Month: August 2019

How To Style Long Wedding Tables

When it comes to wedding receptions, the traditional set up has often been for a long top table for the bridal party, with round tables through the rest of the reception set up.

But while the old classics are tried and tested go-to’s for a reason, that doesn’t mean you have to stick to it.

As the taste in venues has changed in recent times, with many couples going for more laid back, rustic venues, the demand for long tables has increased and it’s not hard to see why.

Whether going for a room full of long tables, one big long table or a mix or round and long, they are something you should consider for your wedding day décor, both for their convivial nature and for their eye catching impact.  

Here we look at options and ways to style them to the max. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

Chairs

There’s no hard and fast rules when it comes to matching chairs to long tables, but there’s no denying that a long table set up certainly evokes a more laid back, relaxed style for your reception. Think village hall chic, no set table plan, people sitting and chatting where they feel most comfortable and a really intimate feeling. With that, often the best chairs to match can be bistro style or Chiavari chairs. Keep it simple and leave them naked or if you want to add an extra layer of chic why not add some tasteful draping or even streamers?

 

Florals and Garlands

Long tables love long garlands. They are a match made in heaven. Whether you decide to go for long lush greens paired with crisp whites, or florals with pops of colour interspersed along the way, it’s all about that overhang at the end. A long contrasting coloured table runner is also a great addition, as are the odd tall focal points, such as blossom trees or candelabras to bring a really visual counterpoint to the finished look.

 

Finishing Touches

There’s no limit to the amount of finishing touches you can add to your long tables. If you want to keep to a budget paper pieces such as pop-poms interspersed with your garland can look really well, as can economical yet rustic chic wooden boxes and slices. Candles of differing sizes lined along the centre line will look absolutely show stopping, as will lanterns.

 

A Mix of Long/Round

The exact type of table set up will often be dictated by your venue, so when viewing options be sure to ask what is and is not possible in terms of the space.

The style of venue will often be a factor too. Barn or lofty style venues generally work best with long tables. It also depends on what look you’re after – formal or relaxed.

Bear in mind that often a contrast looks more eye catching than uniformity, so consider a mix of round and long.

 

 

What is A Wedding Theme?

 

Planning your wedding should be a fun and exciting endeavour. However sometimes couples aren’t sure where to start, it is after all a big occasion for most and there is plenty to organise before you walk down the aisle and say ‘I do.’

Often choosing a theme for your wedding is a great place to start.

But what is a theme? Why do you need one and indeed do you have to have one?

The answer is that a wedding theme is absolute not essential to your day, however having one can help to bring all the elements together into a more cohesive vision.

Here we look at some of the pros and cons of a wedding theme as well as some of the most popular and universal themes to consider. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

                                     

Pros

Simply put, choosing a wedding theme is a great way to bring all your ideas together under one umbrella. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate either. In fact your theme may just be a colour scheme such as green and white, pink and grey or a touch of vibrant rainbow!

However, if there is a passion you and your partner share, such as films, books, gardening, travel, etc, then these can be the perfect seeds to sow a wedding theme from. You could bring aspects of any of these into your invitations, your ceremony decor, your table plan, table names, etc. Having some kind of theme gives your wedding day a much more personal feel and scope to add little touches that will mean a huge amount.

 

Cons

Some couples might feel the idea of a wedding theme is a little over the top or that it might limit them in terms of what they can do with their décor. For example if you decide to go with a certain theme you might feel you cannot incorporate items from another one.

In addition certain themes may end up being hard to put together in terms of sourcing items and your budget.

Also some couples might want a more laid back feel for their big day without feeling the constraints of a theme. However, the thing to keep in mind is that when it comes to a wedding theme, is that there are no hard and fast rules. It can really be whatever you want it to be. The best wedding themes are the ones that reflect the couples personality and interests and if that is simply to have a laid back feel, then why not use that as your template and go with it?

 

Vintage

One of the most popular wedding themes for a number of years has got to be vintage. Harking back to bygone eras, it is a theme that gives a lot of room to play with, as there is no defined period of time you have to focus on. More often than not, it’s just more of a flavour rather than a concentrated feel of say the 20’s or 30’s, for example. Instead many couples cherry-pick influences from a whole range of decades with little pops of décor. Think about vintage books, china, typewriters, weighing scales, gramophones, suitcases, birdcages, lanterns, clocks, etc. The list is endless and is only limited by your imagination.

 

Elegant

Again this is a theme with a broad scope of appeal and one that works universally well with most venues. Elegance can sum up so many images in a couples minds that it’s very much open for interpretation. It can mean silver candelabras, tall floral arrangements, golds, crisp white linen and formal dining options. The important thing is to make the theme as personal as possible to your shared likes and personality.

Rustic

Again, this is a theme that can conjure up many images, but generally speaking it is a theme that reflects a more laid back approach to the wedding. It can mean having a more relaxed dining experience, such as food trucks or BBQ. A barn style venue, glamping etc. Again, the key here is to take what you want from the term rustic and make it work for you as a couple and your budget.

Green and White

Another theme that has universal appeal is green and white. Again, this is open ended and doesn’t lock you in to anything, as such. Instead it gives you a something to focus on and bring to your wedding reception and ceremony. Green and white can conjure up elaborate hanging floral installations, floral arches, flower walls, an enchanted forest etc, or it can also mean having a more simple approach to your décor instead of colourful floral arrangements. A good wedding planner will help you refine your theme ideas into something that works for your big day.