Deborah Chan
Long tables are a great way to add warmth and dimension to your wedding venue, especially if you're working with a large, formal ballroom with high ceilings and large windows. When it comes to decorating a long table for your wedding, the options are endless. From centrepieces to table runners, napkins, and place settings, each element can be carefully curated to reflect your chosen wedding theme, season, and colour palette. Whether you opt for a bright and cheery linen colour, a patterned tablecloth, or a simple, classic look with textured runners, there are plenty of ways to make your long table pop.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tablecloth | Monochrome, patterned, bright and cheery, or soft and organic linen |
| Centrepiece | Floral arrangements in urns, candelabras, lanterns, tea lights, or tall candlesticks |
| Table runner | Floral, foliage garland, chiffon-like fabric, or macrame |
| Place setting | Place card, wedding favour, napkin, spring of rosemary on the menu |
| Table name/number | Imaginative table names, textured runners |
| Chairs | Comfortable woven designs |
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What You'll Learn
Centrepieces and table runners
If you're working with a tight budget, simple table decorations like textured runners and table numbers can bring extra style to your venue. For instance, a floral table runner can be created using floristry foam or chicken wire, or by planting flowers directly into long trugs. A table runner made of fabric, such as chiffon, can also be draped down the middle of the table to create a romantic look. If you're looking to make a statement, a lush runner of flowers, such as baby's breath, can be a beautiful yet affordable option.
If you're able to splurge, candles, flowers, and favours will elevate the scene and add thoughtful touches to your tables. Flowers in particular are a popular choice for centrepieces, with options including:
- A combination of roses, dahlias, lisianthus, dried Queen Anne's lace, and foliage in shades of burgundy and blush for a bohemian feel
- Terracotta and pink roses in footed bowls, paired with thematic dinnerware and candles
- White hydrangeas, ranunculus, anemones, and greenery to complement a black and white wedding theme
- A floral runner inspired by springtime sunsets, composed of roses, tulips, sweet peas, ranunculus, and greenery
- A mix of crisp white roses and calla lilies set atop a mirror runner, with a canopy of white blooms and hanging bubbles
- Arrangements of white roses, ranunculuses, calla lilies, hydrangeas, dendrobium orchids, and lisianthus with rich greenery, presented in crystal candelabras
- A combination of curly willow, blush cherry blossoms, white hydrangeas, roses, snapdragons, delphiniums, burgundy scabiosas, brunia berries, and greenery arranged on tall metal stands
- Clusters of white dendrobium orchids and calla lilies in sleek cylinder vases set atop mirror chargers, illuminated by floating candles and votives
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Table name or number
When it comes to wedding table name or number displays, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the display should complement the table's overall styling and decor. If you're going for a classic or rustic look, simple table numbers or names displayed on a small stand or holder can be effective. For a more glamorous or opulent wedding, consider using elegant calligraphy or lighting, such as LED lights, to display the table names or numbers.
Another option is to get creative with your table name or number choices. Instead of traditional numbers or names, you could choose words or phrases that reflect your wedding theme or your interests as a couple. For example, if you're having a beach wedding, you could use names of seashells or coastal locations as table names. Or, if you're avid travellers, you could name each table after a place you've visited.
If you want to add a personal touch, consider incorporating photos or mementos into your table name or number displays. For instance, you could frame a picture of you and your partner at a particular location and use that as the table "number", or include a short story or anecdote about your adventures together. This approach will not only add a unique element to your wedding decor but also spark conversation among your guests.
Finally, don't be afraid to think outside the box. If a traditional display doesn't appeal to you, there are plenty of other ways to indicate table assignments. For a whimsical touch, you could use hanging installations or even incorporate the table names or numbers into the centrepieces themselves. Whatever approach you choose, ensure it aligns with your wedding theme and reflects your personal style as a couple.
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Place settings
If you're looking to add a bit of glamour and opulence to your wedding table, consider mixing in tall candlesticks or candelabras with your place settings. This can be done by building up different levels of candles in vases and votives, which will create a warm and timeless look, especially when paired with metallics and foliage. If you're going for a rustic or barn wedding vibe, using wooden crates instead of vases for your flowers will add a wholesome feel.
For a classic, elegant look, consider using a single type of flower for each place setting. Hydrangeas, for example, have large heads, so you won't need many of them to make an impact. If you're working with a tight budget, simple wedding table decorations like textured runners and table numbers can bring extra style to your venue.
Don't be afraid to play with colour when it comes to your place settings. Using complementary and accent colours that suit your palette can really make your table pop. A bright and cheery linen colour, like coral, can be a great base for your place settings, especially when paired with a floral garland that echoes the linens. Just remember to keep the rest of your décor more neutral so it doesn't become overwhelming.
Finally, consider the shape of your table when planning your place settings. Long, banquet-style tables offer plenty of space to play with your design, while round tables are excellent for encouraging conversation and can mesh with almost any scenario.
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Table cloths and linens
If you're working with a large, formal ballroom with high ceilings and large windows, long tables covered with elegant linens might be what you need to add warmth and dimension. You can also create a dreamy vibe by setting up a monochrome tent and hanging greenery all the way down the table. For a more glamorous and opulent look, consider mixing in tall floral arrangements with smaller ones.
If you're going for a clean and classic look, bring in some texture through patterns like damask, florals, or stripes in crisp ivory or eggshell. You can also use rectangular and square plates or other décor elements to add unexpected, modern angles to a familiar setup. If you want to make a statement, consider using a bright and cheery linen colour like bright coral. Just remember to keep the rest of your décor more neutral to avoid an overwhelming look.
To create a cosy dinner-party vibe, you can also choose round tables in various sizes for a more intimate setting. Round tables are a crowd favourite as they offer excellent conversational benefits and can mesh with just about any scenario. You can spice things up by mixing up sizes, such as alternating between 60-inch and 72-inch rounds.
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Flowers and candles
For a simple yet chic and classic look, create a long garland of foliage and drape it down the length of the table. You can use eucalyptus or a mix of different foliage types to create some texture. Intersperse the garland with candles of varying heights for a forest wild look. For a vintage romantic style, add delicate florals, greenery wreaths, and pewter lanterns. For a modern industrial touch, opt for flameless candles in stunning shapes and asymmetry, and mismatch them with greenery for an eclectic look.
For a fuss-free, rustic look, arrange tables with simple candles of varying heights and fresh garlands of flowers. Use wooden crates instead of vases for your flowers to give your tables a wholesome, rustic feel. This style works well for barn, tipi, and farm weddings. For a woodland earthy vibe, adorn the tabletop with greenery, succulents, and birch wood candles.
For a glamorous look, tall candelabras make a statement on long tables and add an old-world touch. For an opulent or regal wedding, a row of candelabras looks impressive. Alternatively, mix in really tall floral arrangements with lots of smaller ones. For a southern-gothic ambiance, opt for towering candelabras ringed with Spanish moss.
For a whimsical and laid-back feel, use jam jars with wild floral arrangements and dot candles down the length of the table. For a more elegant take on this, use bud vases with a few floral stems. For a vintage or literary-themed wedding, use antique birdcages filled with candles as centrepieces.
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Frequently asked questions
Long tables are a great way to add warmth and dimension to your wedding venue. Here are some ideas for how to decorate them:
- Use candles and flowers — mix tall floral arrangements with smaller ones, and interweave candles and bud vases.
- Create a floral table runner — use floristry foam or chicken wire to create the base for a floral runner, or plant flowers directly into long trugs.
- Drape soft, chiffon-like fabric down the middle of the table.
- Use a patterned tablecloth to bring colour and design to your wedding reception.
- Add a long garland of foliage — drape it down the length of the table and include a few different foliage types to create some texture.
The colours you use should reflect your chosen wedding theme, season and colour palette. You can use complementary and accent colours to suit your palette, but remember to keep it neutral so it doesn't get too overwhelming. If you're going for a clean and classic look, bring in some texture through patterns like damask, florals or stripes in crisp ivory or eggshell.
You can use any type of flowers you like, but to make a real impact, choose one type of flower and use it down the full length of the table. Hydrangeas are a good option as their large heads mean you only need a few to make a statement.
Centrepieces are a great way to decorate a long wedding table. You can create a gradient of colour with your florals, or use something more structural like candelabras for a regal or opulent wedding. If you're on a budget, a simple textured runner can bring extra style to your venue.
Don't forget that your caterers or venue will normally provide white or ivory tablecloths as a blank canvas to decorate. You can also add extra flourishes like a sprig of rosemary on top of your menu, or get creative with your place cards.
