Wedding Receptions: Table Styling

Plan your tables to perfection. From practical pointers to prettifying inspiration, a seriously stylish wedding breakfast begins here...

The wedding breakfast will be one of the highlights of your day - and not simply because you get to devour a hand-picked menu of delicious food. It is the first time you'll share a meal as husband and wife, as well as a chance to spoil your guests with a dining experience they'll be raving about for months to come. What's more, the tables at your wedding breakfast provide a fabulous opportunity to bring the design concept of your day to life and set the ambience of your reception.


Pocketful of Dreams, Victoria Grech Photography

Before you get carried away with flowers, feathers or whatever tickles your styling fancy, remember that there are certain must-haves you'll need to find space for on your tables. But how do you balance beautiful designs with these all-important practical elements? With a little table-styling know-how...

THE BARE NECESSITIES
You might be planning a sophisticated wedding steeped in tradition and etiquette. Or you might be ripping up the rule book and planning an effortlessly relaxed wedding. Either way, you'll need to include some essential items on your tables.

Cutlery. Each place will need a set of flatware and, for a more formal occasion, the cutlery for each course will be laid out on the table, taking up slightly more space than a less formal set-up. If you are hiring cutlery, think about the food you are serving: do you need to provide any specialist items like fish or steak knives?

Tableware. Ensure you have space for a dinner plate and side plate at each setting. If you are using crockery from the venue, check the size of their dinner plates in advance; most venues will use larger plates than you'd have at home. Charger plates - which sit under your dinner plate and remain in place for the duration of your starter and main course - are not essential but a chance to add some additional styling detail to your table.


Inspire Hire, Emma Solley

Glassware. Traditionally you would set your table with three glasses: for water, white wine and red wine. How formally you present these will depend on the type of wedding you are having, but remember these will take up space and you want to make sure that your guests are free to eat and drink without feeling cramped and banging elbows.

Linens. If your venue has beautiful tables that you don't want to cover up, then you may not need tablecloths. However, you should still consider napkins to help prevent your guests splattering the red wine jus down their immaculate outfits. These are traditionally presented at the left side of your forks, but place them wherever and however you prefer: folded, rolled, beside your forks, or on your dinner or side plate.  

On-the-table stationery. Depending on the size of your wedding, you're likely to need place names, menus and table names or numbers. Think about how you will present these, taking into consideration practical factors such as table names or numbers needing to be easily visible. If space is at a premium, think a little creatively - will your venue allow you to hang your table numbers or name signs above each table for a high impact but space-saving display? 


Ali Berry Weddings, Green Photographic

Final touches. Make sure you don't forget those little details like pepper, salt and bread baskets; these will take up further space on your tables and therefore need to be factored in.

For all these elements, check with your venue in advance what they can provide and whether you like what they have available. Also think about the style of your wedding and how formal you'd like your wedding breakfast to be.  A black tie affair calls for tables that perfectly adhere to tradition and etiquette; for a more rustic celebration, you probably don't need to be so concerned with the position of your cutlery in relation to your dining plate: a knife and fork loosely tied with twine and presented on each plate with a sprig of foliage would be more in keeping with the relaxed mood.


Ali Berry Weddings, Green Photographic

THE PRETTY
Now it's time for the fun stuff - those all-important styling elements that will inject some individuality and personality to your tabletops.  

Statement centrepieces. The centrepiece is a brilliant opportunity to add some character and style to your table. Work with your florist to create centrepieces that fit with the rest of your styling and think carefully about the receptacles for your flowers - the height, shape and colour will all influence the final look. Most florists have an array of vases, but if your florist can't supply what you have in mind they can be sourced from elsewhere. Floral displays can get expensive, especially at large weddings, so think about using fabric, felt or paper flowers for a cute, crafted and budget-friendly alternative. Or if you're not a big fan of flowers, then think about other decor you can use: a tall candelabra can look equally stunning, perhaps dripping in pearls for a luxurious feel.


Ali Berry Weddings, Green Photographic

Remember to consider the practicalities of your centrepieces. A round table gives you clear space to style, while a long table set-up often demands smaller displays to avoid the tables feeling too cramped. Think about the height of your displays; make sure they sit either below or above eye level to ensure your guests are able to see and talk to each other comfortably.

Darling details. The details can really add something special to your table settings. Add quirky little ornaments and drink stirrers for some unexpected charm, fruit nestled amongst or at the foot of your flowers for an enchanted garden feel or candlesticks or votives to wash your tables with warm candlelight.  

Using a runner for the centre of your table creates a defined space on which to display your decorative pieces. Alternatively, gather them on platters or under bell jars to keep things looking beautiful but measured. And remember the golden rule that less is more!


Ali Berry Weddings, Green Photographic

Fab favours. If you're short on space but want to give favours, then it's time to start thinking creatively. Why not have your favours double as place names? Or perhaps set up a table where favours are displayed, which guests can visit after the wedding breakfast?

Exquisite essentials. Don't think about the essentials and styling in isolation - especially if you're short on space - as these elements help to set the tone of the day. Hiring or buying glassware, linen and crockery to fit with your design concept will instantly raise the style stakes. Opt for colours that complement your colour palette, or focus on the setting or theme of your day and think about how you can reflect it through those essentials. For example, wooden charger plates are perfect for a rustic woodland setting, nautical striped napkins tied with rope in a sailor's knot are ideal for a coastal location and, for a Great Gatsby styled affair, gold-rimmed tableware with glass gold beaded charger plates will create the perfect mood of decadence and elegance.


Pocketful of Dreams, Mark Tattersall

TABLETOP TIPS
•    Mock-up your tables, ideally at the venue. If that's not possible then mark out the size of your tables and recreate them at home. Take photos of your mock-up; this will provide a useful reference point for the day and reveals whether any of your styling elements are being blocked from view and need re-arranging.
•    If you're unsure how many bud vases or votives you need, then err on the side of caution and get more than you think you'll use. Remember, every table should have a clear focal point; having clear space around your details allows them to be easily seen and admired.
•    Finally, when you've set your table up, sit at it and see how it feels. By experiencing the table as a guest, you'll notice things you may not see when you are standing and admiring your handiwork from afar.


Pocketful of Dreams, Mark Tattersall

Pocketful of Dreams
Pocketful of Dreams is made up of creative event designers Michelle Kelly and Vicki DeBlasi who offer wedding planning services throughout the UK. We don't believe in off-the-shelf packages or one-size-fits-all; instead we embrace uniqueness and adore individuality! That's why all our events are truly bespoke, focusing on our clients' tastes and personalities - not our own. But one thing's for sure: we'll always throw a heap of creativity into mix to design to perfect celebration!

www.pocketfulofdreams.co.uk


Pocketful of Dreams, Mark Tattersall



words Michelle Kelly and Vicki DeBlasi, Pocketful of Dreams


Copyright WED Magazine 2013