Centerpieces

Hey y’all! Today I’d like to talk about centerpieces. They are probably the most important piece of decor at any event. The centerpiece is what brings all the elements to your event together to make it all look cohesive and put together. It’s the one place where everything is featured: Flowers, color scheme, texture, formality, theme, and/or style.
That said I have had an experience the past few events that I’ve been to that has left me in shock. I’ve actually seen guests taking the centerpieces home on more than one occasion now. So I have felt the need to inform you that centerpieces are NOT favors. When you attend an event from small to large there are always favors for the guests to take home as a thank you for coming gift. These are usually located somewhere around the exit/entrance to the venue. There usually is some kind of indicator that they are meant for you to take like a sign that says “Please take one” or “Thank you” or “Take Me”. If you are unsure find a staff member for the venue. They are usually informed on what goes where and what is for whom. However, you should never take the centerpiece unless it is given to you by the host of the event.
Here are the reasons why: Many times the vases that the flowers are in are rented from the floral company that made the arrangements. Those containers will have to be returned to the florist and now that you have taken one (or two) it will have to be purchased by your host. Other times the centerpieces are provided by the venue and thus the containers do not belong to the host. Taking the container means it has to be replaced by someone (aka the host). Also, if a decorator such as myself has been hired she may have rented those containers and is in charge of returning them. She maybe purchased them herself and is lending them to the host at a cost or maybe even as a favor or discount. However, the point stands that most of the time those containers do not belong to the host or hostess.
Now, there are obviously centerpieces that were made to deconstruct such as ones made from food. Like the Halloween ones pictured below. These were made for a classroom party. The intention was that the kids would empty the vases, eat the candy, and the teacher return the vases along with the non-edible decorations. Another class room party I did was for Christmas and again it was meant to be dismantled but the containers were to be returned.
The best rule of thumb? When in doubt, ask. The worst anyone could say is no.