florist question/ centerpieces

What? People take the centerpieces?

ETA: NEVER in my life have I attended a wedding where some guest TOOK the centerpiece.

Why not just ask her if you can pay for any centerpieces the guests take? Most (all?) probably won't take them but you never know.

I've been to bridal showers and events where you "win" the centerpiece and/or you are asked to take one. I've always taken them when asked...but unless it is a plain floral arrangement in a vase, it goes into the garbage.

Don't buy the centerpieces. Just ask if you can pay for the ones that walk away.

Every wedding I've ever been to guests have taken the centerpieces...including my own.

That seems so weird to me..

I've never heard of guests taking center pieces from a wedding. If you're worried you could always purchase whatever you are planning on putting your floral in to save on costs. My step-grandma has major wedding fever and bought like 6 of these from goodwill for only $4 each for the wedding. All of our floral will be in these to help save on florist cost. It might be worth considering doing something like this if you're worried about people taking them.

Almost every wedding I've been to the bride has said "X person at the table "wins" the centerpiece" oldest person, couple married the longest etc. It is a thing. When I told my FH about favors his response was "Why do we need them, they can just take the centerpieces" Yes because every guest wants to drive home for an hour with a mason jar, water and flowers *sigh* I never take them because it's annoying to.

To answer the original post though, if you're paying for the centerpieces, you should be able to do whatever the hell you want with them.

I agree with @Lively. Ask if you an just pay for the ones people take. But I would also ask what the price difference is for renting. Ours was only a couple dollars less to rent vs buy. I ended up deciding to just buy, because it would have been a lot of work to collect them all at the end of the night and worry about getting them returned to the florist. It was easier to just tell people to take them. Even then no one took them without asking, we told people to take them.

Lively and Natalie have good advice. I've had a centerpiece put in my hands as I left a wedding and was told by the MOB to take it home but I would never just assume that I could take them.

Oddly, on the form my DJ gave me to fill out, there is a question about whether or not we want him to announce that people can take the centerpieces! We're using tin cans for a lot of our vases and we bought the rest so I guess I don't MIND if some disappear, but some of the little vases are really pretty and I'd like to keep them.

I guess it would depend on what is more common in your circle. When I was younger and went to family weddings, there were always those aunties who take centerpieces home. Now that I'm wedding planning myself and learned about all the things you can rent, I've decided that I'd rather purchase centerpieces myself and not have to deal with a rental going home in the car with someone.

I always thought it was pretty common (at least for the weddings I've been in/to) for people to take the floral arrangements used as centerpieces. It's always entertaining to watch the grannies try to haul away ten-pound poufs of flowers. I've never seen anyone take the actual vases and/or other items used as centerpieces (think picture frames, mirrors, battery-powered candles, bowls, etc.), but I can definitely see some of these items walking off. Most people, in my experience, just pick apart the flowers and take what they want. I think you're better off asking your florist if you can pay for anything that does happen to walk off (and agreeing upon the cost-per-item beforehand and getting it in writing so there are no ugly surprises!).

I guess it depends on what kind of vase you are renting, i would hope that no one would assume that they could take it though. if it was something super fancy i would just assume that the florist would take the vase back. what would happen to the flowers after the wedding? i want that shit or someone to enjoy it for a week lol

eta: if you can provide your vases they have simple glass ones at the dollar store i believe.

http://www.dollartree.com/floral/vases-bowls-containers/Crystal-Cylinder-Vase/559c543c543p9889/index.pro

i am providing my vases, they were kind of expensive so i am not sure if i want to keep them or give them to people. i could sell them for a decent amount of money and i have a few that are actually vintage and not replications.

i think there was only one wedding where they clearly gave away the centerpieces. i can't remember for the other weddings, we may have left before the end of the night for those ones.

I had never heard about taking centerpieces before, but it makes sense to me.

I would confirm with your florist that she means the VASE/VESSELS themselves and not the actual floral arrangements. I made an announcement at the end of our wedding for anyone that wanted to take the florals home with them (as the actual vases belonged to the florist) as they would just go to waste otherwise and be thrown away when the reception venue cleaned up

I had never heard of guests taking centerpieces home with them after a wedding prior to WW. This just seems insane to me.

Asking if you can pay for any centerpieces that walk off is a good idea. If you are worried this is going to be a problem, maybe a few key people could mention that the decor is rented and not up for grabs. Not a big DJ announcement to keep your mitts off the centerpieces, but maybe your mom could tell great-aunt Betty that the centerpieces belong to the florist, etc.

The centerpieces at the weddings I have been to are typically pretty elaborate and no one takes them.

It's an old tradition for the guests to take the floral centerpieces and arrangements around the church/venue because the host wouldn't have need for X amount of arrangements.

With that said....I'll be pissed if anyone does it. I'll five them away, but don't assume. Not in these times.

The top of my centerpieces popped off and i had people take those home. The vases stayed.

I have heard of guests taking the actual flower portion, but not the vases. Regardless, we actually bought and spraypainted our own vases to save on rental fees and to not have to worry about breaking, guests taking, returning them, etc. I will just try to sell them afterwards!