Fish As Centerpieces at my wedding?

Question

Hi There. I live in Florida and having the good ole Beach wedding. I can't find the right flowers for my wedding. So I am stressing out on centerpieces. Its a tropical/Beach theme. I was wondering is it expensive to use GoldFish/Beta in a nice bowl and yada yada yada.. ?? and Can I return the Fish when I am done?? Has anyone done this??

Oh yes, my colors are Pool (light blue) and Canary..

What about half and half? Like some tables have the floating candles and some have fish? I will have about 200+ guest. I am trying to keep it lost cost.. (if there is such a thing)

Answer 1

You could skip the fish thing all together...sounds like it could be a bigger hassle than it's worth....
Why not keep it simple? Get some charger plates in your choice of size, shape, color, texture etc.... arrange pillar candle(s) on them based on your plate selection (1 tall pillar for small rnd plates, a cluster of 3 varying heights for large rnd plate, or row of 3 on rectangular plates)...you can also use square or ball candles rather than the traditional pillars. Then pour a modest/appropriate amt of sand on the plate, and decorate by placing seashells and glass floral stones to match your color (blue would look "cool" and water-like) on the sand.
Leave it like that or dress it up further w/ribbon tied around the candle (s) or tuck in some silk tropical flower buds...live flowers wouldn't do well in the sand I imagine...

OR
Get those really cute little "table top" tiki torches! You can buy them cheap at dollar/discount stores and dress them up yourself, but Oriental Trading sells them adorned w/seashells and "nautical" rope / raffia already attached. They have a LOT of other decor items that coordinate w/them as well...and they're not really expensive. Check 'em out!

Answer 2

I think the fish idea is a really cool idea, but I do agree that you are going to either have a lot of upset people when you give the fish away, or your going to be dealing with a lot of fish dying. I know firsthand that beta do not do well in the aquarium together. Females always kill the other fish. They are very aggressive.

I've never been to Florida, I live in Utah, slightly different climate, but what about getting like some hybiscus flowers or some other tropical flower and floating it in water. Put a litlle sand in the bottom and some seashells or some colorful marbles and float the flower. And maybe do some candles on some tables. Either floating or pillars on a pretty plate. If you want fish, I would suggest getting a couple fish that you might like to keep for yourself and put them at the head table or somewhere at a focal point. That way you can still have your fish, but not be overwhelmed with a lot of fish to try to get rid of.

Congratulations and good luck!!!

Answer 3

Well, the fish can be cute. Bettas are cheap (don't use goldfish). However, you cannot return them, so you'll have to find something to do with all these fish at the end of the night. Also, be prepared for dead fish by the end of the evening.

Even though bettas are cheap fish, they are not cheaper than a bowl with floating candles, or a flower bowl. Or, create a seascape candle display for each table (uses sand and sandollars, and candles...see them at Michaels.com).

Below is a link for a beach-themed candle. They're cheap to make, and easy to get rid of at the end of the night (give to your guests). You don't need or want a big centerpiece, since people just push them out of their way if they can't talk over it.

Answer 4

Half floating cnadles and half fish would be very cute. You can get floating candles in the shape of fish at orientaltrading.com You can send the fish home with your guests because you can't return them. I would go with beta, bacause goldfish stink really bad and it is difficult to keep their tanks clean. Gold fish also grow a lot larger and fasher than beta fish do. Another fish you could get is guppies. I know it sounds wierd but the male guppies are very colorful-almost like betas. Good Luck

Answer 5

I do not mean to criticise but I am not a fan of using fish, or any live animals as decorations, simply because I have seen really nasty things happen when people have had few drinks, such as people putting them in champagne, or tipping them out and having "flipping" races (where they race the fish on the table, out of water so they are flipping around) it's so nasty. I know you may say they are only fish, but please do think about it, even the most lovely and civilised people can turn into different characters after a few drinks, and I bet more than one fish will die for the sake of your decorations. Personally I would rather nothing died for the sake of looking pretty. Please consider flowers, candles, fruit displays (even a platter of chocolate dipped strawberries can look really pretty, dipped in milk, white and dark chocolates) Like I said I do not mean to be horrible, but I just do not think it is fair on the creature involved. I know for a fact that any left over fish at the wedding I attended were flushed away by the hotel staff after the event, now that really is cruel.

Answer 6

My husband's cousin did this for her wedding. She bought cheap little round fishbowls and bought beta fish in the theme colors for her wedding. It looked so good and was an awesome touch.
I don't remember what she did with the fish afterwards though. Part of me thinks that they announced that guests were free to take the fish (in the bowls, obviously) if they wanted them.
You should call around to the pet stores in the area and ask whether they will take beta fish back. They probably wouldn't give you the full price back, but beta fish are cheap and it's worth a shot.
Good luck!

Answer 7

I think that's a really great idea! You could find out if you have a privately owned pet store around that might loan you the fish, otherwise you could give them away as favors. Though the guests might not be too pleased. Or you could get a big tank and keep all the fish afterwards as a sort of wedding memory? lol. I'm not really sure, but I think it's a really unique and fun idea!

Answer 8

I helped out at a wedding once where they had Beta fish as center pieces. These only require a small amout of water. Usually a medium sized vase with alittle water plant inside does well. The plant is not a requirement for the fish to live. But i would use purified water and a drop of stress coat in each vase. Jennifer

Answer 9

I am a hairdresser and oldly enough I know about this because a client of mine did this for his daughter The had an ice sculpture of a dolphin.(expensive).But they put one single Beta fish in a small on each table,he said this was not very expensive and they ended up sending this fish home with the guests.

Answer 10

The fish idea can work, but I doubt you can take them back afterwards. Also, I'd stick with Beta because they live longer. You don't want floating goldfish in your reception. :)

Also, you'll have to come up with a back up plan if the guests dont' take all the fish home. (Keep in mind that betas should not be put in the same bowl because they'll "eat" each other.)