No balloons. They dont belong at weddings. How about flowers? They look lovely in vases. Or you could do floating candles if the vases are large.

why dont you go to your local beach and find lots of pebbles , paint them the colours you are using for your wedding and you can even get some twigs and spray these too whatever colour you want. you could even use a larger matching coloured pebbles as place markers with peoples names on them

Smarties M&Ms (sweets) for the kids !!

What about filling the jar/vase with a tinted candle gel, and having it burning? Not a traditional candle, but transparent enough to make it interesting.

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flower petals,pebbles,marbels