How to Decorate Tables for a Banquet

Table decorations help set the mood and can continue a theme from events earlier in the day. When decorating a banquet table consider the type of event; if the banquet is for a business meeting you'll want less decorations to enable people to take notes. However, if the banquet is for a wedding reception you'll likely want to extend the theme from the wedding. Although large bouquets of fresh flowers are always a safe option, they can be expensive, particularly if you have a lot of tables. Instead of breaking the bank on decorations, consider using some inexpensive options to decorate your table. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Cover the table in linens that coordinate with the theme of your wedding, or that act as a neutral backdrop to your decorations. Depending upon the location of the banquet, the location may provide white or off-white linens as a part of the fee.

2

Add a splash of color to the table with colored napkins, a centered square piece of fabric slightly smaller than your table, or a table runner. Although professional linen companies will know the needed dimensions for runners and squares, you may need to contact the banquet center for table dimensions. Typically, you'll want the runner to be long enough so that it drapes off the ends of the table by at least 6 inches on each side.

3

Place your centerpiece decorations in the middle of the table. Depending upon your budget, the look you want for the table, and the actual size and style of the table, you may have more than one decoration. For example, small round tables would look adequately decorated with a vase filled with cut and uncut lemons, whereas a long table might look better with scattered votive candles along the runner or small vases with one bud in them. Unless your centerpiece elements are see-through, like a tall water-filled vase, they should be no taller than about 12 inches off the table; this allows conversation to flow from both sides of the table without people being blocked off from each other. Use odd numbered decorations on the table to make the table look less formal.