Ideas for Wedding Table Decorations

While your wedding ceremony may technically be the most important part of your day, it is the reception that guests will probably be talking about years from now. Most people follow their wedding with a reception in some kind of hall, allowing space for dancing and with tables set aside where people can eat and socialize. Some weddings have assigned seating, while others are more causal and free form.

Work within a Theme

If your reception has any kind of theme, the table decorations are the perfect place to expand upon it. If, for example, you and your new spouse love the sea, consider decorating the tables with shells, gel candles with an underwater theme, and even fish bowls with attractive fish. (Note: To dispose of the fish safely and humanely, secretly mark one place at each table. The person at that space has "won" the fish!) An Asian themed wedding might have Chinese fans at each place, or nice chop sticks for guests to keep. Whatever your theme, have one item in the center of the table as a focus point, and make sure that it is low enough to comfortably converse over. Around the centerpiece, scatter smaller decorations, like seashells or candies, and, finally, have a small number of gifts or novelty items at each place setting for the guests to take home at the end of the night.

Simple Elegance

If you have a formal wedding with no particular theme, you are free to create an elegant centerpiece for each table. Many couples enjoy a traditional wedding theme, with items like wedding bells being used to decorate the tables. A simple, low bowl full of water with floating candles and flower petals is also a classy and basic way to dress a table. To add color to a simple theme, choose two or more colors of cloth napkins to offset basic white tablecloths and dishes. Candles create atmosphere, and when set on mirrors, they add a special elegance while also ensuring that drips onto the tablecloths.

Guest Places

Guests typically expect a small novelty item or two at their space, which can be as simple as a name tag and a dish of candies, as complex as a small box of novelty toys significant to the bride and groom, or as unique as personalized gifts for each and every guest. Remember that if you want to personalize the gifts, you may have to do 100 or more. Keep the number of guests in mind as you choose your favors. Common gifts include small containers of bubbles, packets of rice or candies to throw, or ring toys. Be creative and enjoy the process!