Let’s talk reception tablescapes. Now, first…what is a tablescape?

It’s really just a fancy word us wedding vendors use to describe how a reception table is set up–the florals, the tablecloth, the chairs, the chargers, plates, flatware, glassware, menu, etc. All of those things come together to create the “tablescape.” Some are really simple; some are really ornate. The tablescape is an opportunity to bring all your wedding colors together and showcase the design of your wedding day.

The florals especially can make a statement for guests and for photos. Don’t just take my word for it–let’s look at some examples from real wedding days!

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Stephanie and Drew had an impeccable tablescape set up. These are a couple things that elevate it:

1. The variation of the taller and shorter floral arrangements. It provides some visual variation to the eye, which makes it feel balanced!
2. The wax seals at each plate. There were different colors of these at each plate, which actually indicated to the serving staff which type of meal that individual had chosen. So it makes not only for a great favor, but also a practical use!
3. Matching the color of the chairs with the color of the taller arrangement holders and chargers brings the color palette together!

Chidimma and Amit were going for a “secret garden theme at their wedding. I would say they nailed it...and so did The Washingtonian–you can check out that feature here.

1. Here again you can see the variation in height of arrangements. But Chidimma and Amit took that varation in height to a whole other level with their floor height larger trees that looked like they were part of the table! Eight Tree Street Floral really brought this vision to life!
2. The candelabras add a nice touch of elegance without the same financial commitment as living florals.
3. They also had round tables as well as longer banquet tables. The varying table shapes make it easier to vary the floor plan and accommodate all guests.

Stephanie and Zac had breathtaking tablescapes! I was so impressed when Stephanie said she designed them all herself, then Rosy Posy Floral Design brought all of her dreams to life!

1. The florals vary in height, just as in the last two examples (are you seeing a theme here?!). But what is most remarkable is the table-length floral garland that makes this indoor wedding almost feel like it’s in a garden!
2. Stephanie chose to have silk napkins that elevate the overall tablescape. It brings some elegance and provides a different texture, in this case shiny, to reflect off some of the overhead lighting to give the table even more dimension.
3. The floating candles inside the tall votives also add to the dimension of the table, similar to the candelabras from Chidimma and Amit’s wedding. The glass votives paired with the tall glass vases give a neutral color palette to allow the florals, chargers, and napkins to really stand out!

Finally, Alie and Rylan had their outdoor wedding in the mountains of Tennessee. Their color palette was so consistent throughout all of their florals and that made their tablescape shine. Initially an outdoor wedding hosted in a pavilion sounds like a more casual affair. However, the design that Alie put together definitely brought a flair of formal to the setting. She did that in a few ways:

1. Those silk napkins again! That shimmer just hits different in the summer sun. 🙂
2. The cross back chairs level up the elegance when dining in a natural location. Personally, cross back chairs are some of my favorite to photograph! They feel timeless to me.
3. The clear glass vases paired with some pink painted vases allowed the pink, green, and cream palette to really stand out.

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Hopefully these different tablescapes brought some inspiration your way as you are planning your wedding! Each design is unique to the couple, their wedding’s setting, and their wedding’s color palette. All of those pretty, little details come together to really give a beautiful guest experience…and how lucky am I to get to photograph it all?!