Table Dressing Advice
Begin with RSVP
- In order to begin placing your guests at particular tables, you need to know exactly who and how many people have said "Yes" to your invitation. Based on the number of confirmed guests, decide how many you want at each table. That allows you to determine how many tables you will have. Once you know that, the venue can have the tables arranged around the room to use the space wisely with no gaps standing out.
Seating
You have plenty of resources available when planning your table seating arrangements. If you have a wedding coordinator, visit the venue together and make a sketch of what the reception room looks like. That will allow you to draw exactly where the tables will fit and how many people you will have per table. If you're planning the reception yourself, several different online tools and programs allow you to digitally create the actual setup of your room, move tables around and place people at each table.
To make seating arrangements, start with your wedding party and then your immediate family. Put the two of you in the center with your wedding party on either side including your parents and your fiances parents.
Next place any grandparents and your relatives such as aunts, uncles and cousins, and then your closest friends.
Seat families together, even if they include young children. Having a children's table isn't the greatest idea because many children need help from their parents during meal time. Separating them means the parents will be up and down instead of relaxing and enjoying the occasion.
Lastly, seat all others invited. This includes distant relatives and people who may have come alone or brought a date, but don't know anyone else at the wedding. Seating these guests together will allow them to get to know each other so they don't feel like the only odd ones out. Also, of course, don't seat people together who don't get along well.
Table Dressing
Before entering the room guest should be able to see a seating plan so they are able to note their table name or number, this helps seating run smoothly when everbody enters the room.
Set table names or numbers in plain sight so guests can properly identify their table. Put place cards out before your guests enter the room so they know which seat they will be sitting at. Each place card should have the guest's name on it.
The venue will have set the table as required. if you are not sure how they normal do this please ask as most venues will be happy to make alterations if required. Then you need to think about the decoration. Do you want a central flower arrangement that could also double up as the table name/number holder may even be suspended from the ceiling subject to the venues agrement. Perhaps candals, balloons, Favours (traditionally given to the lady guests but becoming more and more common to both sexes),napkin rings,confetti in an assortment of shapes, silk rose petals or ivy,wedding table jewels, beads and embroidery, chair covers and sashes and table runners.
There are some fashionable alternatives at the moment that include.
Having tall, stemmed single flowers in glass vases across the length of each table. This option is also quite viable in financially challenging times.
A novel trend in table decorations is having centrepieces that break apart such as large floral arrangements that break apart into smaller vases filled with flowers and candles, that guests can take home at the end of the evening.
Put sweets in glass bowls on each table or you can scatter your chosen sweets across the table liberally. You can place spoons or scoops upon the tables so that guests can help themselves to the treats throughout the night, or you can put them in bags or boxes and leave them on the table for guests to take home at the end of the evening.
These are just a few ideas please have fun exploring the alternatives that will help make your reception personnel to you.
