2010-05-28 13:00:00 by SMARTBRIDE
Floral Expert Advice: How to Create Your Own Custom Centerpieces!
Possibly the most popular wedding DIY, creating your own centerpieces, can be a fun and satisfying experience. It’s also a great way to control an ever expanding budget as the price of centerpieces can quickly add up. They add the finishing touch to your space and create drama and interest in the place that your guests will be spending their evening.
Centerpiece Image Courtesy of FLUR.
Dishes courtesy of Christopher Jagmin Designs.
Follow these tips to achieve high impact centerpieces all by yourself:
1. Assess your event:
Are you a chic modern bride-to-be planning a hotel wedding or are you a girl-next-door with a quaint, intimate reception in the country?
At the shop we ask our brides the same question and the answer is always different, “When you take that first step into the reception while holding your exquisite bouquet all eyes are on you and your new husband. What do you want to feel at that moment?”
Does it feel soft and romantic like you're floating on air, or super fun and exciting as you dance your way in? Each bride wants a unique ambiance that should be reflected in the flowers and vases on the tables.
2. Stick to your color story:
The wedding should have a cohesive look. Although you don't have to match everything, all the elements should work together. A strong color palette and complementary decor items will make your wedding photos magazine worthy. Don't be tempted by donated items from other weddings or inexpensive items that just don’t work, as they will make your wedding look as sophisticated as a paint-by-numbers project.
3. Floral Mathematics:
For your centerpieces, choose the biggest blooms you can find. Although lilies, hydrangea, and orchids may seem expensive, they can really keep the budget under control when you factor in the amount of real estate they take up.
Giant hydrangea might be $12 per stem, but it would take 5 roses, or 10 freesias to fill that space. At $3 per stem for the latter you'll be spending quite a bit more overall. Big blooms are sure to make a big impact with guests, so be prepared to field requests to take them home at the end of the night.
4. Pull out all the stops!
Keep an eye out for unique vessels to use rather than standard glass rental vases. Almost anything that's waterproof will work; decanters, tea pots, tea tins, planters, mason jars and even interesting drinking glasses. An attractive vessel will take an otherwise ordinary table setting to a whole new level! Reference your color story and event theme and style to determine which vessels will tie your celebration together. Check out garage sales, antique stores, and discount home decor stores for inspirational ideas and great finds.
3 Ways to Dramatically Transform a Table:
Centerpiece 1
Centerpiece Image Courtesy of FLUR.
Dishes courtesy of Christopher Jagmin Designs.
- Here we've used fluffy white hydrangeas and fragrant Casablanca lilies with silver accessories for a chic and elegant feel that would work well in a modern hotel or grand ballroom.
- We've taken a tall cylinder vase and used silver decor rocks in the bottom.
- We swirled 12 gauge silver Oasis decorative wire into the water. This creates another hit of silver and creates a matrix that will hold the stems in the vase.
- We cut the flowers to size and simply dropped them in. The lilies will continue to open throughout the day and sweetly scent the room. The silver tea light holders and dramatic black and white silhouette dessert plate pull the look together.
Centerpiece 2
Centerpiece Image Courtesy of FLUR.
Dishes courtesy of Christopher Jagmin Designs.
- For the second look, we've gone will a more botanical feel. Terrariums are back in a big way and we've chosen two apothecary jars to showcase our plants. Not only do they make a non traditional reception look fresh and green, they also make great gifts for your guests.
- We've completed the look with a very botanical looking dinner setting complete with birch bark place number and Kermit mums.
Centerpiece 3
Centerpiece Image Courtesy of FLUR.
Dishes courtesy of Christopher Jagmin Designs.- In this final look we've gone for a vintage feel. This smoky brown Fleur de lis decanter and glasses make beautiful vessels for a sunset pallet of roses, peonies, orchids, and ranunculus (classic Victorian blooms).
- Delicate rose petals softly ornament the table, and the vintage sparrow motif plate brings the whole look together with a modern sensibility.
Whatever your look, be creative and original and it will work to your advantage. Most florists will be happy to help you plan your DIY centerpieces and will also be able to order top quality varieties for you to work with. If you start with beautiful, high quality blooms, everything you create will look amazing.
Alex
----
About our Guest Florist Blogger Alex:
Alex Bazos is a floral designer with 7 years of industry experience focusing on wedding and event florals. As the owner and principal designer of FLUR Designs Inc. in Edmonton, she has become one of the chief proponents of modern floral design in western Canada. Alex believes strongly in educating and inspiring brides and young designers about the new floral design.
More From Our Guest Florist Blogger: - In this final look we've gone for a vintage feel. This smoky brown Fleur de lis decanter and glasses make beautiful vessels for a sunset pallet of roses, peonies, orchids, and ranunculus (classic Victorian blooms).
