Water Fountains Add Wedding Décor Ambiance
How to Use Tabletop Fountains as Wedding Decoration Centerpieces
Aug 31, 2009
Tabletop water fountains are elegant yet earthy, making them ideal focal points for everything from black tie receptions to casual, seaside celebrations. With or without floral embellishment, indoor water fountains inspire admiration.
Choosing a Tabletop Fountain
Water fountains for the reception come in many styles and designs, but they all share one of two common denominators. They are either corded or battery operated.
Corded fountains work best for a guest book, buffet or cake table that is located near an outlet and offers the ability to safely tuck and hide the cord. Cords must be completely secured away from guests and foot traffic.
Battery operated fountains are ideal for guest tables. No cords are involved so the table looks clean, and guests are safe from accidental cord mishaps. A quality battery system should provide a minimum of 8 hours of continuous flow.
With any fountain, the higher the water level, the quieter the operation. Beginning the reception with full reservoirs in the water fountains will insure a more peaceful experience. And fountains with reservoirs built specifically to prevent splashing should be chosen.
The pump matters. Choosing a fountain with a quiet water pump is beneficial, and not all pumps are created equal. Creations of a Craftsman specializes in tabletop fountains and the company’s VP II fountain pump was specifically designed for use in centerpieces. Reliability and minimal sound are the keys to a pleasant reception experience.
Wedding Centerpieces of Custom Design
Tabletop fountain companies offer stock designs ready for customization. Adding fresh or silk flowers, greenery, ribbons, figurines or artwork that complements the wedding theme or décor is possible.
Whether the fountains are rented or purchased, the fountain company, the wedding florist or an artistic person in the wedding party can assume responsibility for adding the personal touch.
Fountain styles, colors, lighting colors and even water colors are all avenues for customization.
When interviewed by Suite101 for this article, Scott Beresford, Master Craftsman and owner of Creations of a Craftsman, stated, “We have had many customers who have purchased our pumps and came up with their own unique variety of centerpieces. One in particular that comes to mind is the use of large seashells that the bride’s mother transformed into a gorgeous centerpiece using our pump and our advice.”
To Rent or to Buy the Water Fountain for Reception Centerpieces
There are pros and cons to both the rental and the purchase of fountains.
Rental pros:
- set up and break down is done by the fountain company
- functional operation is guaranteed
- pricing packages for multiple fountains are available
- fountains can be as elaborate or as simple as desired
- the cost per unit generally goes down as the quantity of rented fountains goes up
- a company’s reputation is verifiable
- batteries are supplied
Rental cons:
- there’s nothing to keep
- substantial security deposits can be required to guard against breakage or theft
- rental costs can vary depending upon many factors
- if a fountain doesn’t work, there is no outside authority to fix it
Purchase pros:
- fountains can be kept, given as gifts or donated to charity
- small, tabletop fountains with unique scenes are available from companies that don’t rent
- purchasing a pump and creating a fountain from scratch will result in a creation totally unique to the wedding couple
- some ready-made fountains can be far less expensive at discount outlets
Purchase cons:
- no outside help to set up, take down or maintain the fountains
- no timely recourse should fountains fail to perform at the reception
- few customizing options for most store-bought fountains
- the cost per unit can remain the same no matter how many fountains are purchased
- battery costs can be significant
Whether to rent or purchase fountains is a personal choice for wedding couples. Important considerations include:
- overall costs
- functionality (quiet pump, flowing water movement, lighting and unit reliability)
- size and style
- availability of customization
Are Tabletop Water Fountains for Weddings Worth the Expense?
When asked this question, Scott Beresford stated, “Awesome, perfect and incredible are the common adjectives we hear after an event.”
There is something about moving water that triggers positive human response. Water is life, and its symbolic and soothing presence upon a tabletop makes it a truly beautiful and wedding perfect addition to any celebration of life and love.
Photos provided with permission by Creations of a Craftsman.com
More wedding planning ideas:
- The Versatility of the Custom Wedding Wreath
- Unique Wedding Ideas – Personalized Wedding Arch
- DVD Wedding Invitations and Thank You Notes
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