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Flower centerpieces for your every dinner party mood

purple flower centerpiece on a white table

Flower centerpieces (called floral centerpieces by florists so I’ll use both terms) are the ones that usually come to mind first when you are looking for table decorating ideas. Almost everyone loves flowers, and there is such a seasonal array available in local markets that you can always be changing your flower arrangements to suit your mood, the season and the occasion.

The secret of creating many moods with your flower centerpieces

With just a few basic flower arrangement ideas you can create the mood you want for your dinner party

Think of your arrangements the way women think of their little black dress. Your basic white tablecloth is the equivalent of the little black dress. Your table flowers are like accessories. Keep the white tablecloth, change the accessories and you create many different looks.

Just a few easy arrangements provide you with the right moods for almost every dinner party mood you might want – playful, elegant/romantic, modern/dramatic.

A playful and whimsical mood

Daisies and dahlias say playful and whimsical. This bouquet of dahlias would be bring a smile to people’s faces at a Friday night casual dinner after a long week at work

A romantic and traditional arrangement of roses

pale rose centerpiece with round candlesticks

Start with a fishbowl vase and a beautiful bunch of roses - the simplest of arrangements to make and is lovely on any table.

Add some glass or crystal candlesticks to coordinate with your glass vase.

White or ivory taper candles will also add to the soft and romantic feel.

Get more detailed directions for making this arrangement

A garden of gerberas say modern and dramatic

Whatever mood you choose, here are some good-to-know tips:

The most important thing to remember is your guests are coming for a nice dinner somebody else cooked, and good company.

Nobody expects professional looking flower centrepieces on the table. They enjoy knowing you made the effort to make the occasion special with whatever flowers you put on the table. (And if you are a professional florist you already know that flowers are lovely background, the guests are the stars.)

If you will have guests seated all around your table, compose your flower centerpiece arrangement to look good from all sides of the dinner table.

Plan an arrangement about 5 “ or lower, so guests can easily see over it

Don’t put highly scented flowers on the dinner table. Their aroma can fight with the food aromas and a guest may be allergic to the strong scent as well. Save those bouquets for other rooms in the house.

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