Big exotic floral centrepieces can cost huge amounts of money – and that means a large percentage of your budget. Keep it simple by picking seasonal blooms and even by roping in a few of your willing friends to make up simple table pieces made up with flowers you can buy anywhere.

For a really pretty and easy display take a square vase with low sides. Use a broad green leaf so that it wraps around the inside walls of the vase and blocks the view of the interior. Insert a dozen cut flowers such as tulips, roses, daffodils or gerberas into the centre. Voila! – a colourful design that takes minutes and lasts hours. This Rektangel vase, £1.70 at Ikea is ideal

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