You’ve planned the holiday meal, you’ve confirmed all of the relatives’ arrivals, you’ve coordinated the placesettings and colors… now you just need the perfect centerpiece to tie it all together. But, what proportion is the right choice for your table? You want the guests to be able to see each other, but you don’t want the arrangement(s) to get lost on the table. Here are some guidelines for choosing your centerpiece or table arrangements:
Contemporary Angular Centerpiece featuring Orchids and Spider Mumsthrough the whole table.
1. Size of the table: When using a single centerpiece, order one that is less than 1/3 of the length or diameter of the table. If you have expanded your table to a longer length, you might consider using more than one arrangement to bring color.
2. Shape of the table: The shape of your table can be mirrored in the shape of your arrangement if you prefer a symmetrical feel. If you want a more modern, edgy mood, then bring a different shape – for example, a rectangular arrangement on a round or oblong table, or a square arrangement on a round table.
Tablescape with Fall Orange Orchid and Succulent Florals with Candles
3. Number of place settings: If you are working with a long/oblong table with many place settings, you may need multiple arrangements to balance the proportion of the table, while keeping the height low enough for guests to see over. Keep in mind that odd numbers of items are always more visually pleasing than even, so choose multiples of 3, 5, and 7.
4. Placement of the table vs. viewpoint of the arrangement(s): Is the arrangement going to be visible from all sides, and in most centerpieces? If so, make sure that you let your designer know. Arrangements for use on sideboards or serving tables, or tables pushed against a wall, have a limited vantage point and can be arranged accordingly so your feature flowers are displayed fully and not hidden..
Desert Fall-themed Dramatic Centerpiece with Roses and Pincushions
5. Visual Impact: Would you like to take your guests’ breath away when they walk in the room? Or are you inviting people into a large space where there are many centers of activity for the day? Tall, dramatic centerpieces that feature the florals overhead draw the eye to the table with the visual impact, and yet allow guests to comfortably talk to each other across the table.
Once you understand these simple guidelines, choosing the perfect centerpiece is easy and fun! And of course, your floral designer is your perfect partner, supporting you with their wisdom, insight and knowledge of the styles and trends.
The next question is how to communicate everything to your floral designer so they ‘get’ it and support everything you want to accomplish. Check out our post coming soon: 4 Things to tell your Floral Designer when ordering your Holiday Flowers
Flowers are all about the feel – how do you feel? And they are meant to give you personal expression. Be creative in your color choices! Let your designer know the effect you are going for and let their creativity take you to a new dimension of you. Your guests will feel that the arrangement is really you as you express your preferences.
Check out our blog post about Fall 2011 color Trends and our post to keep your flowers long-lasting.
Flowers * Weddings *Events 