| When I worked as a corporate event planner and | | | | needed for each vase and how many stems are |
| needed to decorate an event "on the cheap," I | | | | needed for the entire room. On the other hand, the |
| ignored room decor and focused on dressing up the | | | | cornucopia option requires more flexibility because |
| table. After all, it was the table - not the room - | | | | you'll have a beautiful collection of items unique to |
| where guests would spend most of their time. | | | | each table. |
| So let's talk centerpieces. | | | | Another consideration is time. If you're using a |
| Centerpieces are fun in that they can bring the | | | | professional florist, a single item centerpiece might be |
| theme of an event together. And talk about variety! | | | | easier to execute and thereby save you money. The |
| There are a vast number of options and your | | | | cornucopia option might require a florist spend more |
| choices are growing. There is no end to the creativity | | | | time sourcing, sorting, and delivering the individual |
| of committees as they look for ways to be elegant, | | | | elements. In addition, onsite set-up could take a bit |
| unique, and budget conscious. | | | | longer (resulting in greater expense) with so many |
| Benefit auction centerpieces tend to fall into two | | | | props to incorporate into the tablescape. |
| camps: a "single item" centerpiece versus what I call | | | | I feel that cornucopia centerpieces are well-suited for |
| "the cornucopia" centerpiece. An example of a single | | | | volunteers to create. Each person can be assigned a |
| item would be a floral centerpiece in a vase. Pink | | | | table to decorate. To get your volunteer in the right |
| tulips in a glass vase fit that model. These types of | | | | mindset, you might offer her a list of ideas (e.g. sand, |
| centerpieces offer consistency at the gala. | | | | seashells, colorful rolled-up beach towels, straw hats, |
| In contrast is "the cornucopia." These centerpieces | | | | shell necklaces, small inflatable toys...), and suggest |
| are created by using a collection of items to create a | | | | she build a tablescape centerpiece from props found |
| "tablescape." Usually these tablescapes are consistent | | | | at home. The centerpieces will be different from |
| across the tables, but not identical. | | | | table to table, but each will support the theme... and |
| Assume an auction has a beach theme. One table | | | | the cost of a professional florist is eliminated. |
| might have a collection of large shells set off by a | | | | Finally, consider the ease of transportation. If your |
| small aquarium housing a colorful betta fish. The next | | | | guests are accustomed to buying or winning the |
| table has a toy sand bucket filled with toy tools. | | | | auction centerpieces, offering them a cornucopia |
| Sand and seashells might be on all tables, but the | | | | option could be a challenge. It's easier to take a vase |
| larger props create a "tablescape" which will vary | | | | of tulips off the table than it is to scoop up sand and |
| from table to table. Each table uses a cornucopia of | | | | a smattering of shells. |
| props! | | | | Use what works for you. When time is of essence |
| Both concepts work fine for benefit auctions, but | | | | and budgets aren't as tight, a single item centerpiece |
| there are pros and cons to each. | | | | from a florist may be your best bet. But if you've |
| First, production is usually easier to coordinate for | | | | got a team of volunteers itching to show their |
| single item centerpieces. With a vase of fresh tulips, | | | | creative sides, the cornucopia approach might be |
| it's easy to determine how many flower stems are | | | | your centerpiece of choice. |