Using Flowers at Events

In our continuing blog series, "Summer Entertaining," today we want to talk about using flowers at events.  Not weddings--entire books can and have been written on that! We mean flowers at home parties or even corporate or non-profit events, small or large.  A good use of flowers can really make your event outstanding, and they needn't be expensive.

One idea is to go small--try either using several or many small vases or even glasses with only one or two buds and short stems in them, whether lined up on your buffet or mantel or at your guests' tables or even outdoors, lined up or grouped on outdoor tables. The key to remember about small flower arrangements like this is that a grouping generally looks better than just one.  Where we've seen just one look good is in a guest bathroom or a bedroom where guests will leave their purses and things during the party.

A completely different take is to use very tall vases and tall arrangements, and to use them to "bookend" your buffet or mantel or sideboard or outdoor table.  Here less is better (not too many flowers and not too many arrangments total), as these arrangements are more visible by their height.

We generally prefer flowers all of the same color unless it's an outdoor event or a very informal event, such as a morning coffee gathering in a kitchen, in which case a variety of colored flowers looks nice.

People think they have to spend hundreds of dollars on flowers for them to look nice and this is simply not true.  Remember that at any event, even one floral bunch or arrangement, centrally placed such as for a centerpiece on a buffet or a dining table, will make your gathering distinctive and festive. 

Or you can also buy a large bunch of flowers and divide them among tables or areas in your home in different vases; this is the way to go if you're on a budget.

And if you're really on a budget, make your flowers look like more by buying leatherleaf greenery and/or baby's breath, to "fill out" your arrangement. Either leatherleaf or baby's breath bunches cost only around $4 and you can also divide them among several vases or small arrangments if needed.

If you don't want your event to look too "feminine," you can still use flowers but use a more contemporary vase, for example a rectangular one, and some more "geometric"-type flowers such as tulips or any tall, angular flowers.  These will still make your event festive and add color but not be too feminine or fussy.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com