Reception centerpieces are so much more complicated now. Back in the day, you had one vase. Then there was topiaries. Then came the multi-level centerpieces, then the candles, then the mirrors, then the combination of vases. Now you have to worry about being green too! And try to keep your costs and maybe do it yourself! to boot. Well, here’s an idea that may combine at least a few of those last ideas.
Put some fruits in your arrangements. My mom loved putting fruit in her arrangements — it really gave a flair of creativity. This arrangement is maybe not one she would like, but its a good example. One of the reasons why arrangements get expensive is trying to fill out with flowers. For example, those roses are kind of small, so the apples and lemons help fill it out nicely.
I once helped my mom with a massive convention where they wanted a lot of the arrangements to be very tropical. I don’t have the pictures of that convention (which spanned several days) since it was pre-digital camera. But I remember schlepping to the produce market in downtown L.A. after our trip to the flower market for that evenings batch of fruity arrangements.
Arrangements of fruit don’t have to be super fancy, like those elaborate carved setups you see on cruise ships. This one looks a bit like those Edible Arrangements, but I think something like this can be done easily. Just need some skewer sticks and latex gloves and people to help you do some slicing. And maybe someone adept with a knife to attempt that pineapple flower. Isn’t it cute? I think the greenery is actually cabbage or lettuce.
This one is not too far from the last arrangement, except for the addition of chocolate covered strawberries. That’s when you know its meant to be eaten and not just for show. Heheh.
Speaking of chocolate covered…whoa! This arrangement is pretty much half dipped in chocolate. Does it have marshmallows too? Heheh. Don’t have one of these on your guest tables; they’ll spoil their appetites.
This arrangement is spectacular. It appears to be a foam ball stuck with all sorts of carved fruit and vegetables — limes, what may be cucumbers carved as roses, cherry or grape tomatoes. And its sitting on top of a vase filled with all sorts of colorful vegetables and fruit.
If you do decide to go with fruit, make sure you go with easy to carve stuff like limes, lemons, watermelon, pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew melon. You can also go with apples, but there are techniques to keep them from browning. Grapes and cherry tomatoes are also great for stacking on skewers. Try to avoid professional carvers, unless they give you a great deal, because it will probably cost you way more than a traditional flower arrangement. And, remember to let your guests know if they can cannibalize the table arrangements.
What clever centerpieces. The guests also have something to eat while they are waiting for the main course. You can be very creatinve and let your creative juices “flow”…….