Best Wedding Centerpiece Give-A-Way Ideas

Most couples invest a lot of money into the centerpieces for their wedding day.  Or those DIY brides and grooms spend a lot of time coming up with the perfect option to add to the decor and color of their wedding theme.  With all that money and time invested, it would be a shame for the centerpieces to be thrown out, and what newlywed couple wants to take home 10-15 centerpieces?

The best way to give those centerpieces a good home is to incorporate a centerpiece give-a-way into your reception.  Not only does it prevent the couple from figuring out what to do with them after the wedding, but it provides a nice gift for some of your guests and can be an entertaining aspect of your wedding depending on the option you choose to give them away.

As wedding DJ's, we are often in charge of the centerpiece give-a-way and really enjoy when the bride and groom choose something interactive that really involve their guests and help to make the day stand out.

Below are some of the top centerpiece give-a-way ideas from http://www.besthudsonvalleyweddingever.com/:

1) Penny Under the Plate

Ask your caterer to hide a penny (or a sticker, poker chip, or cute photo of you two) under a single bread plate at each table. Have your wedding DJ ask your guests to lift their plates and announce that whoever has a penny under their plate gets to take home the centerpiece.

2) Pass the Object with Variations

Have your wedding DJ ask each table to pass a napkin (spoon, dollar bill or other object) hot potato style around the table while the music plays. When the music stops, whoever has the object gets to take home the centerpiece.  At Avid Entertainment, we like to have the person with the object come to the dance floor and do a line dance with the DJ in order to EARN the centerpiece.  It's really funny and entertaining for all guests!

Silly Action Variation: This variation gives the simple pass the napkin giveaway idea a little twist. Your wedding DJ will tell the guests that the bride and groom will be giving away the centerpieces, "but we're going to have a little fun first."  He/she will then ask guests to pass the napkin several times, each time requesting that the person who has the napkin do something cute, fun and/or slightly embarrassing. The person who has the napkin in the last round gets to take home the centerpiece.

Dollar Bill Variation: This version uses a dollar bill instead of a napkin. Have your wedding DJ ask guests to pass the dollar. Everyone expects that the person who has the dollar gets the centerpiece. Instead, fake them out and give the centerpiece to the person who lent the dollar, to the person on the left of whoever has the dollar, or allow them to choose between getting their dollar back and taking the centerpiece.

Lotto Ticket Variation: Ask guests to pass a lotto ticket placed at each table. Whoever has the lotto ticket when the music stops may choose to keep the (unscratched) ticket or take home the centerpiece.  Any unscratched tickets go to the bride and groom.

Wrapped Gift: Pass a wrapped gift around the table. Whoever has the gift when the music stops can choose between keeping the gift...before opening it...or taking home the centerpiece.

Task Assignments: When your wedding DJ has your guests start passing the object, toy with them a bit before awarding the centerpiece. Perhaps the first person is the designated bartender for the table. Maybe the second person is in charge of taking all the pictures on the disposable camera at the table.

3) Reward the Quick RSVPs

One of the biggest complaints couples have before the wedding is guests who refuse to RSVP. With this giveaway idea you can award the centerpiece to your most prompt responders; it's good for a laugh as well as a subtle lesson in wedding etiquette.

Here's how to pull it off.  As your RSVPs come in, keep track of the order. When you make your seating charts, put a sticker (a gold star would be appropriate) inside the place card of the person who sent in their RSVP first.

Then have your wedding DJ make an announcement similar to this: "You've probably noticed that (groom's name) and (bride's name) are sticklers for detail and punctuality. (Pause for laughter).  They've decided to reward those of you who share their love for promptness. They kept track of who sent in their RSVPs first. Take a look inside your place card. If you have a gold star, congratulations! You were the first at your table to RSVP and you get to take home the centerpiece tonight."

4) A General Announcement

If you can't decide how to give away your centerpieces, simply have your wedding DJ make a general announcement at the end of the night that guests are welcome to take them home. Then let your family and friends duke it out.

5) On the Sly

If you want certain people to take home the centerpieces (usually mothers, grandmothers and aunts) let them know on the sly when you visit the tables. This keeps it out of the public eye and lets you give them to specially chosen people.

6) The LEFT and RIGHT Story

Have your wedding DJ instruct guests to pass a napkin to the right when he says the word RIGHT and to the left when he says the word LEFT as he reads a story. It starts out simple, but soon the story has your guests passing right and left so quickly that they will be laughing in confusion and amusement.

There are several story variations on the internet. It works best if you tell a story about the two of you, inserting personal details and jokes as appropriate. Check out this version of the Left/Right Story for ideas.

7) Donate Them

When the wedding is through, recruit one of your guests to collect them and drop them off at a nearby nursing home or hospital the next day.

8) Birthday or Anniversary Presents

Have your entertainer announce that you would like to give the centerpiece to the person at each table whose birthday or anniversary is closest to today's date.

Hopefully these ideas will help you to decide how to give your centerpieces away.  And be sure to check with your wedding DJ to see if he/she has any other creative and entertaining ideas that will work for you.

Have fun!

Jamie

For information on wedding DJ packages in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, contact Avid Entertainment