Submerge your Flowers for Chic (and Cheap!) Centerpieces

dena — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:50:11 +0000

You’ve just discovered that the centerpiece of your dreams is totally out of your price range. No matter, says InStyle Weddings! Jung Lee of Fete, an N.Y.C. planning, suggests replacing the more expensive flower with something similar but cheaper. Consider the color, height and texture you’d like and ask your florist to suggest a couple other options. French tulips may be your first choice, but gladioli would give you a similar look for half the price. And to cut costs even further, display them dramatically. “One way to get away with fewer stems per arrangement is to buy or rent tall containers, fill them with water, and submerge a few French tulips, cymbidium orchids or amaryllis, or a branch of berries inside,” says Bill Heffernan of Chicago’s Flowers by Heffernan Morgan.

Once you have chosen a type of flower, says centerpiece-ideas.net, you can get creative with the details. For a truly striking arrangement, use multiple cylinders in varying heights in the center. You can either use the same kind of flower in each vase, or choose different flowers in the same color palette. Orchids are one of the most popular choices for submerged flower centerpieces, and they are available in gorgeous colors.

You can also choose to add some detail to the vases. For a Zen look, place a layer of smooth black pebbles in the bottom of the cylinders. If you are going for an dazzling evening look, then glittering crystals will look amazing when the candlelight bounces off of them. You can choose clear crystals or go for a bold choice like deep red or emerald. You can also float candles on top of the flowers for a very pretty effect.

Here are a few gorgeous samples of submerged centerpieces.

Tall Cylinder Vases

Images from The Knot via Mike + Sheila; ABnC Parties

Fishbowl Flowers

Images from minnow on seaview

Clustered Centerpieces

images from bridesbuzzing.com & Flickr by kristenhenschen

Submerged Bouquets

Images from The Knot via Forever blog & wedding-flowers-and-reception-ideas

Flowers by Candlelight

Images from No Fuss Fabulous & Bridal Cheek

Do-it-Yourself!

If you chose to do your own centerpieces, here are some tips from No Fuss Fabulous:
1. In order for your flowers not to float to the top of your vase, you will need to a) attach the stems to the bottom of the vase with aquarium glue or b) use fishing weights. Fishing weights are small silver weights sold at hardware stores. Attach weights onto the flower with clear fishing wire and let it sink – cover up with decorative stones or c) for some flowers simply adding decorative stones or pebbles to the bottom of each vase around stems keep the flowers from floating to the top.

2. If you use regular tap water, bubbles may eventually begin to form on your flowers. Use distilled water to prevent bubbling.
3. Real flowers are recommended. If you use silk flowers, make sure you test them in water to prevent bleeding. I have heard that synthetic flowers work better than silk.
4. If your arrangement starts to look too heavy, try submerging only half of your flowers. I have been to a few events where they only submerged a portion of the flowers and they looked quite lovely. See photo below offlowers not fully submerged.
5. In water, everything is magnified. A floating wire or fraying silk flower will show. Be sure that your pieces are well put together before adding water.
6. Depending on the flower you choose, the blooms can look nice up to a week submerged in water. The length of time your centerpiece will look fresh depends not only on the flower you choose, but also how much jostling will take place. This is something to think about if you are hauling a few of them to a wedding reception or other event.