ribbon to the base of each container or around the top. Tie it in place or use a dot of glue.

3. Fill each container all the way to the top with Rolo’s candy

4. Arrange the containers in the center of the table.

Since Rolo are individually wrapped, there’s no need to include scoops or other utensils. Attendees can use their hands to pick out candy.

Terra Cotta Sport Centerpieces

These centerpieces are fully customizable and make great door prizes for any award banquet.

What you’ll need:

Bamboo skewers

Terra cotta pots

Construction paper

Fun size candy bars

Full Size candy bars

Clear tape

Floral foam

Shredded paper

Paint

How to make them:

1. Paint your pots to match your theme. You can pain the body of the pot in one color and the rim in another to match your team colors. Or get more creative. Let dry completely.

2. Use the tape to attach a bamboo skewer to each candy bar.

3. Cut out shapes from the construction paper. These might be pennants, balls, bowling pins, or anything else that represents your team.

4. Attach a bamboo skewer to each cutout.

5. After the pots have dried, press floral foam into the bottom of each pot.

6.. Arrange the skewers in the floral foam. You’ll probably want about six bars of different sizes and two to three construction paper cutouts.

7. Top with shredded paper to hide the floral foam.

8. Set in the center of your table.

Almost any candy bar works for this centerpiece craft. We recommend mixing Twix and 3 Musketeers Bars for a silver and gold look. But Snicker’s and Hershey Bars are also perennial favorites.

The opportunities for creativity are almost endless. If you want more candy options visit our bulk candy store. Or read this post about designing the perfect candy banquet as a dessert alternative for your banquet.