A number of our Copper Penny Flowers bridal couples have asked about using wedding bouquets for centerpieces.  Is this a good idea?

We are all for repurposing flowers–when the repurpose enhances the floral designs, your venue, and your very special wedding day.

Let’s take a dive into repurposing your bridal party bouquets.

The bridal bouquet is one of  the most exquisite and showiest of the floral designs created for your day. Couples most often repurpose the bride’s stunning bouquet to decorate their sweetheart table. The bouquet may be laid on the side or returned to the vase that it was delivered in. If requested, we can cut the stems on the shorter side so when the bouquet is replaced in the vase, the blooms don’t obstruct the new couples’ view. The bridal bouquet can also be placed to decorate a gift, guest book table, or cake display.

The bridesmaids’ bouquets can step up to decorate bars, gift or photo tables, or powder rooms. Cocktail tables are a dicier choice since small tables with moving people create a golden opportunity to knock over a vase with a bouquet balanced inside it. A head table with a garland can also have bridesmaids’ bouquets at intervals along the garland down the length of the table.

But why not, especially if you have a large bridal party, use the bridesmaid bouquets as table centerpieces? Let’s explore the bigger picture of repurposing,

First off, repurposing bouquets also includes the logistic of  delivering and setting up the vases at the reception venue. Second, the traditional taller, compact design of the bridesmaids’ bouquets, designed to be held by the bridesmaids and not to sit in vases, makes them out-of-proportion for a vase and the center of your guests’ tables. A remedy is to make a bouquet in a vase part of a table scape, adding other items like decorative glass candle votives and artistic table numbers. But if the goal is to save on the budget, this design still adds materials and labor. The last and perhaps most important consideration? If you’re taking photographs after the ceremony while your guests congregate at the reception, for however long the guests mingle until the bridal party arrives, every place you are plannning on decorating with bouquets will be empty.

Have we made a case that the best choices for repurposing the bouquets are on the sweetheart table, head table, or around the cake?  These areas won’t be in the spotlight until you and your bridal party arrive and easily place your flowers in the pre-arranged location. Minimal reception time spent repurposing your flowers makes way for maximum reception time celebrating with your guests. Congratulations, newlyweds!