June 14, 2018

The ALSO Home Wedding Table Guide

When you create a jaw-dropping, design-led wedding, your big day becomes one that is remembered by all. This doesn’t have to be avant-garde or ultra glamourous, but showing guests you’ve considered all the little details makes it design-led.

The atmosphere at a wedding is by far the easiest thing to create as you don’t actually have to do anything! People arrive at weddings dressed up, excited for the day ahead and what that may bring. They are there to celebrate you and your relationship.

We rank ‘wedding décor’ as an element of the wedding that is equally as important as getting the entertainment right or choosing the perfect food for the day. Sadly, the décor is often forgotten about.

It’s an old cliché, but first impressions do count sometimes, and weddings are one of those occasions. If you want to create that jaw-dropping moment, you need to make a good first impression at the wedding. The easiest way to do this is by making the wedding reception space stand out.

(This isn’t as daunting as it sounds – or as expensive!)

Planning is key. You chose the venue for a reason, you knew what you wanted. It’s just about making that happen. Whether you have a theme or a colour palette in mind, give yourself enough time to make it perfect. It’s also vital that any decor or style you choose reflects you both.

Some of the most beautiful weddings we’ve been to have been in unlikely venues, where the Bride + team have literally transformed something like a run-down village hall into the most beautiful venue. Others have chosen more likely wedding venues and gone for a totally different theme to anything held there before. The world is your oyster when it comes to weddings and you can make yours stand out for all the right reasons, no matter what the budget.

Let’s talk tables.

Magical tablescapes don’t just create themselves. Before you get down to the nitty gritty, we need to talk about linens.

Tablecloths

Unless you have particularly attractive tables, or are going for a rustic/industrial look, tablecloths are essential.

You can get table linen in all kinds of shapes and sizes, so there is no excuse. We stock 140 x 230cm tablecloths in our core colours that is perfect for a 6-seat dining table. Always make sure you allow enough linen to cover the table and to drop over the side. There is sometimes controversy around whether a tablecloth should drop to the floor – we don’t think that’s necessary as long as it’s not too short.

Napkin

You will need a napkin or serviette if you’re serving food. You can display them however you like, whether you want a swan, hat, or a strange tower. We like a simple and effective fold, or rolled with a relaxed knot for a more casual setting. We’ve seen a simple way to add colour to your table too, by using larger linens. Drape a tea towel under plates and allow it to fall off the table. They could also double up as favours if you wanted to embroider initials on the tea towels.

Play around with where the napkins are placed too – on the plate, to the right or under cutlery. If you’re feeling particularly fancy you can always fold a napkin around the menu, like a little pretty pocket. You could even add ribbon for extra impact.

With the basics covered, it’s now onto accessorising. You can really use the space on your tables to create something quite exciting. This is where it all elevates – it’s time to get creative!

Before getting too excited, bear in mind you will have wine, water, side plates etc on the table, so either you need to incorporate them, or work around them. Trays and open baskets are a good place to start. They can very easily create a designated ‘space’ for the wine or water to go. It gives you more flexibility when it comes to flowers as you will be able to control where the drinks are placed on the table. Charger plates are a great way to add a unique design feature to your table display. Chargers are versatile and can also be used to serve starters or desserts. A carefully selected plate can really enhance food presentation.

Flowers are pretty integral to any wedding, let alone the tables. Whether you want a tall modern floral display, or something than runs along banquet tables, you can never have too many flowers. Speak to your florist about incorporating your bridesmaid’s bouquets on the tables to save cost.

Tealights, candles and picture frames are another way of adding interest onto a table. You can use the frames as table names, or to hold adorable pictures of you and your partner growing up. Steer away from this if the tables are starting to look cluttered!

Tealights and candles are great for later in the evening or for an outdoor wedding breakfast but make sure the venue is okay with naked flames. A general rule of thumb when creating visual impact is it’s always best to work in odd numbers and it’s visually more appealing. We tend to go with threes or fives.

You don’t have to try and do everything, just play around until you’re happy with how it looks. Swap in and out different elements, don’t try and do it all.

Enjoy it!

In summary, here are some golden rules to follow:

Budget first before you plan the tables so you know what you can afford to spend.
Don’t forget the tablelinens!
The table centres don’t need to be dramatic, just interesting.
Give some thought into the personal finishing touches. This will elevate the design.
Steer clear of too much clutter!