Guests Taking Centerpieces

melanieky

I've never seen this at a wedding, or maybe I just didn't notice, but it is customary for guests to take the centerpieces home with them? Someone mentioned this to me the other day and I am really confused by it. I'm renting my centerpieces and I wouldn't want my guests to assume they can take them home!

cnf2013

I don't think it's customary for people to just take them if they decide they like them. The only wedding I've gone to where people took centerpieces home was my brothers. His ex-wife DIYed them and went around towards the end of the reception telling people they could take one if they'd like so she didn't have to lug them all home. 

mabrown5

I don't think it is customary either. The only time we took a centerpiece was when the bride told us to. They were floral centerpieces that they would have just thrown away.

Maggie0829

My guests took our centerpieces home but that is because we just let it known that it was ok.  They were also fresh flowers in vases so they would have just been thrown away by the venue if people didn't take them.

Not sure what your centerpieces are, but if they aren't fresh flowers in vases, most likely no one will take them home.

Osterizer

Typically guests take home centerpieces if instructed by the DJ or some other individual who announces that the centerpieces are free for the taking.  If no such announcement is made, I think guests will know to leave the centerpieces alone.

EMBreenwedding

I agree it's not customary unless it's flowers. BUT!! be careful I arranged the reception for a family member last summer and brought my own vases etc that I use for other events and people tried to walk away with them. Might be something that a personal attendant or wedding coordinator can keep an eye on? 

ElisabethJoanne

I agree with PPs. Here in California, I'd never assume I could take a centerpiece, but I've heard of it being offered by an announcement or member of the wedding party passing the info.

But any time you do anything unusual for your region or circle of friends, you should make sure that info is passed around. One way is to mention they're rented any time they come up in conversation.

Summer2011Bride

Sometimes this is done in my circle, but we did not do it at ours because a lot of the centerpiece pieces were rented from my floral/decor person. At some weddings, I've been to, they have "raffled" off the centerpieces (no money from guests, just put your name in). I've also seen the DJ say something like, "The person at the table who traveled furthest gets the centerpiece." If the centerpieces will just get trashed after the wedding and they are something somebody might want, you could give them away. But you don't have to.

french_mani

My florist just told me today that the guests can take the flowers from the centerpiece. I hope people do take them, but most are staying at the hotel that night so I don't know if anyone will take them. it's a nice gesture though

alithebride

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_guests-taking-centerpieces?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:0957154f-a069-42e8-975f-20da3cdc2ad8Post:ca64b652-1ba9-42a4-b665-6a867d21cd1a">Re: Guests Taking Centerpieces</a>:
[QUOTE]Maybe it is regional. In NY/NJ people take the centerpieces, but they are usually fresh flowers.
Posted by Liatris2010[/QUOTE]

this. its common here in ny but usually someone spreads the word or asks if anyone would like to take them home. they're not just 'taken'.