Deciding on your décor is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning and as your big day draws ever closer, you may be starting to think about your table decorations. The right décor, tableware, and centrepieces can pull your whole wedding look together, so it's a good idea to take some time and think carefully about what you want your tables to look like; this is where you and your guests will spend most of the day after all.
If you're searching for some wedding table ideas for your special day, we'll be offering up our tips and inspiration that can help you create the perfect dreamy space to celebrate in. We'll go through the planning process step-by-step, covering:
Choosing a colour palette
Your first step to choosing your wedding table décor is deciding on a colour scheme. With this decided, often your other pieces, such as your flowers, will start falling into place as well. If you've already sent out your invitations, then chances are you've already decided on a colour scheme. If not, now is the perfect time to start thinking.
There are a few ways you can decide on your wedding colour palette. The easiest is to choose one colour that you'd really like to feature in your wedding table decorations, then choose coordinating hues in the same family. For example, you may choose your favourite colour and one or two complementary tones. If there is a certain flower that you'd like to incorporate in your wedding table centrepieces, then you can choose other shades that pair particularly well with that flower. By choosing colours that you love, you'll be more likely to keep and cherish your wedding items after the day as well; selecting high-quality, well-made pieces ensures you can use them for years to come.
Even the season can help you nail down a colour palette. Soft pastel tones work well for a spring wedding, while bright and bold hues and earthy colours are a great option for summer celebrations. For autumn and winter weddings, deep jewel tones can create a rich and cosy atmosphere.
Deciding on a theme
Your wedding theme can also help steer the direction of your wedding table décor, whether that's your colour palette, wedding flowers, centrepieces, materials, or the overall look of your table. Some of our favourite wedding table themes include:
Classic glamour
A classic wedding décor theme will consist of plenty of white with pops of one or two other colours such as blue or pink. Timeless décor pieces are a mainstay of this look, with traditional table décor like candelabras, votives, and romantic flower arrangements taking centre stage for a clean, fuss free setting. Matching tableware and vases will keep your wedding table decoration looking fresh and classic, and you can play with heights to make things interesting without overwhelming the overall appearance.
If you can, choose fine tableware that will add a subtle luxurious feel to the overall look. Of course, luxury doesn't have to mean extravagant. Handcrafted tableware that is steeped in provenance, authenticity, and quality will make the perfect addition to your classic wedding table décor. Burleighware is, and always has been, made in our home in Stoke-on-Trent using skills passed down through generations of potters. We've since become a global icon of British design and manufacture, making us the perfect choice for your special day.
Vintage
A vintage theme is a popular choice for a wedding as it brings the romanticism of the past into the present. For this look, choose plenty of floral motifs, lace, bunting, and a few upcycled or thrifted pieces to create a sense of nostalgia. Mixing and matching your patterns can also help add to this look, so consider opting for tableware and accessories in a variety of designs to give your wedding table décor a sense of being curated and collected over time, even if everything is new!
Shabby chic
Bohemian
Bohemian wedding décor adds a relaxed, dreamy atmosphere to any event and works particularly well for spring and summer weddings and those with a sustainable focus. Think earthy, golden tones such as dusty rose, rust, and sage green, with the addition of plenty of natural textures and loose bouquets. Create a warm, inviting feel with artfully placed lanterns and candles to light up your tablescape as the night draws closer.
Rustic
While somewhat similar to bohemian, rustic wedding table décor is more pared back, often with an industrial or farmhouse style rather than natural. Think effortlessly put together for this theme, with raw wooden textures, lots of greenery, and deep tones such as those in our Green Asiatic Pheasants and Green Regal Peacock collections. Again, loose, trailing flower arrangements can add to the dreamy, organic appearance without looking too put together and perfect.
Beach
If you're planning a destination wedding, a summer celebration, or simply love the beach, tropical wedding table décor can add a touch of sunshine to your meal. Choose bold colours like deep green, turquoise, yellow, and coral and decorate with grand, leafy bouquets, incorporating tropical patterns with Ink Blue Hibiscus.
Alternatively, go for more of a traditional nautical theme with a mixture of deep and pale blues, matched with pale beige tones. We love the combination of Blue Calico, Asiatic Pheasants, and Felicity when layered together. You can then add touches of driftwood and a few seashells to finish off the look.
Seasonal
Whether you've opted for a bright spring/summer wedding or a cosy autumn/winter wedding, seasonal décor can help to tie the whole day together. Choose arrangements that match your wedding month by decorating with seasonal flowers and colours, and adding extra touches like seasonal greenery or even fruit. Your wedding table décor can also be combined with another theme, such as a summer bohemian theme or a rustic autumnal wedding.
Decorating with wedding table centrepieces
With your theme and colour scheme decided, it's time to start thinking about the finer details like place settings, decorations, and centrepieces. Our guide to wedding place settings will help you decide on everything from tableware to name cards, so be sure to take a look.
Alongside beautiful place settings, your centrepieces and decorations will create a focal point and pull your whole wedding table arrangement together. There are a few things you may want to consider for a showstopping wedding table centrepiece: flowers, lighting, and finishing touches.
Flowers
Floral centrepieces are a mainstay of wedding table decoration, but the style, size, and colours can be entirely personal to your day. Traditional style weddings can be decorated using grand bouquets of fresh flowers, while bohemian and rustic themes are better suited to smaller, unfussy arrangements, with a larger centrepiece being saved for the top table.
When choosing which flowers you want on your wedding tables, you may want to pick blooms that match your colour scheme. Alternatively, the time of year can help guide your floral centrepieces as each season comes with its own unique foliage that will brighten up your tables. Plus, sourcing flowers that are in season can be easier and cheaper than out-of-season blooms.
Some seasonal flowers include:
- Spring: Tulips, peonies, hyacinths, freesias, lilacs, carnations, sweet peas, anemones, daffodils, ranunculus, lily of the valley
- Summer: Sunflowers, irises, freesias, gardenias, orchids, dahlias, cosmos, nigella, lavenders, cornflowers, hydrangeas, snapdragons
- Autumn: Calla lilies, gerberas, dahlias, amaryllis, ferns, berries, decorative twigs
- Winter: Roses, eucalyptus, ivy, hellebores, poinsettias, holly, amaryllis, protea
Dried flowers have become an incredibly popular option in recent years and can make wedding planning just that little bit easier. These options can be made quite far ahead and can even be taken home with you afterwards, so you can keep them as a beautiful memento of your special day. They're also great if you want to include out-of-season flowers in your arrangement. So, if you have a particular variety that you'd love to incorporate but they would be difficult to source, consider choosing a dried bouquet instead.
Vases
While your beautiful blooms certainly are the star of the show, your wedding centrepieces aren't just about the flowers themselves. The vessel you put them in can also add to the overall look of the décor, so consider what kind of vase or vases you'd like to use. Tall vases can add a grand feel, while smaller posies displayed in miniature glass vases or bottles can work great for an intimate rustic wedding.
You could also consider adding a more personal touch by making use of bigger ceramic pieces, such as Etruscan jugs, tankards, octagonal bowls, and even ceramic bowls, for grand floral displays. These can also be reused at home long after your wedding, making them a great long-term investment and the perfect reminder of your special day.
Along with vases of flowers, you may also want to include loose, trailing flowers; a look that works beautifully for vintage, shabby chic, bohemian, and rustic wedding table décor. Garlands running down the centre of each table can look particularly effective on long tables. Another idea is to hang garlands and loose flowers from the ceiling, which can even help you disguise rafters and incorporate them into your theme.
Lighting
Lighting can also form part of your wedding table centrepiece. Candles are a popular option as they can add a romantic, intimate feel to any table setting. Tapered candles in tall candle sticks or candelabras can add some height to your centrepiece, particularly if you've opted for smaller flower arrangements, a garland, or chosen to forgo the flowers altogether.
If you've picked large, overflowing floral centrepieces, then smaller candles, such as tealights and votives, can keep your wedding table arrangement looking balanced. Again, don't be afraid to think outside the box. Small lanterns displayed across a long table can add a whimsical touch that's perfect for rustic and bohemian style weddings.
Fairy lights can also provide a subtle touch of light across your table decorations. Weave them through garlands or place them in jars and lanterns to brighten up your wedding table décor. You could also string rows of lights overhead to provide a dreamy canopy of light while you celebrate with your nearest and dearest.
Finishing touches
Your wedding day should be entirely personal to you, so you may also want to add some extra finishing touches. For example, you could incorporate an added seasonal element to the table decorations at your wedding, such as pinecones for an autumnal tablescape, or citrus fruits for a summer beach wedding.
Don't forget the drinks either. Buckets filled with ice and bottles of bubbly will ensure everyone is ready when it's time to toast to you and your partner. These can be entirely unique as well. For instance, you could use a footbath to display your drinks in for a more individual twist.
These tips should give you a great starting point for some wedding table decoration ideas, but don't be afraid to use your imagination and create table settings that show off your individuality. With beautiful floral arrangements, tableware, and lighting, there's no limit to what you can do with your wedding décor.
If you're searching for the perfect tableware for your wedding, let Burleigh Pottery be your inspiration. Our ceramics are all handcrafted in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, where we've been since 1851. Each piece is lovingly handmade and delicately decorated with our floral prints, using methods passed down for generations.
Our seconds pieces are made using these very same methods but have minor blemishes that occur from time to time as a result of the pottery process. We offer them at a lower price than our main collection, which makes them a great option if you're buying in bulk for a wedding or event.