FEELING FRUITY
Inspire Hire
Planning a natural, seasonal theme? Incorporate this into your place settings by placing a seasonal item of fruit for each of your guests. Pears, peaches and lemons work well - they add a hit of colour and you can easily write a name on them by using a metallic fine nibbed pen. Eco, inexpensive and oh-so-pretty!
LOVE GROWS
Inspire Hire, photo Ben Photography
In keeping with an eco-theme, a packet of seeds or a small potted plant make beautiful place settings and double up as favours. Potted herbs en masse add interest and texture to a table display (you could even forego a floral centrepiece) and their beautiful scent will fill your reception room.
THE VINTAGE TOUCH
Devon Vintage China, photo Sarah Lauren
For those with a love of all things vintage, mismatched china piled high at a place setting makes an eclectic and informal statement. Layer it up with the dinner plate, side plate and teacup and saucer featuring an array of clashing patterns and colourways. There are some great local crockery hire companies you could use or, if you have the time (and inclination), visit charity shops or beg, borrow and steal from your friends' and family's collections.
TASTY TREATS
Want to give your guests a sugar high ahead of the evening entertainment? Why not appeal to their sweet tooth and leave a tasty treat at their place setting? Instead of the traditional sugared almonds you could offer up a local delicacy - say clotted cream fudge, handmade chocolate or a stick of colourful rock. A popular choice in America is a mini cupcake with the recipient's name beautifully scribed on a cupcake flag - cute!
SPREAD THE LOVE
photo Savvie Photography
photo Caught the Light
Perfect for an informal wedding with a handmade feel, pots of homemade jam and chutney not only look pretty at a place setting but are sure to give your guests the warm and fuzzy feeling of being given a personal gift. Decorate with your own labels and tie a fabric that compliments your wedding colours around the lid.
BOTTOMS UP!
Polgoon
Cornish Orchards
Get your guests in the mood to party and place a mini bottle of wine or perhaps local ale or cider at their seat. If you've the budget, an individual bottle of champagne would look very chic and could be used to toast the speeches! You could even follow the theme through by using corks as name cardholders.
GET CHALKY
Pocketful of Dreams, photo Mark Tattersall
Whether it's scrawled on a piece of slate, a pebble or a personalised menu, place settings handwritten in chalk work well for a number of wedding styles; from a rustic celebration to those with a contemporary feel, the great thing about using chalk is you can easily recycle the place settings for another event and correct any spelling mistakes!
Visit Sarah's website www.bohobride.co.uk to find out more about her wedding styling service
PAPER MAGIC
Cutture, photo Green Photographic
This intricate paper creation is a gorgeous way to dress your plates. Tailor your design to your wedding theme or something personal to the recipient and voilà! Personal paper art to prettify your tabletops.
www.cutture.com
words Sarah Christopher
Copyright WED Magazine 2012
