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  1. Catering & Design
  2. Tabletop

Foliage-Only Centerpieces: 11 Budget-Friendly Ideas

Lauren Matthews
November 15, 2012

Designers are using plants and foliage as the main attraction in centerpieces, a cost-effective look that calls for fewer flowers.

Van Wyck & Van Wyck produced this year's Friends of the High Line benefit in New York. The centerpieces consisted of small burlap sacks filled with air ferns and other plants, which guests could take home with them.
Van Wyck & Van Wyck produced this year's Friends of the High Line benefit in New York. The centerpieces consisted of small burlap sacks filled with air ferns and other plants, which guests could take home with them.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Matthew David Hopkins of 360 Design Events placed bowls of floating candles atop vegetative green roofing tiles at the 9/11 Memorial benefit.
Matthew David Hopkins of 360 Design Events placed bowls of floating candles atop vegetative green roofing tiles at the 9/11 Memorial benefit.
Photo: Courtesy of 360 Design Events
David Stark’s table designs at the fall gala for New Yorkers for Children included high and low glass containers filled with moss, ferns, and candles.
David Stark’s table designs at the fall gala for New Yorkers for Children included high and low glass containers filled with moss, ferns, and candles.
Photo: Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com
Clover Chadwick of Dandelion Ranch in Los Angeles created a sculptural arrangement using succulents.
Clover Chadwick of Dandelion Ranch in Los Angeles created a sculptural arrangement using succulents.
Photo: Courtesy of Dandelion Ranch
At MoMa’s Party in the Garden in May, designer David Monn topped tables with leafy topiaries and low arrangements of dianthus and viburnum.
At MoMa’s Party in the Garden in May, designer David Monn topped tables with leafy topiaries and low arrangements of dianthus and viburnum.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
At Chicago’s Harris Theater gala in June, Bill Heffernan used centerpieces of ferns and freesia as part of the event’s moonlit-forest look.
At Chicago’s Harris Theater gala in June, Bill Heffernan used centerpieces of ferns and freesia as part of the event’s moonlit-forest look.
Photo: Robert Carl
In September, Los Angeles floral designer Eric Buterbaugh set topiary balls on beds of wheatgrass at the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Foundation luncheon celebrating the Nancy Short lecture series.
In September, Los Angeles floral designer Eric Buterbaugh set topiary balls on beds of wheatgrass at the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Foundation luncheon celebrating the Nancy Short lecture series.
Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages
Fox celebrated its fall television lineup with a casino-style event in Los Angeles. YourBash! and Sada's Flowers collaborated on the event's shabby chic look, which included simple arrangements of succulents decorating the tables.
Fox celebrated its fall television lineup with a casino-style event in Los Angeles. YourBash! and Sada's Flowers collaborated on the event's shabby chic look, which included simple arrangements of succulents decorating the tables.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
Sutra International Design used leafy branches to make centerpieces that resembled miniature trees for the Palm Beach Heart Ball in February.
Sutra International Design used leafy branches to make centerpieces that resembled miniature trees for the Palm Beach Heart Ball in February.
Photo: Lucian Capehart
At the Lowline 'Anti-Gala,' producers Van Wyck & Van Wyck topped tables with centerpieces comprised of potted rosemary, mint, geranium leaves, and olive branches.
At the Lowline "Anti-Gala," producers Van Wyck & Van Wyck topped tables with centerpieces comprised of potted rosemary, mint, geranium leaves, and olive branches.
Photo: Andrew Martin/BizBash
For the island-themed CTIA Wireless Foundation’s Achievement Awards dinner, held in Washington in July, florist Volanni used banana leaves in tall, thin glass cylinders.
For the island-themed CTIA Wireless Foundation’s Achievement Awards dinner, held in Washington in July, florist Volanni used banana leaves in tall, thin glass cylinders.
Photo: Eli Turner
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David Stark also created unique centerpieces for the 2018 Robin Hood benefit, also held at the Javits Center. The event, which had a “Lights of New York” theme, featured three-sided mini marquee centerpieces that offered messages of gratitude and celebrated the organization's anniversary.
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In September, Blueprint Studios designed and produced the San Francisco Opera’s Centennial Celebration Gala. At the arrival reception and dinner, an indigo and goldenrod color palette found in the table linens and flatware was especially striking. The team at the San Francisco-based event production company also used a mix of periodic textiles such as velvet, leather, crystal, mirror, and ostrich plumes throughout. See more: Over-the-Top Design Inspiration From Two of San Francisco's Most Swoon-Worthy Galas
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Van Wyck & Van Wyck produced this year's Friends of the High Line benefit in New York. The centerpieces consisted of small burlap sacks filled with air ferns and other plants, which guests could take home with them.
Tabletop
Centerpieces
In September, Los Angeles floral designer Eric Buterbaugh set topiary balls on beds of wheatgrass at the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Foundation luncheon celebrating the Nancy Short lecture series.
Tabletop
Centerpiece
For the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s gala, held in Miami in December, Shiraz Events designed miniature terrariums in fishbowls, that were placed on highboy tables during cocktail hour.
Tabletop
Centerpiece Ideas
Chevron-patterned linens were also used on cocktails tables, and sunflower bouquets served as centerpieces.
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David Stark also created unique centerpieces for the 2018 Robin Hood benefit, also held at the Javits Center. The event, which had a “Lights of New York” theme, featured three-sided mini marquee centerpieces that offered messages of gratitude and celebrated the organization's anniversary.
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Why This Event Prof Left New York to Start Her Own Business in the Caribbean
Meagan Hundt spent over a decade producing events in Manhattan—but the pandemic brought her to St. Barts. Now she's creating intricate tablescapes with her newly launched company, ART2TABLE.
Wow Attendees with a Tablescape From ART2TABLE
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How Apartment Therapy and Pinterest Came Together to Create Showstopping Tablescapes—Just in Time for the Holidays
In perfect timing with the season of gathering, 10 designers brought their own personal style to the table—literally—at Dine By Design, inspiring guests to get creative with their holiday place settings in the coming weeks.
Holiday Table Inspiration From Dine by Design
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10 Stunning Tabletop Looks We've Loved Recently
From florals encased in ice to a French-inspired dining vignette, we've rounded up a handful of looks that made us wish we had a seat at every table.
In September, Blueprint Studios designed and produced the San Francisco Opera’s Centennial Celebration Gala. At the arrival reception and dinner, an indigo and goldenrod color palette found in the table linens and flatware was especially striking. The team at the San Francisco-based event production company also used a mix of periodic textiles such as velvet, leather, crystal, mirror, and ostrich plumes throughout. See more: Over-the-Top Design Inspiration From Two of San Francisco's Most Swoon-Worthy Galas
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Another inspiration tabletop spotted at DIFFA's annual event, this ethereal display marries feminine hues with metallic touches for a showstopping setting—certainly better suited for those with a go-big-or-go-home mindset. See more: 18 Dining and Tabletop Ideas From Diffa's 2019 Dining by Design
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#ThrowbackThursday: 12 Inspirational Installations From DIFFA's Dining By Design
Looking for some inspiration? Look no further. While DIFFA's signature fundraiser has been postponed until 2021, we're taking a look back at top moments from years past as an ode to the creativity-filled benefit.
Novita Communications partnered with design studio Maiarelli Studio to create an installation that aimed to connect reading with the feeling of empathy. Instead of plates, open overturned books covering the topic of AIDS occupied the place settings, and stacks of books served as table legs.
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The Lodge at Sonoma recently launched its Sonoma Bike Tour program, created in partnership with Mission Bicycle Company, a boutique bicycle shop in San Francisco. The program features an insider’s guide to spots in Sonoma within biking distance, and the Ultimate Wine Country Bike Tour Package (starting at $344) includes the use of two custom wine-colored bikes made exclusively for the lodge. Plus, guests can go on a scavenger hunt with stops and tasks at participating locations such as tasting the special “Vella” cheese at the Vella Creamery.
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For a private wedding, held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington in March 2018, Favored by Yodit Events & Design and By Dami Studios created golden menus with cherry blossom frames to mimic the event’s theme.
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It’s A Thing Experience
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