How to pick the right Thanksgiving flowers

What Size Flower Arrangements Do I Need for Thanksgiving?

When someone asks me what size Thanksgiving centerpiece to order, I start with two questions. How long is your table, and how many people will sit at it? Then I ask where the food will go. A table for six with the turkey and all the sides on it may have less room for flowers than a table for ten with a separate buffet.

For a Table Seating Four to Eight, Choose One Low Centerpiece

A Traditional Thanksgiving Centerpiece

For a classic low centerpiece, I recommend about 12 to 14 inches long and no more than 8 inches wide. That gives you enough length to enjoy the flowers down the middle of the table while keeping the footprint narrow enough to leave room for place settings and serving dishes.

Here’s a simple way to check the fit before you order. Set out your plates and largest serving dishes, then lay a piece of paper roughly the size of the centerpiece in the middle. If the gravy boat is already fighting for space, go smaller.

A Loose, Natural Arrangement in a Glass Cylinder

If you like a more modern look, one of my favorite options is a clear glass cylinder filled with seasonal flowers, styled loose and natural. I keep the overall design low enough for guests to see each other across the table. When you’re choosing a vase arrangement, think about the height of the finished flowers as well as the height of the vase.

For a Long Table Seating More Than Eight, Spread Out the Flowers

Once a long table seats more than eight, I usually recommend several smaller arrangements spaced along it. Guests at either end get flowers to enjoy, and the gaps between arrangements leave you places to set down a serving bowl or pass a platter.

The same idea works if you’re seating people at several tables across a couple of rooms. I’d put a small arrangement or a cluster of bud vases on each table. You can repeat a few of the same fall colors throughout the rooms so the tables feel connected.

If the Food Goes on the Table, Try Bud Vases or Flowers on a Side Table

If your family puts the turkey, mashed potatoes, and every other side on the dining table, I’d choose one of these two options.

Five or more little bud vases. Put a few fall blooms in each and tuck them into open spots around the serving dishes. I like them scattered loosely so you can move one when another dish comes out of the kitchen. Keep the stems short so guests can see across the table and are less likely to catch a stem when reaching for a dish.
A vase of rich fall-colored flowers on a side table. If the dining table is already full, this is where I’d put the flowers. You can enjoy a fuller arrangement in the room and leave the middle of the table clear for dinner.

If You’re a Guest and Don’t Know the Table Size, Bring a Wrapped Bouquet

When someone is headed to another person’s house for Thanksgiving, I usually suggest a wrapped bouquet of autumn flowers. The host may already have the table decorated, and a bouquet gives them the freedom to put the flowers wherever they’ll enjoy them, whether that’s the kitchen counter, an entry table, or the living room.

You can pre-order a wrapped fall bouquet from Dietz Floral Studio for pickup on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. You can also take advantage of our drop-in Thanksgiving Bouquet Bar and create your own bouquet. You can purchase a ticket for this bouquet bar and get an extra $15 in flowers and access to specialty blooms not available to people without the pre-ordered ticket.

If you’re ordering for your own table and want help choosing a size, tell us how long the table is, how many people you’re seating, and where you’ll serve the food. Those three details are what I use to help you find flowers that fit the way you actually host.