Plans for a Simple Table

You are in the middle of your wedding planning and you are trying to think of ideas on how to set up your guest tables. You don't want your tables to be over-the-top or too plain. Several items will already be on the table such as your stemware, china and flatware, not to mention the guests' favors, napkins and food, so you do not want to overcrowd the space or make your guests feel uncomfortable. With even just one of the suggestions below, you can create a lovely wedding table that entices the eye while allowing space for your guests' comfort.

Instructions

1

Stretch a white table skirt around the table corners, similar to how you would put a fitted sheet on your mattress. Pull the skirt down so that it covers all the table legs and reaches to the floor. Spread a white tablecloth over the table top. Place one to three tablecloths of your wedding color on the same table in a pattern that allows you to see both the white tablecloth and the colored cloth.

2

Decorate your chairs. Place chair covers over them for a cohesive look. Tie a decorative sash in your wedding color to each chair.

3

Place a bouquet in a bouquet clamp, which can be found at your local craft or wedding store. Position the clamp in the middle of the table and secure in place by tightening the clamp down like you would a C clam. Add more clamps to the sides of the table if desired.

4

Place your centerpiece in the middle of the table. Use one large, dramatic centerpiece such as a lush floral display or a basket full of long, willow branches. As an alternative, use two smaller centerpieces on the ends of the table and one centerpiece in the middle. This works well for rectangular tables.

5

Place a series of votive candles in candle holders across the center of the table, stretching from one end of the table to the other. Sprinkle flower petals in a coordinating color around the votive holders. Wrap tulle fabric around the display or place under the votive holders.

6

Place one to three round, clear glass bowls on your table. Fill each bowl about three quarters of the way full with water. Place several floating candles in each bowl for a simple, yet elegant look.

7

Place an edible arrangement on your table for a simple and practical look. Use a clear bowl of fruit, a fruit topiary or a bowl of tomatoes for an Italian wedding in the center of your table. Cut up lemon and lime slices and stack them on the bottom of a square vase. Top the arrangement with a small floral bouquet for a simple elegant and artistic look.

8

Use terra-cotta pots for a garden-themed wedding. Place three on your table and plant a flower such as a daffodil or daisy in the center. Mix a couple of colors and sizes of flowers together for a garden feel.

9

Place pictures of the bride and groom across the table. Place a few frames of varying heights in the middle or stretch a series of pictures from one end to another. Have the pictures tell a story by placing childhood pictures on the left and progressively move up to the most current pictures of the couple on the right end of the table.