DIY Wedding Table Decor Tips
This is part 5 of our wedding series! In previous posts I talked about wedding inspiration and wedding flowers.
Today we are sharing tips for wedding table decorations. If you are on a budget or just want a guide for planning your wedding table…this post for you!
Let’s start with the color palette.
Color Palette
Create a color palette that you and your family/helpers can follow. We chose colors from a selection of embroidery thread skeins.
We stitched the colors onto a piece of white linen and made a sampler for both families and the brides.
We choose five main colors, eight secondary colors (that was really too many) and then selected linen to match the embroidery thread swatches. And finally, we choose the primary table linen color and stitched it to the embroidery sampler.
Take your swatches and sampler with you! I kept them in my car so they were always available. This will be very helpful when choosing plates and other wedding decor.
Wedding Tableware
Make a list of every piece of tableware that you will need. We chose to rent plates, glassware, bar glasses, and flatware. The rental company delivered everything the day before the wedding so we had plenty of time to sort and prep the rental items.
We chose to thrift champagne glasses for the welcome party which was very fun but will take time to collect depending on the number of guests. We also thrifted some of the furniture that we used!
Here is a general list of tableware to consider.
Flatware place setting for each guest plus any extra pieces for dessert, salad, and soup
Plates for dinner, salad, and dessert
Glassware for water, cocktails, beer glasses, and champagne coupes/flutes
Coffee or Tea cups
Tables for dinner, cocktail hour, after party, etc…
Chairs
We chose vintage style water glasses and pink plates to follow the color pallette and feel of the wedding.
Wedding Table Linens
We made our table linens…because… I have a linen business! But you can rent linens, make them yourself, or ask a family member or friend to make them. If you plan to make them yourself…order your fabric as soon as you choose a color and get them made as early as you can…this will relieve a lot of stress as it gets closer to your wedding day!
Note: If you make your own table linens, consider the width, length, and amount of hangover when calculating fabric requirements.
Here is a list of linens you may need
Table runners
Table clothes
Dinner napkins
Cocktail napkins
Dessert napkins
Linens for the cake table, bar area, champagne toast, after party, etc…
Wedding Table Decorations
Planning is everything! Choose a style that you like and focus on items that you need to make that style a reality.
We chose small vases (from Target dollar section) that could be randomly placed on the table and filled with eucalyptus and flower blooms. If you are on a budget…filling vases with greens, like eucalyptus, provide big impact! You can then add pops of color with a few (more expensive) flowers.
We purchased candles and candlesticks at IKEA. This was also a budget friendly option!
I also found black vases …
…and clear candle holders at Dollar Tree for the cocktail tables.
Items you might need for your table
Vases: consider size, color, style, and number of each
Candles: votive and/or taper
Candle holders: size, color, style, and number of each
Greens: variety and quantity
Flowers, number of stems for each vase
Place cards
Menu signs
Party favors
Instant cameras for guests to take photos
If you are doing a DIY wedding…recruit lots of helpers!
Have a list of jobs that need to be done and recruit someone to direct your helpers.
Putting candles in a few holders seems easy but multiply that by 100 candles and…it will take more time than you think!
We had lots of help on the morning of the wedding to haul tables and chairs. They also set the table and carried the decorations from the barn to the dining area.
As they say…Team work is Dream work!
It is also good to have a “day of” coordinator! Especially if you are the bride or mother of the bride! Hattie was our “day of” person and kept everything on schedule and organized!
When the table is set…breath… and enjoy every aspect of the event!
Are you planning a wedding? Or know someone who is? Please share this post with them!
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