Centerpieces are a very small element in your wedding, but if you're not careful they can become a big issue. So while this isn't a list of do's and don'ts, these thoughts are just what happens at a guest's table with certain centerpieces.

Candles

Honestly, this may be the only centerpiece that has an astronomical amount of issues, and it might not be so much catering to the guests but saving a lot of trouble for yourself and the people tearing down. Okay, not astronomical, but still quite a few issues.

Candles, as it turns out, don't mix well with plastic silverware and teenage boys. If, during the reception, you smell something burning from across the room, it's because a bunch of 13 year olds made trebuchets out of forks with help from the small open flame on their table.

It doesn't even have to be boys. My adult husband likes to mess around with candles - and there are plenty of men like him. So even if you don't invite anyone under 18 you'll still find trouble at certain tables if you have candles.

My advice to you: If you want the beautiful ambiance of a candle, use a fake one with an LED light that no one can use to set the tablecloth on fire. Foregoing plastic silverware if you really want the candles will help, but there will be a lot less issues in general if you avoid an open flame.

Other centerpiece materials guests will tear apart are as follows:

• Moss-covered centerpieces
• Anything with foam (like florist foam you stick flowers in)
• Water centerpieces (people won't usually fully pour the water out, but their movements may cause the water to slosh over a little)
• Anything extremely delicate

This is not me saying you MAY NOT have candles or water pieces. If you have something you really want, go for it. This is just awareness that something on which you spend a lot of time and money may not be reusable after the wedding or may destroy something else. Because of this, you really have the option to save money here. OR use those decorations somewhere else in the reception hall.