Charger Plates: A Stylish Base For Wedding Cakes?

Charger plates are a great way to add a touch of elegance to your wedding table. They are a simple way to elevate your table setting and create a stylish atmosphere. Charger plates are larger than dinner plates and are used for decorative purposes only, meaning you can't eat off them. They are placed underneath standard dinner plates, bowls, or dessert dishes to protect the linens on the table from heat, spills, and stains. With a variety of colours, styles, and materials to choose from, charger plates can be a versatile addition to your wedding decor. They can add a pop of colour or be used to match your theme. After the wedding, charger plates can become a part of your dining set at home, bringing a piece of your wedding into your everyday life.

Charger plates for wedding cakes: yay or nay?

Charger plates for wedding cakes? It's a definite nay. Charger plates are purely decorative and are used to enhance the style and ambiance of a table setting. They are placed underneath dinnerware, such as plates and bowls, and are never used for food.

While charger plates can be a great way to elevate the look of your wedding tables, they are not necessary and can be an unnecessary expense, especially if you're on a tight budget. Many people don't even notice them, and they are often removed before the main course is served.

If you're looking for ways to save money on your wedding, skipping the charger plates is a good option. You can opt for cheaper alternatives, such as placemats or napkins, to add a decorative touch to your tables.

However, if you have your heart set on charger plates and feel they fit your theme and budget, go for it! They can be a great way to add a pop of color or a touch of elegance to your wedding tables. Just remember to choose something that complements your dinnerware and fits your event's style.

Charger plates: what are they?

Charger plates are large, decorative plates that act as a base for other dinnerware. They are also known as service plates, underplates, or chop plates. Charger plates are not intended to come into direct contact with food and are purely ornamental. They are used in formal settings such as weddings, banquets, or fine dining restaurants to elevate the ambiance and dining experience of the guests.

The average size of a charger plate is 13 inches, while a typical dinner plate is about 10 to 10.5 inches. Charger plates come in a variety of materials, including glass, ceramic, wood, rattan, acrylic, and plastic, and are available in various colors and designs. They serve both aesthetic and practical purposes. Visually, charger plates provide elegance and enhance table decor. Practically, they protect the table and tablecloth from becoming dirty during service and help retain heat in dinnerware.

When using charger plates, it is important to follow certain formalities. Charger plates should be dressed and ready when guests arrive and placed one inch away from the bottom edge of the table. They should be set two feet apart to provide guests with ample elbow room. Charger plates are removed from the table after all guests have finished eating the main course, along with the dinner plate still on top, to prepare the table for dessert.

Charger plates are a great way to enhance the style of your party tables and create a huge impact on the overall look of your tables. They can be used as a base to highlight centerpieces, floral arrangements, or simply as decorative accents. Charger plates help you take charge of your table setting, presentation, and décor!

Charger plates: how to use them

Charger plates are a great way to elevate the style of your party tables and create a huge impact on the overall look of your tables. They are an open dish placed on tables that can be used as a base for dinnerware like plates and bowls but are not used for food. They are great for protecting tabletops and tablecloths from heat, spills and stains. They also help servers with food placement.

Charger plates come in many shapes, designs and materials, such as glass, mirrored glass, paper, metal, acrylic, plastic and porcelain. With a variety of colours, styles and materials, charger plates can serve both functional and decorative purposes.

• They should complement your party theme and other table decorations.
• Choose your table linens before deciding on the charger plate to ensure they match.
• Consider the size of your tables and the number of guests per table to provide enough space between charger plates.
• Charger plates should be placed one inch away from the edge of the table and two feet apart from each other to provide enough elbow room for guests.
• Place napkins with rings, menu cards and name cards on top of the charger plates.
• Ensure the dishes served are placed directly on top of the charger plates.
• Charger plates are removed with the dinner plates after the main course, as they are never used for dessert.

Charger plates can be used in a variety of ways to create an elegant look or add a pop of colour. They are traditionally made out of lightweight and durable acrylic, but glass options are also available. After the wedding, charger plates can become part of your dining set at home.

Charger plates: where to buy them

Charger plates can be used to add a decorative touch to your table settings and are perfect for weddings, baby showers, birthdays, corporate events, and more. They are available in a variety of colours, styles, and materials, including glass, mirrored glass, paper, metal, acrylic, plastic, and porcelain.

CV Linens

CV Linens offers a wide range of charger plates in various colours and styles, including silver, white, and gold. They also offer glass and plastic acrylic charger plates. Their charger plates are available in bulk at affordable prices and can be shipped directly to your door.

Event Decor Direct

Event Decor Direct offers a wide selection of charger plates in different colours and styles, including acrylic, glass, and plastic. They have plates with matte spray finishes, shiny foil finishes, beaded rims, and scalloped trims. Event Decor Direct sells charger plates in packs of 24 or 6 at factory-direct prices, and offers free shipping on orders over $499.

Walmart

Walmart offers a variety of charger plates in different materials, colours, and styles. Some of the options available include gold, turquoise, clear, navy blue, dusty blue, and magenta. The charger plates at Walmart are sold individually or in packs of 6, 8, or 10.

Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby is mentioned in a forum as a possible place to find charger plates for $1 each.

Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree is mentioned in a forum as a place where you can find affordable charger plates.

Recycle Your Wedding, 100 Layer Cake, and Craigslist

These websites are suggested in a forum as good places to find used charger plates.

Michaels and AC Moore

These arts and crafts stores are mentioned in a forum as potential places to find charger plates, especially when they have sales or coupons available.

Kijiji

Kijiji is mentioned in a forum as a place where you can find second-hand charger plates at affordable prices.

Rental Companies

If you don't want to buy charger plates, you can also consider renting them from a rental company, as suggested in a forum.

Charger plates are a great way to elevate your table settings and create a memorable experience for your guests. By choosing the right retailer, you can find charger plates that fit your style, budget, and event needs.

Charger plates: how to use them as a centerpiece

Charger plates are a great way to elevate the style of your party tables and create a huge impact on the overall look. They are a base for your dinnerware and can be used to highlight your centerpieces and floral arrangements. Here are some tips on how to use charger plates as a centerpiece:

Choose the Right Charger Plates

Select charger plates that complement your event's style and ambiance. Glass charger plates are the most preferred choice for fine dining as they blend easily with eating plates and general decor. However, you can always break the rules and choose charger plates that match your party theme and other table decorations. Consider the size of your tables and the number of guests per table to ensure proper spacing between charger plates.

Arrange Your Tableware

Once you have chosen the right charger plates, it's time to set up your tabletops. Place the charger plates directly on the table or on top of a placemat. Center the dinner plate on top of the charger, followed by the salad plate and soup bowl if needed. Remember to keep your silverware and drinking glasses in the right places to provide comfort for your guests and a classy finish to your table decor.

Enhance Your Centerpiece

Charger plates can be used to highlight your centerpieces and floral arrangements. Choose centerpieces that complement the charger plates and create a cohesive look. You can use tall glass vases, tabletop glass vases, bud vases, or metal floral vases to add elegance and versatility to your table setting. For a more dramatic effect, consider using tall metal centerpiece stands or crystal centerpiece stands.

Protect Your Table

One of the practical purposes of charger plates is to protect your tabletop and tablecloth from heat, spills, and stains. They also help define each guest's space, contributing to a more organized and refined dining experience.

Remove Charger Plates Before the Main Course

Charger plates are typically removed along with the dinner plates after your guests have finished the first course. This ensures that the charger plates remain clean and undamaged. Charger plates are never used for desserts.

By following these tips, you can effectively use charger plates as a centerpiece, adding a touch of elegance and style to your event.

Frequently asked questions