I just bought vases for my centerpieces and now I'm having second thoughts. The vases are 17" high and a chocolate brown color - I plan to fill them with birch branches. We are having long banquet tables and I plan to alternate the tall vases with shorter flower arrangements and candles. My issue is that I'm worried the vases will make it too hard for the guests to see each other. Are most tall centerpieces in glass vases? Does anyone have suggestions on how to incorporate these tall vases into my tablescapes? I really love the way they look!
I think the tall centerpieces are nice if they are also thin -- I was just at a wedding where the tall centerpieces were very tall, clear glass cylinders. The cylinders had a few branches of orchids at table height, and then the rest of the flowers were up top (like at least 3 feet high, I think). The cylinders were so wide, though (I'd guess at least 10" diameter, maybe 12") that even though they were clear, it was still weird to look at the person across from me through it, so we still ended up leaning to one side to talk around them.
I was at another wedding, though, where the tall centerpiece was a kind of wire tree thingy, and the "trunk" was made of something brown, but was thin, so even though it was a dark color, it definitely wasn't in the way.
I really like the sound of your vases with the birch branches, and I bet it will turn out fine, especially on long banquet tables alternated with shorter pieces. It sounds gorgeous!
I think your centerpieces sound great. And, yes, while tall centerpieces in general make it difficult to talk to people across the table, how often does this actually happen? Think about it -- people are rarely sitting (mainly just for dinner, and sometimes dinner is spread out over a couple of hours and people are up and about in between courses) AND it's usually rather noisy in the room -- so much so that it'd be almost impossible to talk to someone across the table anyway.
I think you should just go with what you have, and stick with the design you'd originally planned. It will be beautiful and people will always find a way to chat with each other. :)
I did tall wood centerpieces alternating with shorter ones and tray. We also did a long banquet table. Our vases are 16" H, 10" H, and 12 x 12 x 3 tray.
Originally I had the same concern that guests won't be able to see across, but my florist assured me that I can go up to 16" and still able to see across. We did not have any problem talking to people across from us.
Feel free to PM me if you want to see some pictures.
I agree with hwong14 -- tall centerpieces are OK as long as they are thin. We attended a wedding two years ago that is still being referenced as "the one with the centerpiece war." Our table had a tall, wide (but gorgeous!) centerpiece. The table beside us had a short one. After a few attempts to talk to the people across the round table from us, the centerpiece became increasingly annoying and so two of the guys at our table ambushed our neighbors and switched centerpieces. Table #2 found the tall centerpiece just as annoying and stealthily switched it back when we weren't looking. This went on all night, even after we were all on the dance floor. I don't think the bride was pleased...
I'm sure if you keep yours thin, you will be fine! Especially since you are having long tables -- with round tables, there are several people who can be obstructed by a tall, wide centerpiece. With banquet tables, you're only sitting directly across from one person, and the centerpiece shouldn't block that person unless it is too wide. Good luck!
I just bought vases for my centerpieces and now I'm having second thoughts. The vases are 17" high and a chocolate brown color - I plan to fill them with birch branches. We are having long banquet tables and I plan to alternate the tall vases with shorter flower arrangements and candles. My issue is that I'm worried the vases will make it too hard for the guests to see each other. Are most tall centerpieces in glass vases? Does anyone have suggestions on how to incorporate these tall vases into my tablescapes? I really love the way they look!
Thanks!
posted by augustbride 7 posts 4 months agoI think the tall centerpieces are nice if they are also thin -- I was just at a wedding where the tall centerpieces were very tall, clear glass cylinders. The cylinders had a few branches of orchids at table height, and then the rest of the flowers were up top (like at least 3 feet high, I think). The cylinders were so wide, though (I'd guess at least 10" diameter, maybe 12") that even though they were clear, it was still weird to look at the person across from me through it, so we still ended up leaning to one side to talk around them.
I was at another wedding, though, where the tall centerpiece was a kind of wire tree thingy, and the "trunk" was made of something brown, but was thin, so even though it was a dark color, it definitely wasn't in the way.
I really like the sound of your vases with the birch branches, and I bet it will turn out fine, especially on long banquet tables alternated with shorter pieces. It sounds gorgeous!
posted by hwong14 87 posts 4 months agoI think your centerpieces sound great. And, yes, while tall centerpieces in general make it difficult to talk to people across the table, how often does this actually happen? Think about it -- people are rarely sitting (mainly just for dinner, and sometimes dinner is spread out over a couple of hours and people are up and about in between courses) AND it's usually rather noisy in the room -- so much so that it'd be almost impossible to talk to someone across the table anyway.
I think you should just go with what you have, and stick with the design you'd originally planned. It will be beautiful and people will always find a way to chat with each other. :)
posted by LNickle 76 posts 4 months agoI did tall wood centerpieces alternating with shorter ones and tray. We also did a long banquet table. Our vases are 16" H, 10" H, and 12 x 12 x 3 tray.
Originally I had the same concern that guests won't be able to see across, but my florist assured me that I can go up to 16" and still able to see across. We did not have any problem talking to people across from us.
Feel free to PM me if you want to see some pictures.
posted by indy 89 posts 4 months agoI agree with hwong14 -- tall centerpieces are OK as long as they are thin. We attended a wedding two years ago that is still being referenced as "the one with the centerpiece war." Our table had a tall, wide (but gorgeous!) centerpiece. The table beside us had a short one. After a few attempts to talk to the people across the round table from us, the centerpiece became increasingly annoying and so two of the guys at our table ambushed our neighbors and switched centerpieces. Table #2 found the tall centerpiece just as annoying and stealthily switched it back when we weren't looking. This went on all night, even after we were all on the dance floor. I don't think the bride was pleased...
I'm sure if you keep yours thin, you will be fine! Especially since you are having long tables -- with round tables, there are several people who can be obstructed by a tall, wide centerpiece. With banquet tables, you're only sitting directly across from one person, and the centerpiece shouldn't block that person unless it is too wide. Good luck!
posted by karaboo30 12 posts 4 months agoThank you for all the advice ladies!
posted by augustbride 7 posts 4 months ago