Low key reception centerpiece

ashleyvanderhoof · January 2012

Our centerpieces are going to be little fish bowls with beta fish and color stones in them. I want something else under/around the fish bowl because it is a small bowl. Like the title says, the reception will be pretty low key so I don't want anything too elaborate. Also, the reception is in a fellowship hall of a church so it's really four or five rooms that open into each other, making a very long, narrow room. With the shape of the room I don't think anything very tall will look good. I appreciate any comments/ suggestions!

aragx6 · January 2012

I urge you to reconsider this. You're going to have a bunch of fish poo in bowls and quite possibly mutliple dead fish.

If they do live, what do you intend to do with them post reception?

lilliesnremains · January 2012

I did that same thing for my SIL's sister's wedding, and i put a square mirror tile under the bowl. it made it really pretty. We also put bud vases into the larger vase with the fish, and put a few flowers in the bud vase, so the chemicals from the flowers wouldn't hurt the fish.

I also made up little care kits for the people who were taking the fish home, with direction for care, some water treatment tabs and some food.

lilliesnremains · January 2012

Actually, as long as the fish aren't in the bowls for too long, they really don't poop too much, and betta fish go up the the surface for air, so they won't die like goldfish will. we had 15 bettas in centerpieces, and none of them died, and they all got taken home with someone afterwards. We had to say no to ensure we and the bride each got one.

veassie · January 2012

as long as you have fish adopters! the little care kits are a good idea as long as people will actually take the fishies home

lilliesnremains · January 2012

Yeah, it was really no problem to give away the fish at the end of the night, we even had someone take one home before we got over to give that table a kit!

bsn1752 · January 2012

Are you sure that these fish are going to good homes?

Are the people that you're sending them to properly care for a fish?

Are you sure that every single fish is going to be taken home?

What if they're not?

What if they do die while on display?

What if they do poop while on display?

Why do you want a live animal on your dining table?

There are so many variables and reasons to NOT do this - please reconsider. This is a VERY unpopular thread around here.

ginadog · January 2012

Not a good idea!

blush64 · January 2012

Some people don't like to eat while having live fish on the table. I find it gross even though I do think Beta fish are pretty. It just doesn't seem right to me.

ashleyvanderhoof · January 2012

First of all, I do not feel that I need to be cursed at. Completely inappropriate. Secondly, I am doing the fish. Betta's do not need filters, they are very hearty fish and I have spoken to a lot of my guests 15-20 and they are all interested in taking a betta home. If they don't, I already have two and would love to have others.
Third, I was asking advice about the rest of the centerpiece. Seeing as how this is the second thread I have asked advice on and been attacked about something other that what I was asking advice about, I believe I will be leaving TK.

courtski2004 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_low-key-reception-centerpiece?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:f261dbd8-e715-46de-a83e-a3a227b03bfaPost:f48e8c9a-3b85-40fc-af1b-f94133e1db9a">Re: Low key reception centerpiece</a>:
[QUOTE]Actually, as long as the fish aren't in the bowls for too long, <strong>they really don't poop too much</strong>, and betta fish go up the the surface for air, so they won't die like goldfish will. we had 15 bettas in centerpieces, and none of them died, and they all got taken home with someone afterwards. We had to say no to ensure we and the bride each got one.
Posted by lilliesnremains[/QUOTE]

That would be enough to make me reconsider. At a wedding, I want to be at a table with a centerpiece that doesn't poop at all. Who really wants to see that while they're eating the dinner that you paid so hansomely for? Disgusting.

aragx6 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_low-key-reception-centerpiece?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:f261dbd8-e715-46de-a83e-a3a227b03bfaPost:b61d2601-7e39-4dd1-bbb9-8e4b9691c557">Re: Low key reception centerpiece</a>:
[QUOTE]First of all, I do not feel that I need to be cursed at. Completely inappropriate. Secondly, I am doing the fish. Betta's do not need filters, they are very hearty fish and I have spoken to a lot of my guests 15-20 and they are all interested in taking a betta home. If they don't, I already have two and would love to have others. Third, I was asking advice about the rest of the centerpiece. <strong>Seeing as how this is the second thread I have asked advice on and been attacked about something other that what I was asking advice about, I believe I will be leaving TK.
</strong>Posted by ashleyvanderhoof[/QUOTE]

People gave you advice, and you didn't like it. Perhaps that just means your ideas are bad -- certainly something worth considering, no?

courtski2004 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_low-key-reception-centerpiece?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:f261dbd8-e715-46de-a83e-a3a227b03bfaPost:b61d2601-7e39-4dd1-bbb9-8e4b9691c557">Re: Low key reception centerpiece</a>:
[QUOTE]First of all, I do not feel that I need to be cursed at. Completely inappropriate. Secondly, I am doing the fish. Betta's do not need filters, they are very hearty fish and I have spoken to a lot of my guests 15-20 and they are all interested in taking a betta home. If they don't, I already have two and would love to have others. Third,<strong> I was asking advice about the rest of the centerpiece</strong>. Seeing as how this is the second thread I have asked advice on and been attacked about something other that what I was asking advice about, I believe I will be leaving TK.
Posted by ashleyvanderhoof[/QUOTE]

If I were going to have fish bowls on a table, I would put a mirrored centerpiece down beneath it so that I could see the fishy poop not once, but twice in the reflection. It would add that little bit of wedding ambiance you're looking for that screams <em>romance. </em>I wish you the best of luck in your planning.

adktd2boots · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_low-key-reception-centerpiece?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:f261dbd8-e715-46de-a83e-a3a227b03bfaPost:94a0b75d-9045-4272-8ac1-6f1b2d7512f3">Re: Low key reception centerpiece</a>:
[QUOTE]I did that same thing for my SIL's sister's wedding, and <strong>i put a square mirror tile under the bowl</strong>. it made it really pretty. We also put bud vases into the larger vase with the fish, and put a few flowers in the bud vase, so the chemicals from the flowers wouldn't hurt the fish. I also made up little care kits for the people who were taking the fish home, with direction for care, some water treatment tabs and some food.
Posted by lilliesnremains[/QUOTE]

Do you realize beta are fighters? The poor things will probably spend the whole time wigging out at the reflection and die of heart attacks by the end of the day. <strong><u>PLEASE</u></strong> reconsider this cruel act.

StephBeanWed61502 · January 2012

I think live bunnies would make a much better centerpiece.

(Please tell me someone remembers that thread.)

crash2729 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_low-key-reception-centerpiece?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:f261dbd8-e715-46de-a83e-a3a227b03bfaPost:c5825d72-288c-442b-a59d-c5389e020194">Re: Low key reception centerpiece</a>:
[QUOTE]I think live bunnies would make a much better centerpiece. (Please tell me someone remembers that thread.)
Posted by StephBeanWed61502[/QUOTE]

<div>Yes! In a cage. Because that screams "Alice in wonderland"</div>

juliebug1997 · January 2012

Why not just have a petting zoo in the corner? Then auction them off that night to the highest bidder so you can recoup some of the cost of your wedding.

Viczaesar · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_low-key-reception-centerpiece?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:f261dbd8-e715-46de-a83e-a3a227b03bfaPost:ff5e7959-65b4-4052-b54e-8faab057e731">Re: Low key reception centerpiece</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Low key reception centerpiece : Yes! In a cage. Because that screams "Alice in wonderland"
Posted by crash2729[/QUOTE]
Actually I believe they were going to be in cardboard boxes. You know, to absorb the urine, and so that they can chew their way out in the middle of dinner. Whoever gets a surprise rabbit in the lap has - I mean gets - to keep it!

StephBeanWed61502 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_low-key-reception-centerpiece?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:f261dbd8-e715-46de-a83e-a3a227b03bfaPost:fb86b059-7aec-4c71-ae2d-32270d246da9">Re: Low key reception centerpiece</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Low key reception centerpiece : Actually I believe they were going to be in cardboard boxes. You know, to absorb the urine, and so that they can chew their way out in the middle of dinner. <strong>Whoever gets a surprise rabbit in the lap has - I mean gets - to keep it! </strong>
Posted by Viczaesar[/QUOTE]

<div>Will the happy couple pay the pet fees my apartment complex charges? If so, I will totally take the bunny home.</div>

Ihearttoddy · January 2012

You people are all so mean... Didn't anyone ever tell you if you don't have something nice to say don't say anything at all? She asked for some advice and you just all freaked out. Really how many people are going to see the tiny fish poop? Unless you are looking for it and if you are at a table with 8-10 other people you are probably engaged in conversation not paying attention to fish pooping. Unless you are a child. It is a cute colorful idea that will be a lot less expensive than flowers on a budget, and with the rocks at the bottom the Fish will not see the mirror at the bottom.

lilliesnremains · January 2012

For the record, betta fish are fighters, but the mirror facing up and the addition of stones/marbles at the botom of the bowl meant the fish could not see its own reflection. if the fish saw anything reflected, it was the ceiling.

OP: When i did this for a reception, it was beautiful, we got tons of complements, we heard back that most of the fish continued to live for 2 or so more years (betta fish are very hardy) and not one person complained that the fish poop distracted them from eating. its not like fish poop smells or really looks like fish poop, except to people who have had fish.

Go with what you like, and screw the detractors.

crash2729 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_low-key-reception-centerpiece?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:f261dbd8-e715-46de-a83e-a3a227b03bfaPost:f37cdef1-2558-4bf0-95f7-c2aefba5057a">Re: Low key reception centerpiece</a>:
[QUOTE]For the record, betta fish are fighters, but the mirror facing up and the addition of stones/marbles at the botom of the bowl meant the fish could not see its own reflection. if the fish saw anything reflected, it was the ceiling. OP: When i did this for a reception, it was beautiful, we got tons of complements, we heard back that most of the fish continued to live for 2 or so more years (betta fish are very hardy) and not one person complained that the fish poop distracted them from eating.<strong> its not like fish poop smells or really looks like fish poop, </strong>except to people who have had fish. Go with what you like, and screw the detractors.
Posted by lilliesnremains[/QUOTE]

<div>Fish poop doesn't look like fish poop? </div><div>
</div><div>News to me.</div>

Low key reception centerpiece

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