Taking home centerpieces

Oh yes, people do take centerpieces home... Sometimes they'll take multiple...

I think DIY stuff is lovely but if people think I made these myself then they are seriously overrating my free time and talent!

Confused??? You don't want someone to take the flowers?

I don't want all my flower centerpieces to go in the trash unloved. Shoot! I paid good money for them, and I want them to get as much enjoyment as possible. I'm going to be asking someone from each table to take one home.

@Misty - The vases are rental so if they take the centerpieces home I own the company another $500+

I get it about the vases, but does the florist get the flowers back too?

If he gets the vases back where are people putting the dripping wet flowers?

If you're telling your guest they're welcome to take the flowers home I think that's a lovely gesture. But for guests to assume that they can take them is beyond me.

I would never just take a centerpiece. Thats just weird to just take it. I have done centerpieces for parties that are to take home but you play a game for someone to actually win it.

I agree with Maria- assuming they are up for grabs is a bit rude. You can make an announcement towards the end of the evening. We are having high and low centerpieces. Guests can take home the low ones and the top half of the high ones. The florist will rent out the tall vases and so they need to go back at the end of the night.

I have never seen people take the centerpieces without knowing that they won it..my stepsister however had bright blue ribbon with a crystal buckle wrapped around the napkins at her wedding and people were actually taking the buckles home..girls would use the ribbon and buckle as a bracelet thing... they even announced for people not to take the buckles home. I think she ended up paying 75$ for all of the lost buckles

I see it all the time. Maybe provide some of those flower bags that they have when you buy flowers at the store for guests to put them in. Would be a waste for them to get thrown in the trash.

You could let them know that if they'd like to take the flowers they may, but the vases must be returned. The smart person will know to wrap the floral ends in paper towel or dry them off a little with a napkin to take home...you could always tell them that directly as well!

I took home most of my centerpieces and gave away some to the people who were helping us pack our stuff.. I did notice that 2 of my DIY Glammed out table number frames were missing.. I guest some of my guest liked those.

Have your DJ make an announcement that they are NOT to take the vases.

My centerpieces were stripped down when the reception ended by guests, people really wanted the planets. I saw hubby's grandfather carrying 3 fully built ones out!

I made my own so I found the fact that they were all taken with such fervor to be flattering!

OMG I hope people take mine ... I do not want to lug back 25 or more center pieces!

And I've always seen people take center pieces home especially if they are flowers!

It is very much the norm around here (Philly area). Some method is devised ahead of time like the oldest person at the table, closest birthday, etc. We're having something custom made for one chair at each table and whoever sits there gets the centerpiece.

Yes, it happens. there was a post some time ago on this subject.

Can you supply your own vases?

It happens all the time! Every wedding/baby shower or whatever event I've been to, people take the centerpieces home. Usually it's the first person to sit at each table who keeps it. My grandma loves doing this and if there are any left behind at other tables, she wants those too! It's so embarrassing.

However, people don't normally rent vases from the florist and it's the norm for people to take home the centerpieces.

Our venue provides the centerpieces so my guests may not be able to take them and I'm sure more than one person will complain. Oh well.

Yes my family thinks its cute and its expected i might have to fight with them lolx to keep them

I see centerpieces taken home all the time at weddings by guests. They assume it is already paid for so they just take it home.

Tell your DJ to make an announcement that guests should not take centpieces home. Our florist gave us a break on price because we're returning the vases too after the wedding. We will have the wedding planner coordinate with the staff and DJ. There will be an attendant at the front door at the end of the night to make sure centerpieces aren't taken home (just in case they choose to ignore the DJ announcement).

Hope that helps.