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I plan on having submerged cherry blossom centerpieces but wanted something interesting and different. So when I came across this centerpiece I was in awe. I love the way it looks! Plus, at the end of the night, if people want them, I have ready made pets for them to take home. I know quite a few college students who wouldn't mind having something to put in their dorm. And even if not everybody takes them home, I love beta's and goldfish and wouldn't mind having a few around the house! I have even had some in my turtle tank before and loved it! (For some reason my guys don't like goldfish and so they wont eat them) I think they are pretty. What do you think?
My centerpiece inspiration
Fish inspiration
I heard horror stories of the fish dying due to stress and having dead fish floating in your centerpiece during the wedding is so unappetizing and SAD. Plus what if not everyone wants one? How many are you prepared to house?
How many centerpieces and how many fish?
How long before the wedding would they be living in these centerpieces?
This idea makes me a little uncomfortable because I wonder:
a) What will happen to the fist afterwards?
b) What happens if one (or a few) go belly up during the wedding?
Are you prepared to keep and care for every single fish if no one wants them?
Also, depending on your guests, I'd worry about someone getting drunk and swallowing one live (like a shot).
awww...I'm sorry I'm not all about the using live fish in a centerpiece. :(
I like your inspiration centerpieces....sans fish.
I think it looks cool but don't think it is a good idea for the reasons PP listed.
I really like them-- they are very pretty and definitely unique. I wish I thought of it. It's a really cute idea in my opinion. Does it fit with the feel of your venue?
Also, you'll want to think about providing some food to start the new owners off with.
The only other thing I would mention is to make sure the flowers you are submerging are not toxic to the fish. I don't even know if that's possible or anything about what is bad for these fish, but that came to mind. :)
P.S.: You can get cherry blossoms in Texas in July?
ETA: You can always put someone on "fish patrol" (meaning get rid of dead ones, making sure no one harms them and making sure your guests know they are available to be taken home.)
I would take one home. :)
Like @Meowkers: said, the fish can die. They did at my cousin's wedding, and it was a big downer. I think that the submerged cherry blossoms are gorgeous all on their own, and you really don't need the fish to make them unique and cool.
Those are cute, but I wouldn't recommend it. Water needs to be properly treated before a fish can live in it safely. The PH level or temperature of the water could kill your little fishies.
I think it could work, but you can't have the fish living in those vases for days on end. Maybe try to arrange with a pet store to pick them up the day before the wedding or something. I wouldn't worry too much about the fish dying if they're only in there for a day; they are surprisingly hardy, so unless they are already in very bad condition, they will probably be fine.
I love the idea!
Please don't do live fish. Even though Siamese fighting fish are very hardy and can survive upto 5 hours without being in water, are you going to be able to house them all if no one takes them. They are a smart and amazing fish, my last one lived for 4 years and would know when I came home.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese_fighting_fish
I actually LOVE the idea! but that might be just me. I don't see beta's just dying in the middle of the reception lol
I had thought about the same idea, as far as using fish. But the feedback I received really made me think twice about it. I didn't want any fish dead before my reception started, didn't want to have them all at the end of the night. And even if people would want to take one home, are they taking your whole centerpiece home? And what if your guest is leaving early and wants one. There are alot of things to consider when you think about it.
I think they are really pretty as long as you are prepared to take home any that other people don't want. Maybe have someone prepared to run out and get some more/dispose of any that might not make it though the night?
Funny story based on what KatNYC2011 said about someone taking one as a shot... we had live fish centerpieces during my junior prom and someone took one and put it in one of the chocolate fountains. Totally not funny at the time. My mom helped to clean up and said that when they unplugged the machine it made horrible noises and it plopped out the top :(
@JenniMichele: No. They will unfortunately have to be fake.
@Ms Hedgehog: Oh! That makes sense. Well if you do decide to go the live fish route, you'll want to make sure the dye on the blossoms won't bleed into the water.
ETA: I don't know how many centerpieces you're going to have, but you could talk to people (bridal party, close family) ahead of time to see if they would be interested in taking one home. If you get some good responses from reliable people, then that potentially solves one issue.
I had the same thoughts when I read your title. My luck would be that all the fish would die during the reception. It's such a neat idea though. :(
LOVE the first centerpieces, but as far as the live fish, I wouldn't do I for the reasons already listed above. But if you DO, I would go for bettas instead of goldfish, since the tend to be more hardy and cleaner, (at least in my experience as a fish owner). Also, make sure that you are not just dropping them directly into the centerpiece without some acclimation to the water.
How do you expect people to get the fish home? Would they be allowed to take the whole centerpiece, or would you provide little containers? Also, I would print off little care cards for people to take home...those centerpieces would be fine for a fish to live in for a few days, but probably are not large enough for a lifetime. Bettas are carnivores, as well, and need betta food and not just any old flake food, so your guests will also need to be informed of that. Most people realize that they got the name "Fighting Fish" for a reason and that males cannot be kept with others of their species, (they will even kill females of their own species if they are not receptive for breeding), but some may not know this. They also may not get along with fish of other species.
ETA: Maybe you could do normal centerpieces on the guest tables, and then have one or two vases on the head table each with a fish in it? That way there's less odds of floating fishies, and less chance you'll be stuck with 20 fish at the end of the night?
Please do not do the fish, as pp's have said are you prepared to take care of ones that don't have homes? I just think all around it is a bad idea
Not a fan. I mean do you see how unhappy that goldfish is in the last picture?
haha Okay, I'm just kidding.. but still, I'm not a fan. It's a little gimmicky for me personally, and yeah, who takes a fish home after a wedding? It's not a fair where you throw a ping pong ball in a bowl. I definitely understand the appeal of doing something different, but I think you can do something even more awesome without an animal involved.
If you must have an animal, go with a snow leopard in a cage. Way more impressive.
(kidding again)
My SIL had fish centrepieces and it was no problem. None of them turned out dead. Shouldn't be a problem if you know how to take care of fish.
She had I think one left over out of around 20. People really liked it at her wedding and definitely if you have kids at your wedding getting rid of them will not be a problem.
I don't think people would eat them...that's just weird to me
I would suggest Beta fish over goldfish though. They are super resilient fish. You can use normal tap water, no changes to ph, no filtration. Just need a small tank/bowl/vase and some cheap food.
@cyndistar3: I'm sorry but I don't think you know fish... Fish DO die for what *appears* to be absolutely no rhyme or reason. Fish *often* die due to stress, new tanks, cold water, warm water, different water, hard water. Vibrations, and sound are stressful, people tapping on glasses is stressful, idiots dumping food or water in the tank is stressful- and these can all lead to dead fishes. And that's not pretty.
Know that bettas cannot live together- they fight and rip eachother to shreds. Unless of course they are females which CAN live together but females are NOT the big long finned pretty ones... so me thinks you're going to get males- well you need a seperate tank for each male.
I don't do goldfish, but I think goldfish need circulation, the reason bettas don't is because they breathe air.
After all that said, I advise against live fish- it's just too risky and stressful on the fish.
The submerged look it very pretty without the fishies... I just suggest that :)
Please don't use live fish. I've been to two weddings where live fish were used and at both weddings they were taken out of the centerpieces and eaten by druken guests or taken out and thrown around, put in drinks, etc. So mean and so sad!!
If you're gonna do this use bettas. Goldfish need a constant flow of water or they don't get enough oxygen, where the concept of a goldfishbowl ever came from I donno but it's terrible for the goldfish. Secondly they are very dirty fish and can produce a lot of filth in a short period of time, making your centerpieces gross.
Bettas are one of they only types of fish that get oxygen from the surface so they can survive in still water. If you do this, please have have volunteers ready to adopt them with a tank, even bettas need lots of swimming space and filters for a healthy life.
Yes please do research on this since I've heard this is a terrible idea. First fish can die when placed into new water/bowls too quickly. You'll have to make sure the water is the correct ph/temp/whatever for them to survive all night. Plus that means you'll have to buy/arrange/keep them for days/weeks? before hand in the water they'll be in for your wedding - where will you keep them all? How will you transport them all? Plus in the very likely occasion that one or more dies then how plesant is that to look at while eating? Also it's a neat idea about taking them home - but doubt anyone would. even if they did it might die 5 minutes after leaving in the cab.
@PuntaCanaBride: Beta fish CAN live like you described but it is not a GOOD way for them to live.
Beta fish are hearty fish, but that doesn't mean you should treat the water, give them a filter and a take, and good food. Just because they can survive in harsh environments doesn't mean you should make them. It does shorten their life.
I have homes for them. I know how to care for them and how to prepare the water and such. I have had beta before. My sisters, MOH, and both my parents have already claimed one or two if I do them. I will only have 10 at most... possibly just every other table which would drop it to 5. I like the idea of care sheets and food. And as for when they take them home, I would give them the container they came in. And they could keep the vase which the betas can live in for life. (They are only $1 a peice anyway) So, as far as all that goes, I have it covered. And I would get them the day before and not a week. Although, I might get one early so that we can test it out just in case.
I think the idea is aweesome. I would keep a few extras on hand in case one dies, though.
My main concern would also be how they would tolerate the flowers in there. Would the flowers be poisonous to them? Would the sap mix with the water? What if no one wanted them?
Beside the concerns about logistics and the fish possibly dying, I just don't care for this look. All I can think is "Why?"
@KristenGotMarried: "If you must have an animal, go with a snow leopard in a cage." amazing lol
@Ms Hedgehog: Betas can live in still water, but they do much better in a tank with oxygenated water and more swimming room.
I hate those small "beta cubes" that pet stores sell. Just because an animal CAN live in a confined space, doesn't mean it should.
Betas cannot live in a vase for life, or they will have a very short life.
My initial reaction was "wow that's pretty cool and definitely unique."
However, after reading other posts, I don't think you need the fish. I don't know much about fish but based on what others say, you don't want dead fish floating around. Plus, all of the other issues people mentioned (drunk people eating them was interesting lol) I think the centerpieces look just wonderful without them.
I Love the idea. And I think that you should be fine with it, my mom's a big fish person and she said that as long as you're willing to deal with them before and possibly after. I am actually considering this.
I would just do the submerged flowers sans fish. People can do some stupid things at weddings (my aunt set her table's bread basket on fire at mine) and I would worry about the fish getting knocked about.
I also agree with PPs about the potential stress. Bettas are actually fairly intelligent; like sceeder's fish, mine used to swim over to see me when I came home, and I can't see them faring all that well with loads of people milling around them, tapping on the glass, etc.
I really really don't like this idea...I think the centerpieces would look great on their own, you definitely don't need to add fish to them. I personally would find it strange to have live animals as "decoration".
I was at a wedding where they used fish in the centerpieces. I don't think they were goldfish, but they were tiny tank variety. I am not a big animal activist person, but it just wasn't attractive or nice in the end. People were putting the fish in beer just for laughs, and that's just crass. Also, the water ended up getting kinda dingy by the end, which really took away from the effect. I like the submerged flowers on their own.
My caterer told me she had recently done a wedding where the bride planned to use fish in her centerpieces, but all the fish died, so at the last minute she ran around to find fake fish. Personally, I don't think it's worth the hassle of preparing properly or the risk of them dying or being somehow abused/neglected.
@linguo42: My betta did that too. He'd come to the tank when I got home, and he'd follow my finger.
He's also flare his gills at my FI and I but not at anyone else.
He died about 6 months ago and we haven't been able to get another. We have a 29 gallon tank with a bunch of other fish, but our beta was our first fish (and fist pet) together and he was really special.
If I went to a wedding with live fish, I would probably think a little less of the couple for using live animals in their centerpieces and as decorative elements.
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