Hotel banqueting suites and conference halls are some of the hardest-working rooms in hospitality. A wedding breakfast on Saturday, an awards dinner on Tuesday, a two-day conference by Thursday. The florals have to keep up, and that's exactly where artificial arrangements earn their place.
In short, the arrangements most hotels use in these spaces are table centrepieces (low and tall), top table and long table designs, stage and lectern pieces, entrance statements, flower walls and backdrops, pedestal and urn arrangements, suspended installations, and trees for zoning the room. Here's how each one works, and how I'd plan them for your venue.
1. Low table centrepieces
The workhorse of every banquet. Low centrepieces sit on round or rectangular tables and keep guests talking across the table, so I keep them below about 30cm. Think compact domes of roses and hydrangea, orchids in shallow bowls, or greenery with space for candles and table numbers. They suit wedding breakfasts, private dining and gala dinners alike.
2. Tall table centrepieces
For high ceilings and grand rooms, tall centrepieces lift the flowers above eye level. A slim stand or trumpet vase keeps the sightline clear, with the flowers sitting above about 60cm, so guests can see each other and the stage. A room full of tall arrangements feels instantly special, and they fill the height of a large ballroom beautifully. Many rooms mix both, with tall pieces on every other table.
3. Top table and long table designs
Top tables and banqueting tables call for long, low designs: runners of foliage and flowers, garlands along the table front, or a series of matching arrangements placed down the centre. The top table is the most photographed spot in the room, so this is where I'd put the most detail.
4. Stage, lectern and podium arrangements
At conferences, product launches and awards nights, the stage is the focal point and the cameras follow it. Arrangements along the stage edge, either side of the screen or at the base of the lectern frame your speakers beautifully. I design these to look good from the back of the room and on the big screen, often in the client's brand colours.
5. Entrance and registration statements
The first thing delegates and guests see. A large arrangement on the registration desk, a pair of urns either side of the doors or a floral arch at the entrance sets the tone before anyone sits down. These pieces work hard for photographs too.
6. Flower walls and backdrops
Flower walls have become the backdrop of choice for weddings, awards and corporate events. They give guests a natural place to photograph themselves, and every picture shared online carries your venue with it. A wall can include a sign or logo for corporate clients, so the brand appears in every photograph.
7. Pedestal and urn arrangements
Large arrangements in pedestals or urns frame doorways, mark the aisle for a ceremony or fill a corner that would otherwise feel empty. A matching pair is one of the simplest ways to make a room feel dressed.
8. Suspended and ceiling installations
For the biggest impact, florals overhead. Hanging foliage, floral chandeliers or a full blossom ceiling transform a plain function room into something guests talk about for years. They need careful planning around rigging points, lighting and access, but the result is unforgettable. My blossom ceiling at The Mount Hotel was designed with wedding guests and regular diners in mind.
9. Trees and greenery for zoning
Faux trees, topiary and planters are brilliant for dividing a large hall. Use them to create breakout areas, soften a bar, screen service doors or frame a coffee station between conference sessions.
Why hotels choose artificial arrangements for events
- Fast turnarounds. When the room changes over from a conference to a dinner in an afternoon, there's no time to source and arrange fresh flowers. Faux pieces come out of storage ready to place.
- Used again and again. A set of centrepieces can dress hundreds of events, so the cost per event falls with every booking.
- Safe around AV and linen. No water near cables, projectors or white tablecloths, and no pollen on a guest's suit or dress.
- Consistent quality. The flowers at Saturday's wedding look exactly like the ones in your brochure, whatever the season.
- Easy to transport and store. Pieces travel between rooms and floors without damage, and pack away neatly between events.
Building a banqueting collection
Many hotels keep their own collection of event florals, ready for the events team to set. My advice for getting it right:
- Start neutral. White, ivory and green suit almost every wedding, dinner and conference. Build the core collection around them.
- Add interchangeable accents. A small set of colour pieces lets you change the mood for a client, a season or a brand.
- Buy in matching sets. Order enough centrepieces for your largest room layout, plus a few spares.
- Plan storage from day one. Labelled crates and a simple layout plan for each room make setting up quick for any member of the team.
- Hire the extras. For a one-off statement, such as a flower wall or a themed gala, hiring is often the smartest choice. Take a look at my corporate event flowers and wedding flower hire.
Fire safety and the practical details
Banqueting suites and conference halls are busy public spaces, so plan florals with your fire risk assessment in mind. Keep arrangements clear of exits, walkways and fire equipment, and keep candles well away from foliage. For commercial venues I recommend fire-retardant plants and flowers, and I'm happy to talk through what your venue or event organiser needs. Weighted bases and secure fixings matter too, because tables get moved, chairs get bumped and dance floors get lively.
How I work with hotels and venues
I design faux florals for banqueting suites and conference halls in three ways: permanent pieces your events team owns, event hire installed and collected by my team, and venue partnerships, where I become the faux floral designer you recommend to your couples and clients. At St Martin's House, each room of the venue needed its own installation, and the owners have since asked me to create another for their Glasgow venue.
If you're planning florals for your banqueting or conference spaces, I'd love to help. Read more about faux flowers for business, or start your project and I'll come back to you personally.
Sharon Demmery
Founder & designer, Demmerys Faux Floral Studio
