Centerpiece Etiquettes

You can put something under a plate and whoever has that something will get the centerpiece. You can have the DJ announce the person who's bday is closest can get the centerpiece. You can come up with a variety of things.

The most common I have seen is the first thing I have mentioned.

Most people don't come to a wedding and hope that they will get the centerpiece.

Thanks. I want to distribute them by putting a "reserved" ribbon on the Vase and sgiving them to my Bridesmaids, MOH, Mom and Sister. My Fiance seems to think that they should be up for grabs by whoever wants them. I wonder if it would be tacky to put "reserved" on them.

Your idea is fine, but you should probably put a little tag on it saying "centerpiece reserved for [name]". Some people are pretty brazen about taking off with centerpieces, thinking it's a free-for-all. If you want your BMs to have them, then you need to make sure that's clear. Instead of a tag, you could also put one of those little plastic things that they use to put cards on floral bouquets, too.

Putting "reserved" on them isn't tacky. People shouldn't just take them, but I've seen it happen (to my astonishment).

You can play a game for who gets the centerpiece.. mostly i see the centerpieces never being taken .. its rude to just take them. i dont think you need to put reserved.. just give them to the girls at the end of the night

I was thinking to put a ribbon or something with a tag saying this centerpiece is reserved for MOH, etc.... Ive seen ppl take them too! LOL

Heres a question...how do you get them to LEAVE the centerpieces lol. I dont know if i want mine taken...

My glasses are rented for the centerpiece. you can not take them!

but how tacky would it be to just take a centerpiece.. people just dont do that here.

I would not put a "reserved" ribbon on it...to me personally, I think that would be a little weird. I think ultimately you and FH should decide together what to do, but I share his opinion on this topic.

That's a tricky one. Try "Centerpiece to be given to _____, maid of honor, at conclusion of wedding".

Off-topic:

That is really pretty! Where did you find that? I'd like something like that for my house.

Do people really try and take centerpieces?

I have never been to a wedding where they took centerpieces...I couldnt imagine just grabbing and and taking it home with me!

Another idea is you can always donate them to hospitals or nursing homes.Even just taking them into waiting rooms at intensive care places could brighten up someones day a little.

^ if they're nice ones. I've seen someone take two! Granted, they were really really pretty.

I don't think people take centerpieces without being told. Some places like my venue allow brides to use hurricane lamps or vases and they aren't meant to be taken. I've been to several weddings and if the bride wanted the centerpieces taken they had the DJ mention it after dinner. If there was no mention no one took the centerpieces.

I would hope people had some tack and didn't just take other peoples things.

My FBIL's wedding had centerpieces that went "missing". People just up and took them. They were rented so it was pretty bad...

Thank you all for the great advice. I guess my FH is of the tradition that people just take them which I find tacky. I have been to weddings where ppl just thought they were for the taking. At my nieces wedding, she had the vases rented and ppl started to take them. She had the DJ make the announcement not to take them. We will decide together.

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Personally, I think it's tacky for guests to take the centerpieces anyway! I'd put something on the bottom of them stating to please leave them there.

And nothing against them- because they are pretty- but if I was a BM, I wouldn't want one.

Megan, Even as a bride, I dont think i'll keep one. I might keep a vase and reuse but i plan to resell or donate them to another bride I know

We're donating our centerpieces to the local Veteran's Home. Being a vet and being at the VA hospital a lot, I see many older vets that live there and don't get visitors. When they do get flowers, a card or anything from anyone, most of them light up. I can't wait to bring a little color to their day.

I have never attended a wedding where the centerpeices were just taken by guests. I've never even heard of that happening! I would seriously question the ethics of guests who think it's okay to just walk out with centerpeices without being told they can do so!

I have been to a wedding where it was annouced towards the end of the night for everyone to take their seats. Once everyone was seated at their original place setting they were told to look under the seat. The chair with the flower taped to the bottom were the winners of the centerpeices.

@Erin Z: That is truly a wonderful idea! I LOVE it! You are very considerate for even thinking of that idea!! :o)

Yes, it's common when I go to weddings to see guest just take the centerpieces and go, last december I was at one and they clearly had the dj made an announcement that the bride rented them and not to take them, I saw a girl still sneak one out, I never get the reason why they have to do that but some people do.

We put the info on our FAQ about if someone can take a centerpiece, as of now we don't have an answer yet but when we do we'll update. I think you can do the same, but as some people already stated most people don't come to weddings hoping to get a centerpiece.