11 Wedding Table Decorations That Will Brighten Up Your Reception (2024)

FAQs

How to decorate a table for a wedding reception? ›

Timeless table decor can include long, graceful candelabras, dark green vines, simple jars filled with pampas grass, and ample amounts of flowers, preferably classically romantic blooms like roses or peonies. Use gold accents to take the look up a notch.

The most traditional centerpiece is the floral arrangement. Whether these are tall, short, wide, or narrow, fresh blooms in the middle of the table just say “wedding.” Keep your venue's structure and design in mind when determining the size of your arrangements, advises event designer Jove Meyer of Jove Meyer Events.

Candles, Candlesticks, And Lanterns

Think of them as decor that supports the focal point of a centerpiece. I love the look of a grouping of candles on either side of my centerpiece. Grouping beautiful candle holders on your dining room table adds visual weight and presence to a table. And adds a bit of ambiance too!

Choose sleek and contemporary vases or geometric shapes in neutral tones. Fill them with a single statement flower, such as a protea or a tropical leaf, for a modern and artistic touch. Surround the centerpiece with votive candles or small bud vases for understated elegance.

Stick to three or four arrangements with repeating elements (or flowers) so the look stays cohesive. Lastly, work with your florist to make sure the arrangements match both the proportions of the room and the shape of the tables. For example, you wouldn't want a tall centerpiece in a low-ceiling room.

Compliment the Shape of the Table- Keep in mind that the most common shapes of table you will come across will be round, square or rectangle. Round tables best suit a single centerpiece and bodes well to tall centerpieces because its design makes it easier for the guests to look around and converse with other guests.

A roundtable deserves one centerpiece per table. However, we also recommend that you add a few to other areas of the room to tie it all together. If you have a bar or a buffet, you may also want to put some on those tables as well for consistency.

Try to pick pieces that speak the same visual language—even if they're working with contrasting styles. Pair a traditional table with acrylic chairs. Or buy a modern table and flank it with French country dining chairs and a mid-century style bench. You also want to make sure the chairs have equal visual weight.

What are the do's and don'ts in making table centerpieces? ›

Centerpieces should be under 12 inches tall or over 20 inches tall, depending on how your guests will be seated. You'll want to avoid blocking the view of guests sitting across from each other.

To combat this, put tall centerpieces on tables with less traffic such as a gift or buffet table. Conversely, short centerpieces are great for accommodating conversation among guests. As a general guideline, you'll want to keep your tall pieces at 24” or higher and your short pieces at 12” or under.

You can also use balloons, candlesticks, garlands, fruits and veggies, or even spray-painted leaves, as seen on this tabletop, which was designed by D'amour et de Déco. In fact, with a non-floral centerpiece, the sky (or reception venue ceiling) is essentially your only limit.

You don't have to be a florist to create an incredible centrepiece using foliage. Unlike flowers, greenery is much easier to make look professional and lends itself well to a relaxed, rustic look. Foliage like eucalyptus and ivy are particularly good for creating a living piece of decor for your wedding tables.

At a minimum, each table will need a centrepiece and table name or number, and each place setting will have a place card, wedding favour, napkin, and some additional flourishes, such as a spring of rosemary on top of your menu.

Seat people together who know one another.

"People want to sit with people they know and aren't betting on your wedding being an opportunity to expand their friend circle," says Weinberg. "If you have a group of friends who all get along, seat them together instead of trying to force them to make new friends."

When setting a formal table, begin with plates. First, center the charger in the middle of the place setting. You can get creative with your chargers and play with colors, materials, and textures. Then, put the dinner plate on top of the charger, and the salad plate on top of the dinner plate.

This can be even more complicated when deciding who should sit at the bridal table. Traditional wedding etiquette says that the bride and groom sit in the centre of the bridal table, with the groom to the bride's right, and the rest of the guests sit in an alternating boy-girl pattern.