Help me dress the tables for my wedding

[MrsAldoKane]

I've already had a lot of help from style and beauty board regulars to accessorise my wedding dress - now I've got to sort out dressing the tables for the reception. For a few different reasons we've ended up with rustic/industrial tables, and benches. We've got chairs for those who can't sit on a bench. The evening reception is in a craft beer/pizza/chicken hipster type place that's just mine and DP's favourite place to eat (and it's a nice contrast with the rest of the day, which is a bit more traditional and romantic) so I was thinking about these napkins, and then some jam jars with basil, and maybe some candles - I'm notoriously bad at this sort of thing though so if anyone with better taste than me would like to suggest other (reasonably cheap) napkins/candle sticks/plants etc please do! All suggestions welcome

Also, if anyone can find these sorts of candle holders for sale anywhere I'd be very pleased! I can find lots of pictures of them on pintrest, but none that I can actually buy...

If you're not massively fussy, my top tip would be to check ebay, you can often get a wedding bundle of stuff like this.

My favourite wedding tables have simple flowers and something fun for people to play with like Lego people or colouring because there can be plenty of boring or awkward moments at weddings.

I think I saw candle holders or at least tea light holders like that in Waitrose of all places.

You can get lovely cheap tea light holders from Ikea. I didn't see any for tall candles though

@Crowsaregreat thanks - great tip. We're having some games like jenga and uno etc for people to play after dinner because we're not have dancing or anything. Do you think we need something on the tables for when people arrive - we've got evening guests coming now so there'll be a different vibe I think.

Mini lego sets might be quite a nice favour actually... although I wasn't going to bother with that sort of thing because we're paying for all food and booze (excluding spirits)

My aunt did our table settings. She had clear beer bottles and painted the inside (watered down white paint swished about) and then had ribbons and candles. It was lovely as well as rustic. Just an idea?

Sounds lovely @Spaghettio! I don't suppose you've got a picture?

Definitely check FB marketplace for bundles of candle holders, lots of people getting rid of them after their weddings

I would go for something like this. You can get little metal plant pots in IKEA for like a pound each and put some lavenderor some othe full plant in them, collect up old glass jars and you could make your own candles for pennies, or stick water in and put a floating tea light in each one, and a few old glass drink bottles, or just plain glass bottles with some delicate flowers like babies breath (not sure what that's actually called 🤣

Damn ot pics didn't attach. Hang on I'll try one at a time

This

And this

Ot won't let me upload the last one!

I would put a table runner down. They always, always focus the eye and then It's much easier to make a slightly random assortment of things look coordinated.

I would go for white or navy, and then have the same colours of napkins. Then you can have loads of glass jars/tea lights etc etc dotted about and it will look pulled together.

Flowers wise, do a mix of jam jars with floating tea lights (if your venue allows flames, I'd check!) and flowers dotted about. I've known brides to go to Asda and buy 10-20 bunches and just mix it all up. This often works well. Depending on your dates, we can look at what's in season.

I've also had brides buy in foliage from a florist and then then lay it down a den just for tea lights in jam jars about.

Some examples.

Most of these stuff can be bought second hand on eBay or similar.

I think you can buy/rent garlands (fake) if you prefer, too!

Pots of basil is a nice idea - buy from supermarket and pop in these IKEA metal pots for a rustic/industrial feel? www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/socker-plant-pot-in-outdoor-galvanised-90155672/

Lots of nice simple candle holders and napkins at IKEA too!

A nice touch is to get old photos printed of the two of you and friends and family over the years (you can get them printed Polaroid style for a hipster vibe ) and put them on the tables. Nice conversation starter, enjoyed by all ages, and people can take them home/write messages on them.

@MrsAldoKane

Sounds lovely *@Spaghettio*! I don't suppose you've got a picture?

Not the best photo, but you can get the idea.

I have these ones from IKEA. Clever design as you can turn them upside down and they can hold a tea light..

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/neglinge-candlestick-tealight-holder-40452896/