Centerpieces

I would like for the decorations to be very simple and elegant. We are getting tablecloths from the civic center and I think they will be an off white/cream color. My hope was to get some sort of sheer, purple, square cloth to lay in the middle of the table. I was thinking that it would stretch from one side to the next. Can you visualize what I am talking about yet? Anyway, then I wanted something very simple for the centerpiece. Matt and I walked around Hobby Lobby a few days ago and I snapped some pictures of things that I liked but they were way too expensive. In my mind, I want just one or two things in the center of the tables as decoration. Most people say to go with flowers, but they are so expensive. We could always do a candle but it would have to be a big candle and then those get super expensive too. I like the thought of some big glass container and then float purple and orange things in it. (ha ha ha) Matt and I both like getting some sort of vase and putting purple rocks in the bottom and then buying bright orange gold fish to decorate...but I don't know about that either.

Also, I am still not sure how to work the food. If we have a buffet line, people have to stand in it. If we serve it family style, I need people to serve it and we have unattractive metal pans on the tables.

So, I am sending out my brainstorming, help me, I need ideas signal in hopes that y'all have some fancy ideas that could help!

Here is one picture of the vase thingy that I like.