Crafting Wedding Standing Tables: A Step-By-Step Guide

Standing tables at weddings are a great way to encourage guests to actively celebrate and interact with each other. They can be decorated with centrepieces, detailed menus, creative dishware, and other unique touches to make your wedding stand out. You can also add personal touches through colours, unique shapes, and varying textures.

If you're looking to make your own standing tables, you can find various DIY tutorials and inspiration online, including instructions for creating free-standing floral arrangements to add a bit of pizazz to your wedding ceremony and fill in any empty spaces in your venue.

Floral arrangements: artificial flowers in a vase or foam base

Floral arrangements are a key decorative feature of wedding standing tables, infusing colour, texture, and a sense of nature into the space. With artificial flowers, you can achieve this effect all year round, without the hassle of maintenance. Here are some tips to create stunning artificial floral arrangements in vases or foam bases for your wedding standing tables:

Choosing the Right Vase or Container

The vessel you select will significantly impact the overall aesthetic of your floral arrangement. Consider the following:

• Glass vases offer a clean, minimalist look, while ceramic vases add a touch of classic charm.
• Ensure your vase is the appropriate size and proportion for your flowers. The flowers should have enough space to spread naturally without appearing crowded or sparse.
• Experiment with different shapes like trumpet, square, or hourglass vases to add visual interest.
• For tall, long-stemmed flowers like roses, opt for tall and cylindrical vases.
• Wider and rounder vases are ideal for fuller bouquets, allowing the blooms to have a more dominant presence.

Creating a Foundation

Creating a sturdy base or structure for your artificial flowers is essential. Use filler foliage like ferns or eucalyptus leaves to add volume and create a supportive framework. This foundation ensures your arrangement is well-balanced and visually appealing, allowing the focal flowers to shine.

Arranging Flowers by Size

Start with larger flowers and gradually work your way down to the smaller blooms. This approach helps you determine the prominence of each flower type and allows for easy adjustments. The smaller flowers or leaves will fill gaps and even out the design, providing balance and structure to the overall arrangement.

Embracing Odd Numbers

It may seem like a strange rule, but arrangements with odd numbers often appear more natural and pleasing to the eye. Odd-numbered groupings create balance and harmony, reflecting the organic beauty found in nature. By embracing asymmetry, you add interest and create focal points, resulting in captivating floral displays.

Experimenting with Fillers and Dimensions

Filler elements, such as singular green leaves, twigs, branches, or even fallen greenery from your backyard, can enhance your arrangement by adding texture and a touch of character. If using a clear vase, consider filling the bottom with corks, coloured sand, buttons, pebbles, or marbles. These fillers help distribute lightweight flowers evenly and give you more control over the positioning of individual stems.

Additionally, try bending the stems slightly to fill gaps and create a more natural, sun-reaching appearance. Real foliage doesn't stand perfectly straight, so 'breaking in' the stems of your artificial flowers is crucial for a realistic look.

Mixing and Matching Colours and Textures

Avoid monotony by mixing and matching colours and textures within your arrangements. Combine different types of artificial flowers, ensuring they would be in season together if they were real. This approach adds depth and dimension to your displays, making them more dynamic and captivating.

Final Thoughts

Feel free to experiment, adjust, and reinvent your floral arrangements until you're pleased with the results. Floral arrangements are an art form, so release your creativity and use them to express your unique style.

Table settings: colours, unique shapes, textures, and patterns

Table settings are a great way to add a unique touch to your wedding. Here are some ideas to make your reception tables stand out with colours, shapes, textures, and patterns:

Mixed Pattern Table Setting

Curate a maximalist table setting with layers of patterns and textures. Use blue velvet table linens, mixed-patterned Chinoiserie china, gold vases and candle holders, tasseled, laser-cut menus, and lush floral centrepieces. This combination will create a luxurious and elegant look for your wedding tables.

Elegant Platinum Table Setting

Serve up luxury with silver platters, silver-accented flatware, damask table linens, and floral arrangements in subdued pastels. This elegant tabletop setting will impress your guests with its sophisticated and refined aesthetic.

Eclectic Gold Table Setting

Gold can be a versatile element in your table setting. Combine brassy gold chargers, cups, vases, and flatware with gold-trimmed agates, hammered gold napkin holders, and gold-embroidered menus. Temper the metallic accents with neutral blooms and a gauzy tablecloth for a stylish and cohesive look.

Tropical Table Setting

Add a touch of paradise to your wedding tables with bright and colourful accents. Use pink-and-coral blooms, blue stemware, and personalised favours for your guests. Hand-painted tiles with guests' names, shot glasses, and personalised bracelets add a unique and memorable touch to your tropical-themed table.

Monochromatic Table Setting

Create a cohesive and elegant table setting with monochromatic centrepieces, linens, and glassware. Add a subtle texture with striped napkins to give a refined and polished look to your wedding tables.

Vintage Table Setting

Mix metals and styles to create a vintage yet modern tablescape. Combine ornate, polished silver chargers with modern blue dinner plates, traditional gold flatware, and gold-rimmed china. Add a gold-scripted menu and a fresh rose at each place setting. Finish with a simple garland of olive leaves and votives for a romantic and vintage-inspired look.

Centrepieces: candles, flowers, or fruit

Centrepieces are a great way to elevate your wedding standing tables and bring your theme together. Here are some ideas for centrepieces using candles, flowers, or fruit:

Candles

Candles can add a romantic and elegant touch to your wedding tables. Consider using floating candles in clear glass bowls filled with water and flower petals. Another idea is to use tall, slender candlesticks in varying heights, paired with greenery and flowers. For a rustic look, opt for wooden candle holders or lanterns.

Flowers

Flowers are a classic choice for wedding centrepieces. Create lush, overflowing arrangements with a mix of blooms and greenery. For a more modern look, try a minimalist approach with single-flower varieties in sleek vases. You can also incorporate flowers into candlestick centrepieces for a romantic and elegant display.

Fruit

Fruit centrepieces offer a unique and colourful alternative to traditional flower arrangements. For a spring wedding, combine pastel-coloured flowers with lemons or early spring fruits like kumquats. In the summer, sliced citrus fruits, tropical pineapples, and colourful berries make a vibrant display. Autumnal weddings can showcase fruits like apples, figs, and pomegranates, while winter calls for cranberries, pears, and grapes.

Fruit centrepieces can be presented in various ways, from simple glass vases filled with lemons to wooden crates overflowing with seasonal produce. You can also combine fruits with flowers for a unique twist. For example, pair peaches with garden roses and peonies, or create a colourful summer display with bananas, starfruit, oranges, and grapes, accented with bright blooms.

There are endless possibilities for creating stunning centrepieces for your wedding standing tables. Whether you choose candles, flowers, or fruit, you can customise your displays to reflect your wedding theme and style.

Table décor: garlands, flowers, candles, and tableware

When it comes to table décor, there are many ways to create a beautiful and romantic atmosphere for your wedding. Here are some ideas to inspire you:

Garlands:

Garlands can add a touch of elegance and charm to your wedding tables. You can choose fresh flower garlands or eucalyptus garlands for a rustic and elegant look. Dried flowers and lamb's ear are also popular choices for garlands, bringing a touch of nature to your décor. You can find these at Etsy, with options such as a 6ft Artificial Eucalyptus Garland for $9, or a Baby's Breath, Lamb's Ear & Eucalyptus garland for $55.05.

Flowers:

Flowers are a classic choice for wedding table décor. You can choose to have floral centrepieces, or mix flowers with candles for a romantic and elegant look. For a unique twist, consider hanging flowers above the table so that the candles on the table can shine.

Candles:

Candles create a romantic and intimate atmosphere for your wedding reception. You can choose from a variety of candle types, such as taper candles, pillar candles, or floating candles. For a stylish look, mix different candle heights and silhouettes to bring visual interest to your tables. Candles in sleek pillars, low votives, and textured tapers are all popular choices. You can also get creative with candle holders, opting for brass, glass, or crystal, depending on your style. Etsy offers a range of candles and candle holders to choose from, with prices starting at $3.50 per candle-holder pair.

Tableware:

When it comes to tableware, you can have fun mixing and matching different pieces to create a unique and elegant look. Consider gold or silver plastic cutlery and plates for a touch of glamour, or disposable palm leaf plates and bamboo cutlery for an eco-friendly option. Customised napkins with your monogram or a personalised message are also a lovely touch. You can find a range of tableware options on Etsy, such as a 600-piece gold plastic dinnerware set for $61.07, or a set of 100 sage green cotton napkins for $0.44 each.

Tableware: plates, glasses, and cutlery

Tableware is an important part of your wedding standing tables, and there are many options to choose from when it comes to plates, glasses, and cutlery. Here are some ideas to consider:

Plates

Add a unique touch to your wedding standing tables by choosing plates that stand out. Opt for simple white plates if you have colourful or patterned linens and table décor. Or, if you want to create a luxurious look, consider using silver platters as plates. For a more rustic or eclectic feel, mix and match different patterns and styles of plates, such as blue velvet table linens with Chinoiserie china or ornate, polished silver chargers with modern blue dinner plates. If you want to add a personal touch, consider using wooden cutting boards as plates, which can also be personalised with each guest's name.

Glasses

Glasses can also be used to enhance the décor of your standing tables. For a tropical or destination wedding feel, use bright and colourful glassware, such as blue stemware. Gold-trimmed glasses can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your tablescape, especially when paired with other gold tableware and décor. If you want to offer your guests a unique takeaway, consider using personalised shot glasses for tequila.

Cutlery

Cutlery can be chosen to match the style and theme of your wedding. For a classic and elegant look, go for traditional gold flatware. If you want to add a touch of glamour, consider gold-accented or rose gold flatware. For a rustic wedding, mix and match antique flatware, or opt for copper flatware. Gold or brass chargers can also be used to add interest and texture to your table settings.

Frequently asked questions