Three C's of Reception Design
#1 Tall Centerpieces
Lets’s talk reception design! In this three part Belli Blog series, we’ll look at the elements you’ll need to host a spectacular wedding reception that is unique to your style and dazzles your wedding guests. Over the next few blogs, we hope to inspire you with some of the best reception table designs we have crafted for our Belli Fiori clients. So, let’s get this party started! Tall centerpieces are an eye-catching way to complement your venue and create a “WOWIE” moment for you and your guests. These lush designs are essential for setting the tone of your reception, adding drama, and displaying your signature style. A tall centerpiece’s style and elements can vary greatly depending on your vision, goals, and venue. Fortunately, we have fantastic design team that loves creating stunning elevated centerpieces for each couple's dream wedding. Nothing could be more spectacular!
The first example, from a reception at Westwood Country Club, shows how powerfully tall centerpieces command a room. As your guests enter the ballroom, their gaze is drawn around the ballroom with the help of these magnificent fixtures. To add visual weight to the layout, we counterbalance the centerpiece’s height with beautiful glass candlesticks at mid-height and votives at table-height. The result is stunning!
Photos: Stephen Seebeck Photography | Venue: Westwood Country Club | Planning: Simcha’s Events
In this next example, we travel to the Missouri History Museum to admire a fabulous example of scale and composition. Creating centerpieces that enriched The Missouri History Museum’s architecture was a key consideration for our team. Because the room is so dramatic and the ceilings are so tall, we went BIG to showcase the wedding party! The Belli Fiori team developed two distinct floral arrangements for the head table. To balance the heaviness of the Greco-Roman columns, we chose tall and extra tall trumpeted, minimalist metal stands, and completed the head table design with with sparkly candle light. Beautiful, tall, garden-inspired centerpieces adorned the guest tables. And halos of white roses and garlands of natural eucalyptus greenery were added to each of the columns to achieve a unified design.
Photos: L Photographie | Venue: Missouri History Museum | Planning: Proposing Dreams
This timeless reception at Hotel Saint Louis features not one, but two gorgeous tall centerpieces that contrast with one another. The centerpiece on the left is whimsical and vibrant with budding branches stretching out in all directions and a trio of quaint posy vases dancing around the base of the stand. Meanwhile, the centerpiece on the right is ethereal with ivory garden roses and white hydrangea. A classic silver stand supports the floral arrangement, and a trio of simple glass candlesticks with floating candles enhance the tablescape.
Photos: L Photographie | Venue: Hotel Saint Louis | Planner: Simcha’s Events
If these remarkable centerpieces don’t inspire a Cinderella moment at your reception, I don’t know what will! On both the stand and tables, these 6-foot-tall round spheres are surrounded by a ring of flowers and candles, creating a breathtaking view at this lovely cocktail-style reception.
Photos: Mike Cassimatis | Venue: The Coronado | Planning: A. Companie
When your reception is set on a stage, why not elevate your centerpieces too? The sophisticated head table arrangements at this reception at the Fox Theater are ideal for framing the wedding party, and making a lasting impression on guests. Plus, the photos are fantastic! The two tall guest table designs are elegant and the play with the opposite use of space. The design on the left is delicate and emphasizes the space within, with orchid blossoms suspended in between the legs of the acrylic stand. The wild and organic centerpiece on the right highlights the space above the arrangement with a shocking display of white blossoms. The overall effect is light and playful with equal attention given to the use of both negative and positive space.
Photos: Sarah Harvey Photo & Film | Venue: Fox Theatre | Planning: Linda Horwitz
This vibrant reception in the Khorrisan Ballroom at the Chase Park Plaza is a visual delight. Two different types of pink-toned tall centerpieces complement one another. The first is a traditional, all pink rose centerpiece with over 100 roses, seated on a clear glass stand. The second centerpiece sitting on a gold metal stand, showcases jewel-toned purple and hot pink flowers to make the temperature in the room rise. The overall look is luxurious with the addition of flowers and candlelight at the base of these stunning pieces.
Photos: L Photographie | Venue: Chase Park Plaza | Planning: Simcha’s Events
Who wouldn’t want to be swept away in a magical woodland fairytale at the Four Seasons? I certainly would! This reception demonstrates how Event florists use their creativity to design one-of-a-kind receptions that are as unique as the couple themselves. These tall centerpieces while completely different from the other elevated centerpieces we’ve explored, really knocked it out of the park when depicting the theme of the wedding. They transport the guests to another realm full of magic and wonderment.
Photos: L Photographie | Venue: Four Seasons | Planning: Cosmopolitan Events
Traditionally, when we think of tall centerpieces, we picture a design like the one on the right, but it is becoming more common to create a cohesive floral design that spans the entire height of an elevated centerpiece. The picture to the left is one example of this type of centerpiece, with an s-shaped floral design that cascades down the entire length of the vase and continues trailing flowers upon the table. The impact is beyond stunning, don’t you think?
Photos: Mike Cassimatis | Venue: Ritz Carlton | Planning: Carol and Christina
I adore the tall centerpieces from this Bar Mitzvah at the Four Seasons! The family wanted centerpieces that were fun, unique and modern. With our thinking caps pulled tightly around our ears, the Belli Fiori design team had a blast working closely with Simcha at Simcha’s Events to achieve this signature look. Don’t forget pin-lighting to highlight your tall centerpieces. It’s an important detail that will really make them stand out!
Photos: L Photographie| Venue: Four Seasons | Planning: Simcha’s Events
Metallics! Did someone say Metallics?!?! At Belli Fiori, we are here for that!! A final consideration for those of you who adore glamour, add gold into your tall arrangements. At this Four Seasons wedding reception, we enhanced two of the three centerpieces by gilding different elements of the arrangement. This really made the orchids and hydrangeas POP! As a companion piece, we added black, 5-branch candelabras to the long guest tables. Additional flowers and candle light were added to complete the overall look.
At Belli Fiori we LOVE the creative process and embrace the vision of all our clients. We hope you enjoyed this showcase of some of our favorite tall centerpiece designs. Stay tuned for NEXT MONTH’S Belli Blog as we continue our three-part series and talk about candle light centerpieces.
Photos: L Photographie | Venue: Four Seasons | Planner: Simcha’s Events
Post by Belli Fiori