I need wedding reception table advice!

[raysnkaysmom]

I honestly haven't been to many weddings, so organizing my own is both fun and terrifying...lol
I'm just curious how the tables are supposed to be set up...

I'll have about 8 reception tables for the guests set up (need good, cute/pretty advice on decorating them tooo... going with black, white, yellow theme).
Then..
The bride/groom table? (does the wedding party sit here the entire time, some, or not at all?)

Table for food ? is this a seperate table from the cake table?

Table for gifts?

That's how I have it figured out
8reception
1 wedding party
1 food
1 cake
1 gifts

is that right? any other advice??

 

[pigletgirl]

That is about right. You can do away with the gift table if you want. If there is space have it, if not, its no big deal.

As for colors, the first thing that came to my mind was doing sunflowers! You could even do a hounds tooth table cloth or something (that might be a bit more modern than you'd like). Fun colors though!

We're not going to do a bride/groom table. We figure that we'll be mingling with everyone and probably will not even get a chance to sit and eat. However our space is limited and we wanted more dancing room.

Speaking for the cake, it stands alone. That is all I've ever seen.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

That is about right. You can do away with the gift table if you want. If there is space have it, if not, its no big deal.

As for colors, the first thing that came to my mind was doing sunflowers! You could even do a hounds tooth table cloth or something (that might be a bit more modern than you'd like). Fun colors though!

We're not going to do a bride/groom table. We figure that we'll be mingling with everyone and probably will not even get a chance to sit and eat. However our space is limited and we wanted more dancing room.

Speaking for the cake, it stands alone. That is all I've ever seen.

thanks!
We are having our wedding in October, so I don't think the sunflower would fit (and it's an evenign wedding)...
Our space is limited as well, under a 20x30 canopy for the reception...but maybe the bride/groom table could double as something else?
And, cool, I'll nix the gift table
As for the cake table, I was just thinking of having it on one end of a banquet, and having a candle display at the other end? or should I center it and leave it at that? Would it be ok to surround it with a candy buffet? Or, still, just leave it alone?

 

[KiminChicago]

I think black tablecloths with white and yellow floral arrangements (small ones so that the guests can see across the table) would be really elegant, if that's what you're looking for.

As far as the cake table goes, don't forget that you'll be cutting the first piece of cake so you need to be able to get close enough to reach it. As long as you can do that, you're good. Are you doing a buffet? You could set up the food on either side of the cake, forming two buffet lines, with the cake as a centerpiece in the middle.

 

[tiggger1]

Are you sure 20x30 tent is going to be big enough? everywhere I look says it will only hold 8 round tables.

 

[abdmom]

Are you sure 20x30 tent is going to be big enough? everywhere I look says it will only hold 8 round tables.

Even with 8 tables, there won't be any room to circulate. I would diagram out your table plan - remember to leave room for chairs to be pushed back - and figure out how big of a canopy you need.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I was at a shower this weekend where chocolate brown and yellow were the theme colors. The table centerpieces were mostly daisies and sunflowers placed in short dark brown metal buckets. They were simple, but very pretty.

You could do something like this by ordering daisies from a florist and getting black buckets from a garden center. Since you're past sunflower season in October, you could use white roses instead. Lots of places sell them in bulk cheap--like Costco if you have a membership. Costco will even do wedding flower arrangements. Check it out on-line.

Best of luck to you. I hope you have a wonderful wedding and a long, happy, healthy marriage.

 

[pigletgirl]

thanks!
We are having our wedding in October, so I don't think the sunflower would fit (and it's an evenign wedding)...
Our space is limited as well, under a 20x30 canopy for the reception...but maybe the bride/groom table could double as something else?
And, cool, I'll nix the gift table
As for the cake table, I was just thinking of having it on one end of a banquet, and having a candle display at the other end? or should I center it and leave it at that? Would it be ok to surround it with a candy buffet? Or, still, just leave it alone?

Oooh, put it with the candy buffet! That way it'll make it more of a dessert bar and it'll save space as well.

If you need a gift table, the B&G can double as that if need be in a crunch.

Have fun deciding on everything. I think its so fun!

 

[pixiewings71]

Ok you only need food tables if you're doing a buffet, otherwise plates will be brought to your guests so you won't need to worry about that at all. My BFF got married last October, they each had 4 in their bridal parties but none of us were very close so our Bride & Groom did a Sweetheart Table at the head of the room, it was very cute and that way everyone could sit with their sweethearts. That was the BEST arrangement of all! Everyone got to sit with people they knew really well and we had a GREAT time at our table.
The cake was on a table by itself with lots of flower petals scattered around it, after they cut the first slices the rest was passed out.

I love your colors, hers were dark blue and purple with some white and orange tossed in for variety. She had pumpkins everywhere. You are past Sunflower season in October but there are lots of pretty yellow flowers that will work, what about mums? Mums would work.

 

[AshleyW]

Okay, you're going to think I'm crazy, but for centerpieces.. LEMONS! It's like the floating flower in a vase idea, but with lemons instead. I've seen it on a lot of wedding blogs lately. Here's some examples:

I'm a big fan, obviously.

If you're not into the lemon idea, I think something like this would be cute:

Yellow daisies and mums would be very pretty, and you could get black vases to put them in, instead of the brown like the picture.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Are you sure 20x30 tent is going to be big enough? everywhere I look says it will only hold 8 round tables.

Even with 8 tables, there won't be any room to circulate. I would diagram out your table plan - remember to leave room for chairs to be pushed back - and figure out how big of a canopy you need.

I was told it holds 60 people, we are having approx 50... I could lose 2 of the tables if need be. We were also contemplating a small 10x10 tent for the bride/groom area.... It also does not all have to fit under the tent... we have a pretty wide area to work with...

As far as the lemons, I do think they are pretty, but I just dont' think it goes with the evenign theme...would have been better for an afternoon reception IMO. I think we are going to do white candles on black plates with yellow candies surroudning them.... Then, the decor of the napkins and plates (which I'm still toying with)... simple, but pretty. I do want something more yellow to pop though, maybe to decorate the napkins with?

Thanks guys for the input!!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Hello!! Wedding Planner here.

For an evening wedding try orchids or lilies. The cake should be by itself, or MAYBE with the candy buffet if you are feeling adventurous, but remember if it is on a buffet table, you are going to have to be able to navigate around it for the "cake cutting". Your photographer/planner/videographer will need to be in that space as well, so most people do a single round or square table, for logistics. Rounds can sit 8 people, so ditch one maybe 2 (if there are kids.) I PERSONALLY like the Bride/Groom table idea, for the same reason as PP. People can sit with who they know.

Is this buffet or table service? Do you have a dance floor? Will there be a cocktail hour?

Let me know if I can help!!

SafehouseWeddings.com

FIND US ON FACEBOOK!!

 

[Disney Doll]

Is it a buffet or a served meal? If it is a served meal, you won't need food tables.

The cake should probably be on a table by itself. You'll be cutting it and need to get at it. If you ar ehaving a candy buffet, then maybe th ecake could g on that table as well, but make sure oyu can get at it if you are going to cut it.

A head table for all the bridal party is really a matter of taste. My niece just got married and she had a head table. I have also seen it where there is a table for just the bride and groom and then the rest of the wedding party sits at the regular tables with their significant others or groups of friends. I guess that is the Sweetheart Table????

Centerpieces...a nice one I did was a rose bowl, which is a small round vase, almost like a ball with an opening at the top. I put some of those colored glass stones in it...maybe you could do black and yellow? I put water in it and floated a floating candle. Perhaps you could find a black or yellow floating candle? Maybe put a couple of more low candles around the rose bowl in either black or yellow. Napkins...how about yellow with a black napkin ring or black with a yellow napkin ring...perhaos a fall flower could be used as the yellow napkin ring????

 

[scrapquitler]

In terms of the bridal party and their table...at our wedding we had the bridal party and bride & groom at the head table. Honestly, neither DH or I ever sat down at the table. We went there when we were first introduced, but then we started going around to the tables and greeting everyone...it was a good time to do it because during dinner service was the only time everyone was sitting and that way we were able to say hello to everyone. Neither of us ate anything all night because we weren't sitting during dinner.

You don't need a 'food' table unless you are having a buffet. Gifts table is nice to have, but you are probably going to want to have a bag to put cards in, it is much safer, especially if you live in an area where most people are just going to give you a card with $$$$...it would be a shame to leave those on a gift table and have something happen to them.

 

[pixiewings71]

Oh I love the lemons in the vase with the tulips! How pretty is that! Just wanted to say that, I don't have anything else to add. LOL

 

[raysnkaysmom]

We were doing a sort of self serve buffet style table.. We are going to have so many different choices, I didnt' want to just place it all on a plate for them. Mostly hors d'euvres, appetizer food and salad. So, should the plates be at their personal table, or with the food?
I guess we can just do a sweet heart table, so we'll sit their briefly, then it can double as a gift table if need be.
As far as napkins, I had purchased some pretty print black and white that match the theme, but they were paper, so I'm now moving those to the cake table or soemthing, because we have now ordered white linen napkins. I do like the idea of the yellow fall flower....

As far as cocktail hour, our area reserved has a no alcohol policy (outdoor venue), so we have decided to call it a 'family friendly reception' from 7-9 then somehow word it that we will be headed over to the restaurant across the street that has a bar following the reception.. (same nice bar where we are having our rehearsal dinner the night before)
Our dance floor is the grass Shoes off, enjoy the music type.. We thought about renting a dancefloor, but really, we didn't want to ruin the beautifulness of the area we have..

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Hello!! Wedding Planner here.

For an evening wedding try orchids or lilies. The cake should be by itself, or MAYBE with the candy buffet if you are feeling adventurous, but remember if it is on a buffet table, you are going to have to be able to navigate around it for the "cake cutting". Your photographer/planner/videographer will need to be in that space as well, so most people do a single round or square table, for logistics. Rounds can sit 8 people, so ditch one maybe 2 (if there are kids.) I PERSONALLY like the Bride/Groom table idea, for the same reason as PP. People can sit with who they know.

Is this buffet or table service? Do you have a dance floor? Will there be a cocktail hour?

Let me know if I can help!!

SafehouseWeddings.com

FIND US ON FACEBOOK!!

btw...just 'liked' you on fb

 

[ksjayhawks]

Use small potted yellow mums and white mums and have the black foil paper put around them. Quick, simple, inexpensive and easy to do--pick them up from the florist or grocery store or wherever you get them, take them to the site and put them on the tables. Then you can give them to special people at the end of the evening to take home or take them home and use them for fall decorations.

Does 50 include everyone--bride, groom, wedding party? If so, go with 6 tables of 8, have a small 2 person table for you and dh, a small round table for cake, and smallish rectangular tables for candy buffet and gifts that could go along the sides of the tent.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Use small potted yellow mums and white mums and have the black foil paper put around them. Quick, simple, inexpensive and easy to do--pick them up from the florist or grocery store or wherever you get them, take them to the site and put them on the tables. Then you can give them to special people at the end of the evening to take home or take them home and use them for fall decorations.

Does 50 include everyone--bride, groom, wedding party? If so, go with 6 tables of 8, have a small 2 person table for you and dh, a small round table for cake, and smallish rectangular tables for candy buffet and gifts that could go along the sides of the tent.

Yeah, that includes the wedding party... I haven't got RSVPs yet, of course, so I"m hoping that I dont get overloaded with kids (nothing against them, I have 4..lol, just working out the logistics)
Good idea about the rectangular ones on the outside of the tent...

I'll have to look up this mum idea, sounds good

 

[bunkkinsmom]

btw...just 'liked' you on fb

SWEET! THANKS!! I hope you like our podcasts. We try to be lighthearted and funny with our brides. We will have another one out this weekend (We release them biweekly)