Table Setting Inspirations

There is something very special in dressing a table ready for a feast. Even for a small dinner party at home I always like to put some effort into making the table looks nice. I feel it’s a way to respect the meal and make the guests feel extra special. Decorating a table for many guests at your wedding is a whole other ball game and so I thought I’d share a few of my favourites that I’ve photographed below.

1. RUSTIC YET ELEGANT

I feel simplicity is always the key when it comes to table dressing, although that doesn’t mean empty! Whatever you decorate your table with, just make sure you have lots to them. I love this table filled with elegant white candles, a table runner of green foliage, on a rustic wooden trellis table. So inviting. They had welsh cakes as their wedding favours made by their nan.

Elegant Boho Table Setting / /blog/table-setting/

Kraft paper table number 11 card with white calligraphy on a bed of eucalyptus

2. HINT OF GOLD

I’m a big fan of a gold, and it was a massive theme at my own wedding… I sat with a mate and dipped hundred of white feathers in gold glitter!

Two white feathers with gold glitter tips standing in a gold-patterned china teacup on a table

Small pink pineapple and purple flowers in a cut glass decanter with a Hooray flag on a reception table

3. THEMES

Themed table settings are very popular and it’s a chance to share your true passions. I’ve seen a lot of travel themes such as cities, or countries, music is a popular theme, bands, tv shows – one wedding I shot had a game of thrones table setting theme!

Long table with a song lyric sign on a wine bottle, pink roses, fern leaves and fairy lights behind

Reception tables with white chairs, wine bottles holding song title cards, pink flowers and greenery

Wine bottle holding a card reading Still crazy after all these years, beside red and pink flowers and a fern leaf

4. MINIMALISTIC

This is the first time I’d seen such an eco table setting. It was super minimalist and the wedding favour was two metal straws wrapped in a reusable tote bag. Love it.

Cream linen napkin knotted around two metal drinking straws on a white tablecloth

The Oxford Wedding Blog | /blog/table-setting/

5. RUSTIC

This is a very popular theme as it’s so simple, and very effective for the low cost. White table clothes, long hessian runner and flowers or greenery in jam jars.

Wedding reception at Rhodes House, Oxford University

Wedding reception dining hall at Rhodes House, Oxford University

6. VINTAGE

This usually consists of mix matched plates, drinking wine out of tea cups and flowers in tea pots.

Vintage Table Setting

7. INVOLVE YOUR GUESTS

I love a table setting which has little games or things that can involve your guest, this one was especially original, a drawing challenge.

Guest holding a card with a dinosaur sketch over a menu, beside a pint of beer and a bottle of Pinot Noir

Guest drawing a cartoon dinosaur on a card at a wooden table set with a name tag and cutlery

8. CLASSIC FINE DINING

The classic table setting, with plant pots and large napkins folded, suits the grandness of the venue.

Long dining table laid for a small wedding under a chandelier in a room with tall windows

9. MODERN ELEGANCE ON WOODEN TRELLIS

These table settings are soooooo adorable. Elegant tall candles, long wooden trellis tables, and chiffon fabric running through the middle.

More from these shoots can be seen here: YARNTON MANOR WEDDING SHOOT and SULGRAVE MANOR – OXFORDSHIRE WEDDING VENUE

Modern Table Setting at Yarnton Manor | /blog/table-setting/

ross and ross wedding events

10. DIY BOHO VIBE

A lot of weddings I shoot have an element of DIY in them. The groom made these candles out of cement, and they were placed on picnic tables in a tipi. You can see more from this wedding here: A TIPI WEDDING AT THE MAYBUSH IN WITNEY

The Oxford Wedding Blog - Tipi Venue - The Maybush

Tipi Wedding Venue Oxford - The Maybush

11. LETHAL FAVOURS

OMG!!! The coolest favour ever!! There was no way I was not going to share this idea in this blog post!

Hand holding a small corked glass bottle of green liquid in a courtyard

Wedding guests downing green shots together under white bunting

12. BRIGHT COLOURS

Bright colours are a very popular theme at weddings, and I love what this wedding have done to decorate their standard shabby chic chairs

Rainbow of satin ribbons tied to the back of a white chiavari chair

A sharing platter is a table decoration in itself. The Perch is famous for these and you can see more here: A CHAT WITH THE PERCH INN OXFORD

Sharing platters at The Perch Wedding, Oxford

Wooden sharing board of croquettes, ham, smoked salmon and pickles on a lace table runner

14. AFTERNOON TEA

I’d never seen this idea before and the guests absolutely loved it! More from this wedding can be seen over on LOVE MY DRESS

Three-tier stand of sandwiches, scones, quiches and sausage rolls for a wedding afternoon tea

Cake stand of profiteroles with strawberries, fruit tarts and chocolate cakes on a tea table

So there we have it… some of my favourite table settings that I’ve seen at weddings over the past few years. If you’d like some advice with choosing your table setting, or wedding styling have a look at this blog post here: WEDDING STYLING.