The retro look has been big in fashion and vintage style wedding dresses are becoming more and more popular, now the same retro and vintage look is looking great as your wedding decorations, and the great thing is it wont cost you a fortune.
Vintage and retro are cheaply available at your local thrift stores, look out for glass vases and unusual glass bowls that you will be able to display as centerpieces, fill them with local and in season flowers mixed with ivy. The ivy represents wedded bliss! Your glassware will not all match and this is fine you dont want it to, instead look out for glasses that complement each other, or stick with a color theme. You can group different glasses together at the same table if you cant find individual ones big enough.
Another great idea is to look out for cake stands, you want the old fashioned afternoon tea ones, and again they wont all match. Use the cake stands to display an individual wedding cake or the wedding cupcakes for each table. You could then visit it each table to cut the cake or ask a couple from each table to join you cutting the cake at the same time. The savings on this type of centerpiece are double as you have your wedding cake and the centerpiece costs in one.
You will also find thrift stores a great source for vintage fabric, think curtains, table cloths, net curtains, and shawls. Stick with a color theme and find fabrics that work for a table runner or as drapes for the top table, dont go mad with patterns as this can get a bit busy and overwhelm the room. Lace is the most versatile for this as lace matches lace.
Lanterns and candelabras can be found at thrift stores, somebody may have even donated all of their old wedding decorations, so it is definitely worth having a hunt around for bits for your cheap wedding centerpiece. Build up relationships with the thrift store manager and staff, it is likely they will put pieces to one side if they know you are looking for your wedding.