Decorating Your Wedding Reception Tables

Stephanie Smith

Everyone wants that magical wedding where everything looks perfect, but not everyone knows where to start. Some banquet halls will have caterers who are experienced in wedding planning, while other halls will leave everything up to the bride and groom. Either way there will be a lot of questions to ask during the planning stages. When deciding on your decorations keep in mind how much of your time everything will take, because your time will be at a premium in the days leading up to the wedding when most of the decorating will need to be done.

There are three main ways you can dress up your reception tables, and all three have a big impact on the atmosphere of your wedding reception.

Linens - think about what color you want your tablecloths and napkins to be. Do you want everything to be white? Or do you want white tablecloths with napkins to match the bridesmaids or the flowers? Keep in mind that tablecloths and napkins in the same color will wash each other out. And if everything matches the bridesmaids dresses, they will be washed out as well. A neutral tablecloth color mixed with a complementary napkin color can give a sharp look to your reception. Also consider whether you want (and can afford) chair covers. They can be expensive to rent, so make sure it's really worth paying that extra money to cover up chairs that may have seen better days.

Centerpieces - most weddings have a centerpiece on each reception table. Some halls will allow you to rent centerpieces, which means they don't go home with your guests. In most cases, however, the centerpieces will be up to you to provide. There are many options to consider when deciding on your centerpieces, such as whether they contain flowers or candles, as well as what color you want to focus on. Sometimes the easiest way to make the biggest impact is to keep it simple. Try to choose centerpieces that can be made ahead of time or assembled on site by the caterer.

Favors - many couples give favors to their guests as a take home gift. The favors are usually set at each place setting and contribute to the decor of the reception. They don't need to be in the same theme as your centerpieces, but just make sure they don't overpower the rest of the decorations. Large favors will block your centerpieces and you'll have a lot of things competing for attention on your tables. For a different twist, try combining the favors to make a centerpiece. If you have eight guests at each table, put eight votives where the centerpiece would be, and the guests can each take a votive home at the end of the festivities.

If you can, talk to your contact at the reception site. Their advice on decorating the tables can be invaluable since they likely have seen a lot of different things done. Bring along a friend or family member to the hall and describe what you're planning to get a fresh perspective. They may be able to think of something you missed, such as yellow napkins not matching very well with the pink walls, unless you really are going for the Easter egg look.

Reception table decorating doesn't need to be stressful. Keeping it simple will minimize the time and money you end up spending on your wedding tables.