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What do flowers, feathers, frames, fans and frothy white tulle have in common? They are just a few of the many items which become table top decorations at weddings. Albeit the traditional floral centerpiece takes first place for wedding table decor, there are many brides who look toward the unusual, the extravagant, and sometimes the downright strange to decorate their tables in a unique and memorable way.
The tables, how and with what they are decorated, create the first impression that guests have at a wedding reception. The choices that the bride and groom make reflect their style and serve to welcome their guests in an aesthetically pleasing way. Whether the decor is simple or extravagant, if done in good taste, with forethought, the table decor can become the "wedding snapshot" that remains in the minds of guests long after the wedding is over and the tables are cleared.
Traditionally, wedding colors that are most frequently used are white, silver and gold. Today's brides have taken to using almost every color, including black, to create a mood . . . from romantic and glamorous to Medieval and Goth, to fun and funky, and everything in between.
Retail stores and on-line wedding shops offer a seemingly endless list of table decoration options and as many table favors. The decorations seem to fall into several categories, with the line between one and another sometimes blurred. What follows are several categories and some of the decorations that are available.
Ethnic or Cultural
Many of today's couples are honoring their ethnic and cultural heritages by choosing table decor that reflects their backgrounds. For some, the selection is both obvious and abundant, such as with a Japanese, Chinese or Asian wedding theme. Just a few of the table decorations that are available are Japanese paper lanterns, fans, chopsticks, sake cups and lucky cats which can be integrated into the theme.
For Italian couples, a traditional wedding decoration is Confetti Flowers and Italian ribbon flowers that hold Italian Jordan almonds which symbolize the wishes for health, happiness, fertility, prosperity and long life.
More extravagant versions such as Calla and Rose Almond Holder Bouquets and bouquets that hold five Italian almonds wrapped in tulle to be used as centerpieces and/or party favors.
Balloons
Balloons are synonymous with celebrations. The simple balloon bouquet has been expanded to include balloon sculpture and centerpieces both intricate and elaborate. Whether the decor is inexpensive, using helium filled balloons with sandbag weight, or elaborate, they will always symbolize festivity. They also make it really easy to decorate in keeping with a theme. For example, should the bride and groom pick a Cinderella theme wedding, there are Cinderella castle white latex balloons and bunches of related Cinderella-related items such as plastic castle containers, 3D castle centerpieces, castle metallic centerpiece kits, Cinderella castle card boxes, Cinderella coach confetti cards, Cinderella coach wedding favor hinged boxes and much more. The same holds true for almost any theme that the couple can conjure up.
Candles, Candle holders, Candelabra and Wedding Lights
Light and joyous occasions are a great match, because they create an atmosphere combined with gentle illumination. It's no wonder that candles, candle holders, candelabra and wedding lights are available in great numbers and styles. Brides can choose from a large selection of specialty lights as well as traditional favorites such as mini and net lights . . . Golden Canopy Lights, Commercial Mini 50-lite String, Clear Lamps, Mini Lights, Frost Lamps, Twiggies (Rice Lights), and Lighted Bells Shape and arrangements such as bowls of floating candles, alone or combined with tiny flowers. The variety of candle holders is also immense, ranging from traditional candlesticks to elaborate candle holders.
Decorative Feathers
Feathers, real and synthetic are available in a myriad of colors and sizes. They lend themselves those who wish to do it themselves. A feather placed in each guest's empty wine glass, feathers tied around napkins, feathers dusted around each table's centerpiece and even, in theme, a feather in each wedding invitation can be a light and cheerful way to decorate. The theme can be completed with a shower of feathers released from overhead netting, during the first dance of the evening reception.
Confetti
Confetti is a part of celebrations such as parades and bon voyages, so it's no wonder that they have found their way into becoming a wedding decor classic. The extensive range of table confetti allows the couple to mix and match to stay in the color theme any theme and to create creative combinations that say "fun." Confetti has come a long way since its humble beginnings, now available in unique versions such as large hearts that pop up and become 3D, literally add dimension. They make their first appearance in the couple's invitations and are carried through to the tables. For those couples who are concerned about the environment, there even is table confetti that is water soluble and biodegradable.
Flowers and Flower-Based Decorations
For the traditional bride and groom, flowers are the only table decoration they need or want. The evolution of the floral centerpiece is due in large measure to floral decorators who do more than put a bunch of flowers into a vase. Their creativity becomes evident in the choice of flowers, containers, design and arrangement. A professional florist can meet almost every budget and the truly budget conscious can put together one or more flowers as a centerpiece which will add color and, sometimes, fragrance to the room.
For those who love floral table decor, but don't want to deal with the issues that live flowers carry with them such as wilting and staining, there are any number of choices. There is Silk Rose Topiary in Pots, silk roses in terra cotta pots, and many other varieties of other silk flower centerpieces that provide lasting beauty and can be removed after the affair to become a part of the couple's home decor and a wonderful reminder of a very special day.
Theme Decorations
Many brides and grooms are designing their weddings around a theme that has special meaning to them. The couple who perhaps met at a beach-side resort may choose a "beaches" wedding theme which is developed with table decor. The beach theme may include miniature white Adirondack chair cardholder; soap or candy shells in mesh bags, candle holders with resin shell base, shell jewelry boxes, coconut candles in sea grass basket, or ocean bubbles.
For the Goth wedding, the florist can obtain black, deep purple, or very dark red roses which can be a part of a centerpiece with unusual lovebirds such as black ravens or crows with burgundy eyes, sitting on black tree branches on a "landscape" provided by deep burgundy and black roses and a sprinkling of iridescent black glitter to complete the mood design.
Iridescent Opalina Glitter
For couples who want their table decor to sparkle, decorative glitter adds that element when sprinkled randomly on the table, or around the centerpieces or place settings.
Edible Table Decorations
Cotton candy, an ever popular county fair and circus treat have found their way into table decor in sweet centerpieces of which guests can partake during or after the wedding reception.
When it comes to edible decor, hand-crafted marzipan designs are interesting, elegant alternatives. Designers use marzipan paste which is individually hand shaped, molded and sculpted into any number of different "objects," among them fruits and flowers.
For the couple who wish to entertain their guests with table decor, Wedding Tabletalkers Tins are a unique choice. The concept is simple. Each guest chooses a question from the tin and shares his or her answer with table mates, a process that is meant to be an ice breaker. The questions are on tins paper disks. Content is inspirational in nature and provides opportunity for wedding guests to connect during the reception meal.
Several companies make "floral" centerpiece creations out a variety of candies in either simple bouquets or elaborate designs, which guests can enjoy even after the reception is over.
Party Crackers
Crackers are a traditional party favor in England. Their popularity brought them across the ocean and into holidays celebrations. As a logical extension, they are becoming popular as wedding favors and have made their "debut" into the arena of wedding centerpiece decor. Available in thousands of unique color effects, they may contain a popper, a paper party hat, and/or a joke or riddle and several companies even produce them made out of chocolate. The crackers also serve as the wedding centerpiece.
The wedding table decoration is the focus of the guests' attention and a way in which the bridal couple can express their own style and creativity. Whether they prefer the mood of the party to be formal and elegant, or informal and playful, there is a smorgasbord of table decorations from which they can pick and chose and the list is getting longer every day.