furniture
Wedding Reception Table Decor
You want your wedding reception to be beautiful and included in that is to have beautifully set and decorated tables for you and your guests. Yet you don't want to spend a fortune. Here are some simple ideas to help you create beautiful tables and beautiful place settings.
You will most likely be renting table linens for the tables. In addition to the tablecloth and napkins consider using a table skirt. It adds an 'elegant' and 'dressed' up feel. Keeping all linen white is a traditional look and very beautiful. However, if your wedding has a color theme to it you can use your linens to help carry it out. One nice look is to have only your napkins in the color theme.
Centerpieces can be simple (and relatively inexpensive) to elaborate. I prefer the former because it provides a 'cleaner' look and doesn't interfere with cross-table conversations.
My three favorite looks for wedding receptions tables are:
1) Floral Centerpieces. Try keeping the flowers within varying shades of a certain color (say 'pink') and then having them interspersed between delicate greens for a lovely look. So for example - you may have roses, alstroemeria, calla, chrysanthemum in one vase. Each of the flowers would be in the 'pink' family - but not all the same shade of pink. Another beautiful color combination is just white and green - it appears very 'pure'. Don't over stuff your vases - flowers look loveliest when they are not bunched together but rather can stand gracefully. By the way, you can easily put these together yourselves and save a considerable amount of money. Glasses vases can be purchased inexpensively at craft stores and you can work it out with your supermarket floral department or a florist to have certain flowers ordered for you. Enlist a friend or family member to put the vases together the day before or morning of your wedding.
2) Candle Centerpieces. There are several ways to decorate with candles. You could have elegant tapers as centerpieces, either as the traditional 2 long tapers side by side or in a candelabra that holds several tapers (these can be rented). If you have a color theme to your wedding, candles in those colors are a perfect way to incorporate it. You can also use the wider pillar candles for your centerpieces. Either stand one large pillar in the center of the table on a decorative holder and perhaps place some greens around its base, or use several pillars in varying shapes as your centerpiece.
3) Bud vases or small candles at each place setting: You can achieve a very elegant looking table(s) by setting a bud vase at each place setting and filling it with one large bloom such as a gerber daisy. Or you could include a few smaller blooms in each vase. Keep it very simple those - its elegance is in its simplicity.
Or you can set each place setting with either a votive candle holder or a tea light holder. You can find a wide variety of either to match you color scheme or your wedding theme if you have one. Have the servers light the candles shortly before everyone sits down - it will create a beautiful look, especially if the lights are dimmed just a bit.
The bud vases and the candle holders can be sent home with your guests as their wedding favor. In the years to come they will remember your special day every time they use it.