| Many of the benefit auctions I work use a floral | | | | will be easier for volunteers to pull items from their |
| centerpiece on the table. I certainly enjoy the | | | | homes, like blue bottles and shells, to coordinate tables. |
| freshness they bring to a table, but I've also seen | | | | The tables won't be exact matches, but the cost of a |
| some creative non-floral centerpieces at my auction | | | | professional florist is eliminated and the theme can still |
| fundraisers. | | | | be carried out. |
| Most often an organization will opt for a non-floral | | | | A star example of cornucopia |
| centerpiece due to cost. As attractive as they are, | | | | Last fall, my team and I worked an event in southern |
| flowers can be expensive. Flowers are a "nice to | | | | Virginia which was one of the most attractive events |
| have," not a "need to have," so they can be quickly cut | | | | I've ever attended. It wasn't a large audience; the |
| from a budget. A beautiful table is still the benchmark | | | | crowd only numbered around 225; but the decor and |
| for the benefit event. | | | | atmosphere was exquisite! It was one of the more |
| Kids can be tapped into as the manpower to create | | | | magical auctions I've attended. |
| many non-floral centerpieces. This is useful if you are | | | | The theme was Treasures of the Deep. |
| running a school auction or a non-profit which benefits | | | | All-things-of-underwater-intrigue could be found here. |
| children. | | | | The dark, mysterious, quiet of the ocean seemed to |
| At the "Night at the Museum" benefit auction each | | | | come alive in this benefit auction. |
| table had a creative centerpiece showcasing a | | | | One of the elements that made this event so eye |
| different museum around the United States. A popular | | | | catching was the centerpieces. I couldn't help but |
| table hosted the National Baseball Hall of Fame | | | | admire how creative the florist had been to create |
| museum. | | | | such elegant focal points for the tables. |
| Often times, a benefit auction will opt for a cornucopia | | | | Every centerpiece was different. Some were more |
| when they go with non-floral centerpieces. What I am | | | | traditional centerpieces, whereas other tables had |
| calling cornucopia is the tablescapes that are created | | | | collections of items one might imagine to be found on |
| with a collection of items and those might not be | | | | a sunken ship, like unusually shaped and dark-colored |
| consistent across all the tables. | | | | bottles. Collections of shells, starfish, and stones were |
| If you have volunteers managing the centerpieces, | | | | scattered about the table. |
| each member might be assigned a table and have a | | | | For those tables with a "living" element, the |
| list of supply options that can be sourced from a | | | | predominant vegetation looked like sea grasses. Other |
| personal collection or home. The centerpieces will help | | | | centerpieces consisted of arrangements of unusual |
| execute the theme, but each is going to be different. It | | | | plants that were reminiscent of an underwater garden. |