Centerpieces: Your event is your own production... make it a true reflection of you

As we wait patiently for the Great Gatsby to be released in movies tonight, we figured we would write a Gatsby themed blog today about centerpieces.

As we all know (hopefully), it is important that your guests feel welcome when they attend an event that you are hosting. Food is a universal way of making guests feel welcome at your home or event, and so is the ambiance you create. You want guests to leave with pleasant experiences that they'll talk about with nostalgia for years to come. Think about the Oscars or the MET gala - its the creativity in the fashion, the music, the decor, the venue - pretty much the whole production that keeps people talking and keeps these events newsworthy. Your event is your own production. It leaves an impression in people's minds of the kind of individual you may be.

Using centerpieces on guest tables is one of the ways to create a comfortable welcoming atmosphere for your guests. Items that can be used for centerpieces are only limited by your imagination. Flowers, decorative birdcages, lanterns, fruit bowls, framed pictures, crystals, candles, gold fishes, feathers .... Anything really.
Ok well, maybe not everything. There a few things you may want to consider before selecting your centerpieces:


Event theme - As you probably noticed in the video above, the whole production stayed within the Gatsby theme. It is crucial that all elements of your event tie together with a common theme. Can you imagine if you were hosting a 1922 themed event, and one of your guests showed up in a 'Big bird' costume? Which also brings up an excellent point - make sure you communicate the party theme to your guests before the party. Ok, back to centerpieces... :)

Color - The color of your centerpieces should complement the event venue and other decor being used at your event. You'll notice that white ostrich feathers and gold props were used for the centerpieces in the video above. These centerpieces tied in beautifully with the location architecture and decor - and that should always be your goal. Always consider the architecture and colors of your event venue before deciding on the final decor for your event.

Size/shape of table (placement area) - Another key element in picking out your centerpiece is the size and shape of the table where you'll be placing the centerpiece. You'll want to make sure that the size of the centerpiece is proportionate to the size of the table - you don't want a centerpiece that will take up too much space on the table, afterall your guests are there to wine and dine and they'll need the table space. The same goes for cocktail parties, you may not have tables, but you need to make sure that whatever centerpiece you place at the bar does not get in the way of your guests having fun.


Guest demographics - Are you wondering what your guest demographics have to do with centerpieces? Well, everything. You need to understand you guests in order to cater to them. If you will be having mostly glamorous people at your event, then your event needs to feel glamorous. You may want to consider centerpieces such as tall crystal lanterns, ostrich feathers in tall gold colored urns or huge flower balls on fluted crystal vases. On the other hand if you will be hosting a kids party, you want to think about the fact that kids (at a certain age) love to play with everything. So you don't want small crystal gems that can easily go in the mouth, or tall glamorous breakable champagne vases at the tables. Instead you may want to opt for centerpieces of their favorite tv show/cartoon, or you can create centerpieces using candy in small gumball machines. The options are limitless, and are only restricted by your imagination.

Venue restrictions - This is one of the items i usually chat with my brides about. Make sure you (or your event planner) ask the venue about any restrictions they may have. There are quite a few venues that will not allow open flames (e.g. candles), and others that will not allow fresh petals on the tables or aisles. You really do not want your event torpedoed by an overzealous event venue manager - so ask.



Preferred way to dispose of centerpieces -This is one of those things that people typically do not think about. How you would like to dispose of your centerpieces after the event may determine the kind of centerpieces you order. If you would like your guests to take the centerpieces home with them after the event, then you have to ensure the decorator is aware of what you would like, and that you come to an agreement on whether or not the complete centerpiece can be taken away as is. At galas, the hosts sometimes auction off the centerpieces, or the guests participate in party games to win the centerpieces. Think about your end goal and plan accordingly. Planning ahead will make it easier for you to decide what kind of centerpieces to use.

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