Where do I find centerpiece ideas at home?

Try Oriental Trading. You can get bulk decorations for a good price. We went to a wedding that did floating candles and they also sprinkled rose petals in the water and on the tables around the bowls. It was simple, but very pretty. You could also add clear marbles to the bowls of water to make it different. We just had a party and my centerpieces were clear bowls of fruit and I added clear marbles to the bowls and sprinkled them around the bottom of the bowls to look like dew.

Is hot pink her only color? If not something that might be a little different is to add a drop of food color to the water as a contrast.

It sounds nice the way it is - maybe some butterfly confetti on the table around it too? You are starting early so you should be able to find some great ideas, sorry I don't have much more to add. Good luck! You might try oriental trading online, they have some neat decorations there.

I am not sure where you are located, but I love the DOLLAR Stores. The good old fashion Dollar Stores. I know you can get the fish bowls at some of them. I think the colors pink and brown or pink and black look so pretty and elegant together. I get alot of stuff from a store called Hobby Lobby when they have it on sale. I am a serious about only shopping sales. I am a clearence.

Something to think about. The glow bracelets may float up from the bottom and the mardi gras beads will probably float completely on the top of the water. With floating candles this won't look right. I suggest using a hot glue gun to attach them to the bottom of the bowl. Decide which side of the bracelet is "down". Place a drop of glue in two different spots on the glow bracelet first and then place it in the bottom of the bowl. On the mardi gras beads place a drop of glue on a bead, attach it to the bottom of the bowl, do this one, two or three more times on the beads several inches apart, attaching them in different spots on the bottom. This will keep the beads showing through the whole bowl from top to bottom. Add the water, then the candle.

If you want to skip the water in the bowls, use the shiny gift-packing stuff that looks like easter grass. It will reflect the glow bracelet, hide the bracelet itself, it won't sink to the bottom and if the table gets bumped the water won't ruin anyone's outfit. You can put in some of the "grass", then the bracelet and then more "grass". You can let the grass mound up and "spill" over the edges if you like. With this you won't be able to use the floating candles, though.

You can use either simple "satin" ribbon by itself or you can attach lace around the the neck of the bowl and then tie the satin ribbon over the lace. Make sure the lace only hangs DOWN the sides of the bowl not ABOVE the edge when using candles. Pink lace with white ribbon or white lace with pink ribbon.

You should be able to make 30 of any of the fishbowl ideas that you decide on for under $300. I would purchase enough supplies to assemble ONE of each of your ideas. Set them up and then have your niece take a look and help you decide which one(s). You could even make several of each of your ideas to mix things up if y'all like the way they look together. Hope some of this helps!

Good luck and have fun!

Just a suggestion. Rather than use the glow bracelets in the bowls, place them around the center piece or in a way taht people will be able to actually wear them. I know this is a formal event, but I went to a wedding once and the glow necklace was on the place setting. By the time the dance started, everyone had the necklaces on their neck, on their head and around their wrists. It was tons of fun and it looked great on the dance floor. As far as the center piece, I also went to one that had the floating candles. Although it sounds beautiful and one may work the way you want it, all 30 center pieces will not work at the same time and it gets to looking tacky.
I am sorry for not having any alternatives, but I am not the creative one, my mom is. I can tell you what I had at mine (which was the best time ever and I am now 30 and I still talk about it when I can;) We had mirrors about 12"x12" under the center piece. It made it look really nice and classy. Maybe you can buy 30 small bunches of different flowers and place them on top of the mirrors and add butterflies to the arrangements? I would not go with the same flower cause it gets boring, get different ones, but stay in budget cause folks just take them home anyhow.
Whatever you do, don't do balloons cause those things just pop and float to the top and the little kids just want them and start running around with them in their hands:)

Good luck and have fun planning!!!

I would check some resale shops for some idea.

If you would like to use any floral at all I recommend Just'in
Roses, We have great prices. Visit our web site www.justinroses.com