How to Order a Floral Centerpiece

Your dinner party plans are almost complete. You've invited your guests, created a menu, planned the table setting, and you're ready for the big event. Well, almost. You don't have a centerpiece, but maybe one of the guests will bring you flowers you can put on the table. Stop. The centerpiece is an important element of the table setting for a dinner party and shouldn't be left to chance.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Set your table. Do a dry run of your table setting several days before the dinner party and take a look at how much room is left in the center of the table for flowers. If you plan to serve an elaborate meal, the dishes and glasses may not leave much room. Remember the food has to go somewhere, too. You may want to set the food on the sideboard to keep the table from being overcrowded.

2. Choose your colors. Don't leave it up to the florist. Look at your dinner party table setting and decide which two colors of flowers would best complement it. Always choose a primary color and a secondary color, remembering that most floral arrangements also include greenery of one or more shades.

3. Phone your local florist in advance. Once you find a florist whose work you enjoy, stick with him. You get the best product and good advice when you become a repeat customer. If you can, give the florist several days' notice to prepare your centerpiece. A rush job could result in a centerpiece you're not happy with.

4. Instruct the florist and listen. This is the most important part of ordering a floral centerpiece. Now that you know what size and color you need, you must instruct the florist. However, you probably aren't aware of the flower market on any particular day of the year, so you also need input from the florist. Give the florist your information, including the style of your dinner party, and ask what flowers are in season that best suit your needs.

Tips & Warnings

• Always make it clear to the florist that you want the freshest flowers available, even if that means sacrificing your variety or color choice.
• Listen to suggestions from the florist about the size and style of your centerpiece. She's done this before and can be considered an expert.
• Don't be shy. Give the florist plenty of information to work with. He's not writing a gossip column; he wants to produce an exquisite arrangement that fits your needs.
• Don't be afraid to tell the florist if there's a problem with the centerpiece she sends over. Changes can be made rather quickly, if need be.