Do I NEED centerpieces?

MizLynn

Okay, all my Maggiano's brides, I need your help.

 I just got off the phone with mom whose new favorite activity is to get on me about spending for the wedding. :-) She's going on and on about how she thinks centerpieces (my latest project) are unnecessary. FI overhears her (she was on Skype) and basically agrees with her. 

So now, I'm wondering if maybe they're right (as much as it pains me to admit that Mom might be right! LOL) My flower budget is so tight right now (as close to $200 as I can get), and flowers aren't super important to me, but I just want it to look nice and wedding-y. 

The main reason I wanted to hire a florist is for the set-up. I was considering DIY (sort of) but I won't be able to set up or even be available before-hand, so the florist is mainly for convenience, not out of any importance placed on having flowers (if that makes sense). I'd be just as happy with silk florals or even just a pretty candle + rose petal arrangement.

So my question is, would it look weird to not have centerpieces in Maggiano's Calabria room (other than the candles they provide, that is)?

ahhhitsshannyn

Well if you buy cheap centerpieces, Maggianos will set it up for you.

Or Maggianos provides a few candles, I am sure if you buy some rose petals, they will sprinkle them around for you.

I do not think that they are one hundred percent necessary, but it is up to you. I just got some simple lanterns and some rose petals, for 10 tables I think it came out to $70 total. But, it is much easier for me since we are driving, not flying.

junebug61103

im not a maggiano bride but when i contacted Pam @ the Palatte...she sent me some pics and quotes of tall glass hurricanes with water, flowers and flating candles for like $20/each. They were really cute...but not want I personally wanted. theres a $30 service fee also but if you have 5 tables your looking at 130.

Aeboyde

Could you have a vase w/water at each table and have your bridesmaids put their bouquet in it as a centerpiece? I know for mine, I have two vase arrangements at the chapel that I will have two bridesmaids in charge of bringing to the reception dinner to use as centerpieces. I think a few candles and rose petals may look nice and may sent the mood of the room as well.

guamibear

I was not interested in having flowers for ours because it just costs too much and I'd rather put that portion to nicer gifts to our wedding party and parents. We decided to go with something different. 

We're basing our centerpieces on:

We plan on placing 2 different sized candles next to this. By shopping for sales for inexpensive supplies at Hobby lobby and on save on crafts website, this will not come to more than 60 dollars for potentially 10 tables at Maggianos.

MizLynn

Thanks for all the ideas ladies. I've contacted a few florists, but none of them have gotten back to me yet. I just assumed it was because my budget was too small! LOL

I'll give them another go, especially Pam, since she's a Maggiano's preferred vendor (or I might contact Marc and Cassy and see if they can get Pam to get in touch with me).

I like the idea of the lanterns and rose petals too, but I just don't know who would put them on the tables...

At any rate, you ladies have given me something to think about. Thanks, as always!

ebonyivory10

Pam is great  to work with and she is good working within a budget. And like the PP said, if the centerpiece idea is not complicated your banquet captain and/or assistant can set it up.

red1115

Unless you really want centerpieces, I'd skip them & use the money elsewhere.  There's soooo much food that finding space on the tables will be hard enough! 

We did the votives (provided by Maggiano's) and had rose petals ($54) cover all the tables - 6 guest, 1 sweetheart, 1 gifttanle, 2 cake tables & the escort card table!  Aside from the table numbers that was it for table decor and no one missed the centerpieces.

Hope this helps!

Bazuka

I'm in the same boat - and I'm  just going to use their candles and standard linen. Maybe I will purchase some cheap tall vases and put a single flower in it...who knows lol There will be tonnes of food and when I viewed the banquet rooms, they use big plates. Nothing is worse than being comfortable at a table....and like one of the ladies mentioned above, its good to use petals on the tables, as oppose to little jewels because that gets in the way of plates. 

bobrien74

If your budget is tight, this is a good place to cut.  No one is going to care and most probably won't even notice.  If you don't want to skimp entirely at least do it cheap, or functional.  I went to a wedding and the centerpiece had all kinds of fun toys in it, like glow jewelry and paper flowers, that we all quickly took to wearing in our hair or as bracelets.  I think they were in buckets, but honestly I don't recall.....