Designing Centerpieces THE FLORAL CENTERPIECE is an established part of our society. Holidays, birthdays, dinner parties, and other special events call for the use of centerpieces to contribute to a festive atmosphere. Floral designers can exercise their creativity by designing centerpieces with specific themes. Objective: Demonstrate how to design centerpieces. Key Terms: accessories candleholder centerpiece Floral Centerpieces Centerpieces have been the center attraction on tables since the eighteenth century. A centerpiece is a floral arrangement designed to be placed on a table or a buffet. It should be attractive and colorful. Traditional centerpieces are low so as not to interfere with conversation at a table. However, contemporary arrangements, such as topiaries, add a splash of color and design above eye level. A centerpiece on a dining table is viewed from all sides. A centerpiece on a buffet table at a banquet might be one-sided and coordinated with centerpieces on the dining tables themselves. Page 1 www.mycaert.com
TYPES OF CENTERPIECES Types of centerpieces include bud vases, small vase arrangements, round centerpieces, oval or diamond-shaped centerpieces, and conical centerpieces. Bud Vases Bud vases are small arrangements suitable for placing at intervals on long, rectangular tables. Each typically contains one flower or three flowers. Bud vases are inexpensive to create. FIGURE 1. A centerpiece adds a beautiful and festive flair when you are entertaining. Small Vase Arrangements Small vase arrangements are designed in vases in the proportion of 1 to 1 so that they do not obstruct vision. They are more colorful than bud vases and better emphasize the flowers. They may be asymmetrical or symmetrical in design, depending on the theme and formality of the occasion. Round Centerpieces Round centerpieces are suited to round and square tables. They may be designed with one type of flower or a mixture of several varieties and colors. The container that works best is low and rounded. A round centerpiece looks basically the same when viewed from any point in a room. The contour of the arrangement may be round or triangular. Steps to designing a round centerpiece follow. 1. Select a low container with a large-diameter opening that will accept a suitable piece of floral foam. 2. Position a moistened piece of floral foam in the center of the container, with 1 / 2 to 1 inch of the foam above the rim of the container. Trim the foam edges for easier stem placement and shave off the corners at 45-degree angles. Secure the foam to the container with waterproof tape, an anchor pin, or pan-melt glue. 3. Add greens in a circular pattern around the container. Insert the greens about 1 inch into the floral foam at the same level as the rim. The greens should angle slightly downward, and when viewed from above they should create a circle. Page 2 www.mycaert.com
4. Add foliage in a vertical position at the center of the floral foam. Fill in between the center foliage and foliage that forms the circle with more foliage to create a rounded or triangular contour. 5. Position the tallest flower to establish the height of the arrangement. Usually the height should not exceed 12 inches so that people on opposite sides of the table can see each other. 6. Take care in placing the flowers. Repeated placement and withdrawal of the stems damages the floral foam, creates air pockets, and weakens the support for flowers. Also, once a flower is inserted, don t pull the flower out a little bit. An air pocket will be created, and the life of the flower shortened. 7. Place five or six flowers at the rim of the container. View the design from above to be sure the flowers form a circle. The stems of the flowers should radiate from the mechanical focal point of the arrangement located at the center of the floral foam. 8. Use additional flowers between the tall flowers and the flowers at the base to fill in the contour. Be sure the stems angle toward the mechanical focal point and that the flower heads face the viewer. Leave space between the new flowers that are added. Place some flowers deeper into the arrangement to add depth. 9. Use filler flowers to fill in gaps or openings in the arrangement. 10. Add greens to cover any floral foam that is visible. 11. Insert accessories if desired. Top View Side View FIGURE 2. The top view reveals equal-width placements around the container rim and equidistant placements from the center of the design (and from the container, too). The side view reveals the effect of varied width and height placements a rounded or triangular contour. Oval or Diamond-Shaped Centerpieces Oval or diamond-shaped centerpieces are similar to round centerpieces but are more suitable for oval or rectangular tables. Common containers for this style are rectangular, oval, or circular with low rims. The contour of this design may be triangular or rounded. Page 3 www.mycaert.com
1. Select a low container with a large-diameter opening that will accept a suitable piece of floral foam. 2. Position a moistened piece of floral foam in the center of the container, with 1 / 2 to 1 inch of the foam above the rim of the container. Trim the foam edges for easier stem placement and shave off the corners at 45-degree angles. Secure the foam to the container with waterproof tape, an anchor pin, or pan-melt glue. 3. Place two long, matching pieces of greens at each end of the container. Then, insert the greens about 1 inch into the floral foam at the same level as the rim. The greens should angle slightly downward, and when viewed from above they should create an oval or a diamond. 4. Add foliage in a vertical position at the center of the floral foam. Fill in between the center foliage and foliage at the base with more foliage to create a rounded or triangular contour. 5. Position the tallest flower to establish the height of the arrangement. Usually the height should not exceed 12 inches so that people seated on opposite sides of the table can see each other. 6. Take care in placing the flowers. Repeated placement and withdrawal of the stems damages the floral foam, creates air pockets, and weakens the support for flowers. Also, once a flower is inserted, don t pull the flower out a little bit. An air pocket will be created, and the life of the flower shortened. 7. Place longer flowers at each end, inserting the stems just above the rim of the container. Place another flower on each side. View the design from above to be sure the flowers form an oval or a diamond. The stems of the flowers should radiate from the mechanical focal point of the arrangement located at the center of the floral foam. 8. Use additional flowers between the tall flowers and the flowers at the base to fill in the contour. Be sure the stems angle toward the mechanical focal point and that the flower heads face the viewer. Leave space between the new flowers that are added. Place some flowers deeper into the arrangement to add depth. 9. Use filler flowers to fill in gaps or openings in the arrangement. TOP VIEW Oval Diamond-shaped FIGURE 3. Low, horizontal centerpieces may be oval or diamond-shaped when viewed from the top. Page 4 www.mycaert.com
10. Add greens to cover any floral foam that is visible. 11. Add accessories if desired. Conical Centerpieces Conical centerpieces are cone shaped or three-dimensional isosceles triangles. These designs date from the Byzantine period. A centerpiece that looks like a Christmas tree is conical. ACCESSORIES FIGURE 4. A conical design can be created using either a floral foam foundation or a chicken-wire base. Accessories are items that can be added to a centerpiece to create a certain atmosphere or interest. These items should be in harmony with the design and properly placed to be effective. Candles are often used. A candle can be stabilized by using a candleholder. This plastic device is round at the top to secure the candle and pronged on the other end to fit into floral foam. Candleholders come in a variety of sizes to fit the many sizes of candles. If using more FIGURE 5. Green plastic candleholders provide a secure foundation for candles used in a centerpiece. than one candle, space them at least 1 inch apart. Ribbon, fruit, cones, seasonal items, and other objects might also be used as accessories in a centerpiece. TAKING FLORAL ORDERS To make decisions about the design of a centerpiece for a particular event, gathering necessary information is extremely important. The image of the business relies in part on good communication skills by the person taking orders. Taking a floral order involves making a sale for the business and should therefore be a promotion of the products and services. In taking an order, it is important to be courteous and to speak clearly. It is also necessary to be assertive without being overbearing and to guide the conversation. To complete the order, a series of questions must be answered, including what, when, where, how, and why. Page 5 www.mycaert.com
1. Why is the event being held? Is it a wedding, banquet, graduation? 2. When is the event (date and time) and how much time is needed to set up? 3. Where is the event? 4. What are the style and size of the room? 5. What are the room colors, and what are the colors associated with the event or event sponsor? 6. What is the preferred style of the event (formal, informal, casual, contemporary, or elegant)? 7. How many tables will need centerpieces, and what are the shapes and sizes of the tables? 8. How many additional floral designs will be needed? 9. What is the budget for flowers? A florist should visit the site and become familiar with the surroundings before creating the floral work. Sometimes banquet halls and hotels have mirrors and candles that may be used, but they need to be reserved for the event in advance. HELP WANTED ON THE JOB CAREER CONNECTION: Floral Designer Floral designers are also referred to as florists. They select live, dried, or silk flowers and foliage to create bouquets, corsages, table centerpieces, and wreaths. They are also hired to make floral pieces for weddings, funerals, holidays, and other special occasions. Floral designs include containers, ribbons, and accessories, such as balloons, candles, toys, candy, and gift baskets. Floral designers must be creative and be able to communicate their ideas visually and verbally. Problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and under pressure also are important traits. Individuals in this field need self-discipline to budget their time and meet deadlines. Most floral designers work in small independent floral shops. The shops may specialize in custom orders and handle large orders for weddings, caterers, or interior designers. A floral designer may meet with the customer to discuss the arrangement or work from a written order. He or she notes the occasion, the customer s preferences, the price of the order, the time the floral display or plant is to be ready, and the place to which it is to be delivered. For special occasions, floral designers usually help set up floral decorations. Floral designers are not required to obtain formal postsecondary training. Most floral designers learn their skills on the job. However, many designers do seek an associate s degree from a community college or a bachelor s degree from a four-year university. Page 6 www.mycaert.com
Summary: A centerpiece is a floral arrangement designed to be placed on a table or a buffet. Traditional centerpieces are low so as not to interfere with conversation at a table. Types of centerpieces include bud vases, small vase arrangements, round centerpieces, oval or diamond-shaped centerpieces, and conical centerpieces. A round centerpiece looks the same from any view. The contour of the arrangement may be round or triangular. An oval or diamond-shaped centerpiece is similar to a round centerpiece but is more suitable for an oval or rectangular table. The contour of this design may be triangular or rounded. A conical centerpiece is a three-dimensional isosceles triangle. Accessories are items that can be added to centerpieces to create interest. Candles, ribbon, fruit, cones, seasonal items, and other objects are used as accessories. To make decisions about the design of a centerpiece for a particular event, gathering necessary information is important. A series of questions must be answered, including what, when, where, how, and why. Checking Your Knowledge: 1. What is a centerpiece? 2. What are the types of centerpieces? 3. What are the steps taken in designing round and oval or diamond-shaped centerpieces? 4. What are accessories? 5. What information must be learned to complete an order for a centerpiece? Expanding Your Knowledge: Design a variety of centerpieces as a project at home or in class. The program at school can take orders for events and fill them as a class project. Follow the steps to making centerpieces outlined in this unit. Web Links: Rittners Floral School http://www.floralschool.com/floral-ed-center.htm Table Arrangements http://www.save-on-crafts.com/tabarcen.html The Table Centerpiece http://www.800florals.com/care/easy_center.asp Page 7 www.mycaert.com