Post # 1
Member
121 posts
Blushing bee
Okay, we are having a large wedding. 300 guests, so about 30 tables, plus our head table. The head table down the center of the room is having huge, showy vases of flowers, and I was quoted for 15 smaller vases of the same centerpieces for on guest tables. So IF we do get RSVPs for 300 people, that would mean 15 tables with no centerpieces. Keep in mind, tables are going to be removed after dinner to make more room for dancing and mingling.
The flower quote is already at over $2,000. I guess I’ve never noticed at other weddings, but are all tables to have a centerpiece?
Post # 3
Member
4771 posts
Honey bee
To save money you could always do a small candle grouping on the other tables, but having nothing I think would be a little tacky.
Post # 4
Member
5166 posts
Bee Keeper
You dont have to put the exact same centerpiece on each table. you can alternate with cheaper centerpieces for some tables, but I wouldnt leave some tables totally bare without any centerpiece at all, because they will look naked in contrast to the others. IMO it would look unfinished.
Post # 5
Member
626 posts
Busy bee
You could do some small do it yourself centerpieces for the other tables. I’m not sure of the colors you’re doing, but you can order the cylinder vases on dollartree.com, throw a stem of fake flowers (I’ll be doing fuchsia orchids if I go that route) into it submerged in water with a floating candle on top. The orchid stems are $6 and you could get 2 centerpieces per stem so with the vase which is $1, and the $3 half stem and maybe put a ribbon around the vase or some other cheap accessory it’s $5 per table. Maybe put some votive holders around it if it’s too simple for you. There’s no need to have huge floral centerpieces on each table but you should have something.
Post # 6
Member
8247 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
You don’t have to have flowers on each table, but I think each table should have some kind of centerpiece. Candles like a PP suggested are a good idea.
For my reception, we had some large floral arrangemnts, some medium floral arrangements, and some small floral arrangements. Still gave the wow factor of the large centerpieces without having a huge floral bill yet all the tables still had a centerpiece so nothing looked bare and empty.
Post # 7
Member
30390 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Your guests are likely to think they are amongst the less desireable if they are seated at a table with no centerpiece. It will be very obvious.
If it’s a budget issue, I would rethink my centerpieces so they weren’t so elaborate, freeing up some finding for the other tables.
Given that you are going to take down some tables for dancing, you do want to make sure those centerpieces have a place to go. I would do either candles, or do some type of centerpiece that would look when two of them were put together on the remaining tables.
Post # 8
Member
2148 posts
Buzzing bee
I think it would look off to have big, elaborate centerpieces at some tables and nothing at others. Also, as a guest, I would feel like an afterthought if I was seated at one of the bare tables. I think you should do something. Either scale back on some of the larger centerpieces so that you can do more, or DIY some centerpieces for the other 15 tables. As a guest, I wouldn’t necessarily remember if the centerpieces were simple, but I WOULD remember if some tables had them and some didn’t.
Post # 9
Member
3467 posts
Sugar bee
I would do diffferent centerpieces throughout. None too over the top, so that the tables that will be moved can have a simplier centerpiece and they won’t “stick our” against the more elaborate tables.
We’re actually going a different route, given we’re doing paper flowers. All of our tables will have the flowers on them, but they won’t be in “arrangements” just placed down the table runners.
I would look around at some different arrangements that you could put together. Ask your florist and let them know about the tables being moved, etc. They should be able to help ya out =)
Post # 10
Member
49 posts
Newbee
- Wedding: June 2015 - Garden of the Gods
You don’t absolutely have to have a centerpiece at every table. As a matter of fact, I think it’s refreshing to not have one and alternate between centerpieces and smaller arrangements (whether it be flowers, candles, etc.). As long as you have equal amounts of tables with each (or if you do 2/3 with, 1/3 without centerpieces), it will loook just fine and save you money.
Post # 11
Member
8 posts
Newbee
I think it will look nicer if all the tables have centerpieces. However, like others pointed out, the centerpieces need not be big vases full of flowers. You can simply have a few roses like carnation or roses in a slim vase on some tables and some scented or decorated candles in others.
In using this idea, however, you must remember to have candles and flowers of the same color. If it’s possible find vases and candle bowls that match in design. It will also be a good idea to have a sort of plan on how to distribute the candle and flower centerpieces so they won’t look like you put them on the tables randomly.
Post # 12
Member
2620 posts
Sugar bee
@missa2152: We have 35 guest tables and plan to do a centerpiece on each. I think there should at least be something on each table.
Post # 13
Member
657 posts
Busy bee
I am sure you can find something sweet to go in the centre of your tables.