The Role of the Centerpiece

1. It’s all about that vase.

I say it all the time, and I appreciate the fact that Meghan Trainor put my sentiment to music (someone once tried to tell me that she was actually saying “bass”). The vase or container for your centerpiece is a significant part of your overall décor and helps us define your style. There are so many variations that we can create with vases and floral but, in general, some of the most popular containers envisage a certain style.

Wooden Box: rustic, pretty, woodlands, wine country

Glass Cylinder: clean, sophisticated, preppy, modern

Gold Pedestal Vase: elegant, classical, romantic

Mixed Metallic Bowl: modern vintage

Colored Glass: modern vintage, rustic, pretty

Geometric Terrariums: modern, retro

Pilsner Vases: elegant, romantic, simplistic

The list goes on and on. In the early part of your conversation with potential florists, you might want to consider asking about the style of rental that you are interested in comparing their inventory to your décor plans.

2. The shape is key

Every bride knows the rule. An arrangement can be no higher than the length of your elbow (as it rests on the table) to your fist. This makes the arrangement no more than chin height. Conversation among guests across the table brings the volume of the room up, indicating to you that the group is having a good time.

Tall centerpieces are put in clear or thin metal vases to protect that conversation space. They look so elegant above the tables and raise the floral elements for all to see. We have been working on some designs for these arrangements that are a little smaller in diameter creating a few different price points.

Loose greenery in both short and tall arrangements helps to achieve that English Garden style that is becoming more and more popular.

3. Floral focal points

The flowers in your centerpiece pull all of the elements of your wedding together. It’s like the moment in charades when you abandon your single-word strategy and signal your team that you will now act out “the entire concept.” Your centerpieces allow us to help your guests see what you are accomplishing with your color palette. That doesn’t mean they have to be full of accent color. We can continue to work with your ivory and green (a very soft and elegant look) exclusively, or add just a little soft peach to create a focal point for the most important blooms. If your wedding is colorful, then we talk about the blend of color that you hope to achieve and balance the arrangement so they are visible from every angle.

The goal in a mixed arrangement is to create a design where the eye is drawn to your signature flowers. However, single color floral communicates luxury. We can use different floral varieties in the same color and create focal points by contrasting the textures.

4. Varying the look

We like the idea of creating two or three styles for your centerpiece with your theme flowers. We have a lot of containers within each style in different sizes and shapes. We could use a low wooden box on some tables and a small square box with colored glass and bud vases on the others. We can create three centerpiece styles as well. Imagine a trio of centerpieces including mixed metallic raised pedestals, bowls and a tall candelabra on a third of your tables.

5. Adding Accents

We can also vary the look of your decor by adding a few smaller floral accents to the table creating a grouping. This feels luxurious but it’s really a little deceptive. Floral accents can be done for $20 to $40 and, as I have said before, we can use your signature flower to make sure you really see the flowers you love.