To rent or not to rent centerpieces

I have Never heard of that tradition nor would I ever think of taking someone's centerpiece, I hope no one takes ours as I plan to donate the flowers to a local retirement home for veterans!

An announcement is good if you know people are going to walk away with them. When I was a BM in my friend's wedding, I had to wrestle an arrangement from someone who was trying to walk away with a rented centerpiece.

My family is known for taking centerpieces so we bought to save any confusion. An announcement wouldn't have stopped at least ten from going missing

I would never assume to take a centerpiece unless told to so I think an announcement is good. My cousins wedding they spread the word to take them. My best friends wedding a couple weeks ago she wanted people to take the centerpieces but she didn't really tell anyone until the end and mostly everyone was gone. She had all different types of flowers and vases so that was neat to take some home.

I've never had the desire to take a centerpiece home lol but we're donating our live flowers to a nursing home so an announcement will be a good idea

We have a mix of rentals and things we bought. Majority of decorations we will have are things we bought. The lady who we hired is actually going out of business, so I'm sure if some of her stuff was taken she wouldn't mind since she's already selling stuff that she has. I think it's probably best to buy your own especially if you know family will take it without question.

I have been to many weddings where they either raffle (not for money) the centerpiece or people just take them. So for those people renting just make sure to announce that centerpieces are not to be taken or if you must don't want people to take them.

@MrsMPhil I have the same experience, some weddings that don't have separate favors because the centerpiece is for the guest. I went to a wedding in Long Island that had beautiful large lanterns for centerpieces, some guest took it others didn't and I'm left confused lol are we supposed to take it or not?

@JustKidding lol I think you won't have a problem as most of your family knows your wishes. I have seen it done many times too which is why I was wondering if anyone else has run into problems with this.

Yes have your DJ make an announcement. Also maybe have some of your immediate family just keep an eye out if you think it'll be a problem. I'm worried about this too as it's common in my area as well so I'll be doing this.

I would be a little concerned with my family, I have a couple of aunts who LOVE getting the centerpiece and would probably grab it without waiting for an announcement either way.

Idk man, boobie trap them??!

(ETA I would prob just buy them to err on the side of caution. Though worst case scenario if someone makes off with one is you'll just have to pay for it)

My granddaughter in law rented her's last July and 5 went missing that she had to pay for.

Have your DJ announce to everyone "please do not take the centerpieces home with you" I've been to several weddings, sweet 16, etc and have heard the DJ say it multiple times. I will be doing the same thing for my wedding.

Taking centerpieces may be regional. I feel like I've been to a number of weddings where this happened. (Another cultural thing that seems crazy or rude from the outside!) You know your audience better than I do. Would spreading the rumor before and/or having the DJ announce it work? What's the charge if someone doesn't get the memo?

I have heard of this a couple of times. In both instances, the centerpieces were just floral and they used very inexpensive vases.

I agree with Mia...have the DJ announce not to take them or put little cards with a cute saying about how nice they are but must stay...only because they are used to taking them.

I would buy them just to be on the safe side.

I ended up getting really sick the day after my wedding, which was in my hometown (not where H and I live). I had planned to donate my centerpieces, but my mom ended up dealing with them for me since I was sick and she passed them out to her family and friends. I was a little annoyed, but mostly glad I hadn't contacted the place ahead of time to say I would be donating them, because then I would have felt terrible. I guess the idea of giving out centerpieces that way runs so deep in my mom than she couldn't get past it, even knowing that wasn't my wishes for my decor. She was super helpful overall both in wedding planning and in the cleanup/aftermath stuff, so I can't be too mad.

I'm renting wood slices and volites so I hope nobody takes mine!

If you feel there is a good chance family will take them out of habit (learned from previous family weddings) and you don't want to have the DJ announce it, maybe you can request your banquet staff to remove the centerpieces and keep them all on one table with a sign thay says "please do not touch or remove"?

We purchased ours and some people took them, but a lot were left behind.

If you rent, negotiate that the florist will pickup the supplies, not that you need to bring them back. We had to go back the next day for the centerpieces we owned (which was fine) and try to find all her decor that we rented. Thank god we had a Tahoe for the weekend or idk how we would have fit t all. It took legit about an hour to pack everything up. If you rent and the florist picks them up it's a win, if she's not willing to pick up, I'd buy them so that anything that doesn't get taken I'd leave and let the venue handle disposing them

Ladies and Gents, happy Friday.

I have a quick question... what are some of the frustrations or needs that you found or find as you plan your big day, that your wedding planner hasn't been able to accomplish?