Post # 1
Member
282 posts
Helper bee
Im started to look into centerpeices… The hardest part of planning for me! I think a good place to start is if i should high or low. I am planning on havng all round tables that seat 6-8. The venue is on the water with awesome views so i dont want to overpower that with huge centerpieces. 
Here is the inside of our venue when it was being set up for another wedding
and the outside, so it overlooks the water.
I am having white tablecloths, navy/white striped runners, and navy napkins on the table as well if that helps
Post # 3
Member
1282 posts
Bumble bee
@Tbblount: the thing with high center pieces is that sometimes they make it hard for people to see each other to talk across the table. We did a combo of high (medium, really) and low settings for my brother’s wedding, and I noticed that 1 or 2 of the high centerpieces were moved off to the side by the middle of the reception.
ETA: your reception venue looks lovely with those chandeliers, plus the view, so I think low centerpieces would look nice.
Post # 4
Member
1234 posts
Bumble bee
@Tbblount: Low! If they are too high your guests won’t be able to see each other across the table so will be limited to talking to the people immediately next to them.
Post # 5
Hostess
8579 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I agree with low.. hard to talk to someone through a large/tall centerpiece.
Post # 6
Member
6534 posts
Bee Keeper
@Tbblount: the ceilings are really high in your venue. Me, personally, i would do high because when you walk into a room like that with low centerpieces its like somethings missing.
And what PPs are saying about high centerpieces, saying people cant talk to eachother across the table, that maybe true but it depends on the stand. I had high centerpieces and I got a lot of compliments on them because the stand was so thin it didnt make talking to the people across from them difficult bc they can see their face and didnt have to move the centerpiece. I went to a wedding once where the i had to keep peeking around the centerpiece to talk to the person.
Post # 8
Member
282 posts
Helper bee
I
@Daizy914: I see what you mean especially how they have set up when I went in with all underwhelming pieces..
Its an afternoon wedding, can I have tall centerpieces that dont look too over the top?
Post # 9
Member
1776 posts
Buzzing bee
I have a general preference for low centerpieces.
How formal is your wedding? High centerpieces give off a pretty formal vibe to me. And they also give off an evening vibe. For whatever reason, those are my associations with high centerpieces – I’m sure others feel differently.
Post # 10
Member
282 posts
Helper bee
@fascinated: I feel the same way, thats why I never considered high before. My worry is that it will look under decorated
Post # 11
Member
1776 posts
Buzzing bee
@Tbblount: Does your venue have any pictures of other events using high centerpieces?
Post # 12
Member
2503 posts
Sugar bee
I would say either low or something high and see through (but even that might get in the way). Big tall centerpieces look beautiful when you first enter the room, but are annoying and most guests simply put them on the floor so they can talk to the table.
Post # 13
Member
7312 posts
Busy Beekeeper
- Wedding: October 2011 - Bed & Breakfast
As a guest, I prefer a low centerpiece for the reasons cited by PPs. You can always use high displays for drama and visual interest on non-guest tables (cake table, guest book table, escort card table, etc.).
Post # 14
Member
492 posts
Helper bee
@Tbblount: i’m doing a combo of high and low centerpieces. people are mentioning that high centerpieces block people from across the tables but i have a hard time understanding that since (at least at my venue) the tables are so wide that it would be impossible to have a cross-table conversation anyway.
Post # 15
Member
212 posts
Helper bee
@Tbblount: I think it would look stunning with high centerpieces you just need to make sure you choose a correct height and holder. We are looking at doing a mixture of high and low with the high being in clear slim vases. We are having the flowers places at 28 inches to avoid the whole not being able to see people. Just a bunch of calla lilies, orchids to soften it and they will be drapped to one side, very simple but flowy. If you do short centerpieces make sure you have table size and what will be placed on the tables Ive been to some weddings and once everything is set the centerpieces are too big and take up too much room to move glasses or if it is buffet style ive eatten with my plate part way off the table due to the size of centerpiece
Post # 16
Member
1723 posts
Bumble bee
@Tbblount: I think you should go with low center pieces. I’ve always loved the look of high centerpieces, however the last few weddings we’ve gone to with the high centerpieces we ended up moving them onto the floor so we could conversate with everyone at our table, and that seems sad considering that the cost of the centerpieces are… But you don’t want to just sit awkwardly and not be able to talk to anyone either
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