Table decor ideas? Share yours please!

Ashley Pharez · July 2009

I am getting married/reception at a resort on the beach. I want everything really simple without looking bare.So far for our table centerpieces I have fish bowls which we will put actual beta fish in. I also plan on having a pink runner and some tea light candles. What else can I do to add some color? My wedding colors are bright pink/fuschia/orange. I just don't want the table to be overbaring!What kind of centerpieces/reception decor are you doing?TIA.

Ashley Pharez · July 2009

Umm...I never said I was going to lol. We plan on either letting the children take them home or just donating them back to the pet store.

Leah&Christian09 · July 2009

They will be killed if you make them centerpieces.

SLBxtreme · July 2009

The fish won't necessarily die. I went to a wedding where the centerpieces were beta fish with a floating candle in the water. My sister and I both took a fish home and both lasted a couple years after. Maybe find some bright colored candles to float in the bowls?

ffmaid · July 2009

Get rid of the fish as that is animal cruelty and gross and disgusting to watch fish poop or die while eating Instead how about single bright colored blooms in thefish bowls

LesPaul · July 2009

I've got the small spiral centerpieces (from the knot shop) with the floating taper candle. I'm going to put a little food color in the water, and a piece of sheer fabric scrunched underneath. The florist is going to put a few 'extra' (scrap?) blooms from the bouquets at the base. Simple and very pretty.

Jamilynn627 · July 2009

Ditto pps. Leave the fish out. The music and lighting is bad for them. The logistics of preparing the water (PH, no chlorine, etc.) is a wedding-day nightmare. You'd need enough kids to take home 1 fish each since betas can't be together. Most importantly, no one wants to stare at fish poop and/or dead fish while they eat.Submerged flowers look beautiful. PIB under reception section. We used something similar for our cocktail hour decor.

Spim7 · July 2009

You can put the fishbowls on mirrors and put those colored glass stones (that come in dif. colors) around on the mirror.

Ashley Pharez · July 2009

The wedding planner at my venue said she's seen it done many times and it was beautiful and the fish didn't die. Thanks anyways.

Jamilynn627 · July 2009

The wedding planner at my venue said she's seen it done many times and it was beautiful and the fish didn't die. Thanks anyways. Let me guess - she also said you don't have to have full seating because it encourages guests to mingle. Guess what? Most venue coordinators say what you want to hear as long as you pay them. But it's fine. I'm sure the guests will love the fish/poop decorations.

Ashley Pharez · July 2009

Wow, just wow.

MrsNFB · July 2009

We also had a beach wedding & reception. I'm with everyone else, please let the fish idea go. Just because other people do it doesn't make it right or a great idea. Instead, there's a pic in my bio of a fishbowl centerpiece used during our cocktail reception. It's got sand at the bottom with a candle and sea shells inside. They were so pretty sitting on the tables both during the day and at night! My florist also threw some orchid heads here and there but you could use pink/fushia/orange rose petals. There's also pics in my bio of our dinner reception centerpieces. We had a table runner with 5 alternating centerpieces plus lots of candles. Good luck!

DiorAndKisses · July 2009

I hope you read this all the way through and know I'm in no way attacking you or your idea...just giving you some info you might not be aware of.I like the idea of fishbowls for a beach wedding, but as someone posted above, it might be a better idea to use your fishbowl idea without the actual fish. Sand and shells and floating candles sounds beautiful. You can use colored umbrellas in glasses of a signature, colorful drink that you have for each guest at the table. An edible flower or flowers in pretty colors on each plate is another idea. Flower petals around the centerpiece might be pretty.I know you don't intend to do anything hurtful to the fish...but as an animal lover, I'd be very uncomfortable sitting at a table with a live fish centerpiece. Beta fish cannot be exposed to mirrors for long periods of time. They're fighting fish, and they do not understand that the fish in the mirror is not ANOTHER fish. Therefore, they puff up and become all stressed out trying to defend their territory against...well...themselves. Also, all the gorgeous colors you'll have on the table might confuse them as they may think it's an approaching Beta. Mirrors and Beta fish = possible bad situation. Your wedding day should be a beautiful, stress free event...so I'd consider using a centerpiece that will definitely not cause you any added headache.Good luck with your centerpieces and best wishes for a beautiful day!

catpacks · July 2009

I'm having to agree on the fish front here, please rethink that. I've seen glass fish attached to little glass floaters so that the fish are suspended in water. Maybe you could see if you can find those? That way you still have fish, but there won't be any risk. Even if it has been done successfully before, think about it, you will be moving them several time, putting them in different containers. It is quite possible the shock could kill them. I also think the fish bowls with some floating candles and flowers could be elegant and tasteful, and a fish free alternative.

s4pph0 · July 2009

If you want fish, go with fish. I've been to a wedding in which fish were used and not only were they alive at the end of the night, but also the fish poop was a nonissue. Nobody noticed any, and everyone thought it was a fun idea.Booyah, sip on that big ol' class of hater-aide.:DHappy planning, and don't let anyone deter you from an idea you've fallen in love with.

[Deleted User] · July 2009

Well I am not getting married at the beach. But I do have an idea on how to skip the fish and still have a beachy vibe. I have seen craft stores that have sea-shell planters. In fact I know that the local Michaels in my area has a bunch of nautilus shell like vases/planters for 1/2 off. You could easily put flowers in those. Or if your budget is super tight, you can get potted flowers from your local store and just put them in the shell like planter.You can get bags of small sea shells and drizzle them like confetti on each table, and if you want some light alternate with a few votives.I have seen brides that do the beta thing. But honestly it sounds like a lot of unnecessary worry to me to involve fish or any other animal as your wedding decor. You want to be thinking about your day, not the level of comfort of the fish.

Table decor ideas? Share yours please!

Re: Table decor ideas? Share yours please!

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