How Tall Should Centerpieces Be for a Wedding Reception?

Deciding on the right height for your reception table centerpieces involves more than just personal preferences: You'll need to consider some of the other aspects of your wedding plans when you are deciding on the look of your floral arrangements.

Size of Your Space

Low centerpieces may get lost in a really large room with very high ceilings --- you'll need the height to make your tables and party seem more substantial. And if you're in a very cozy, low-ceiling room, tall centerpieces may draw more attention than you'd like toward the top of the room.

Size of Reception Tables

Mammoth centerpieces will look out of place on small cocktail tables --- you'll need to use at least an eight-person round or square to carry off that look. That said, low centerpieces can make an impact on a larger table, as long as they are substantial enough to take up the center of the table. Ask your florist to set up a sample centerpiece on a similar-size table, so you can get a sense of whether the centerpiece is the appropriate size.

Keep Conversation Going

Centerpieces shouldn't block the view of the other side of the table (even if the table's so big that you'd have to yell to converse with the person on the other side of the table). Be sure that your florist creates centerpieces that don't obstruct the view of your guests.

Mix It Up

You don't have to stick with a single look for every table's decor. Ask your florist to mix low and high floral arrangements to give your reception space a more interesting look.