Memorable Wedding Table Ideas

Every bride wants her wedding to be memorable – for herself and the groom, but also for their guests. A big part of making her wedding memorable is to select carefully from the myriad of memorable wedding table ideas. That selection begins with a dream, but it involves more than that.

Four Considerations

When searching for the most memorable wedding table ideas, you should keep four things in mind.

1. Significance: Whatever idea you use should have significance for you and your guests. This does not mean everyone attending your reception would have chosen the same wedding table ideas you chose, but there should be a meaningful reason for your selection. If you choose from among the many Irish wedding table ideas, and you are Asian American, there would seem to be no significance. If, however, you are getting married on St. Patrick’s Day, and your color scheme is green and white, Irish wedding table ideas are fine.

If you are having a themed wedding, you should select from among wedding table ideas that will carry out that theme.

2. Color Scheme: Most memorable wedding table ideas carefully adhere to the color scheme of the wedding. If you will be dressed in white and your bridesmaids will be in soft summer yellows, look at wedding table ideas that can naturally accommodate soft yellows and white. In this case, the Irish wedding table ideas mentioned above would be out of place.

3. Budgetary Concerns: No matter how many beautiful wedding table ideas you find, you will be able to use only those that fit within your budget – and you should have a budget for your wedding. Plan how much you will allow for the centerpiece on each table, and how much each guest’s wedding favor will be. Give yourself a firm budget before you begin looking, and stick to it.

4. Commemorative Favors: You will want wedding table ideas that incorporate wedding favors, and mark the favors in such a way that they will commemorate your wedding day. The marking may be as simple as a small paper tag imprinted with your names and the date – or the same information might be inscribed on glass or metal. If the favor is candy, cookies, or other edibles, have the rappers imprinted.

Flower Baskets

Brides who use flower baskets for weddings can carry the theme into wedding table ideas for receptions. One clever idea is to construct centerpieces of flower baskets, each filled with miniature bouquets. Use flowers similar to those carried by the wedding party, and tuck them into tiny silver or glass vases inscribed with your names and the date. Set a tent card on each table instructing guests that each may take one of the mini bouquets at the end of the reception as a wedding favor, thereby dismantling the arrangement.

Flower basket wedding table ideas go another direction when you place regular flower basket centerpieces, and echo them in miniature flower basket favors. Again, consider your colors and theme. Small folded cards attached with a bit of ribbon will give a place for your commemorative note.

Floating Candle Centerpiece and Favors

Most people enjoy candlelight, and if your wedding is in the evening, you might want to consider wedding table ideas that make use of candles. Arrange a large floating candle on a slightly raised stand in the center of each table. Surround it with small candles, each floating in a pretty container engraved with your names and date. Twine flowers or ivy among the candles, and advise guests that each of them may take one of the smaller candles as their wedding favor at the end of the reception.

Hurricane Lamp Centerpiece and Favors

Nostalgic wedding table ideas are always in vogue, since weddings are romantic occasions. Set the mood for nostalgia by placing on each table a tall hurricane lamp chimney mounted on a candle holder. Place a tall candle inside, matching your colors, and surround the candle holder with real or artificial flowers. Do not use thin tapers, as you want your candle to burn throughout the reception. Prepare a miniature edition of this for each guest’s place, and light them also. Use very small hurricane lamp chimneys and shallow glass candle holders for guests’ candle favors. Place short white candles in the candle holders, set the hurricane lamp chimney in place, and surround the bottom with delicate artificial flowers and ribbon to match your colors. If you wish, the candle holder or lamp chimney can be engraved.

Oriental Wedding Table Ideas

If your wedding is to follow an Oriental theme, you will want to consider wedding table ideas to continue the theme. Bright red tablecloths are a good place to begin, as red is traditionally used in many Oriental weddings. Gold or silver favors will stand out against the red. Center each table with a floral arrangement of red and green, with white, silver, or gold touches.

For a distinctly Chinese theme, use white or off-white tablecloths, and make your centerpiece of wedding favors. Arrange bare branches in a bamboo or black lacquer container. From the branches, hang miniature red Chinese lantern favors. To each, attach a commemorative tag. If your budget will allow, use silver or gold colored fortune cookie place card holders as additional favors.

Your Own Wedding Table Ideas

The best wedding table ideas are those each bride creates after doing her homework. There are many galleries of ideas on the Internet. Look until you find something you like, and then tailor that idea to be your own.