A tablescape, as the name implies, is the landscape of your tables.
When you are designing the tablescape for your wedding reception, you will consider many of the same concepts as when planning a landscape: color, texture, and visual interest.
The way you put it all together is what will make your reception shine.
The tablescape includes all of the different elements that you will use to create your place settings.
These things include: the tablecloth and napkins, plates and chargers, utensils, glasses, centerpieces, favors, table numbers, and menu cards.
With so many things involved in creating a tablescape, it is important to give thought to how they all work together as a whole.
One of the key principles of designing a tablescape is to add unexpected or unique elements to give the finished effect visual interest.
This can be achieved with color, or a pattern, or design concepts.
The surprise element is a great way to make your reception tables distinctive.
It is also a way to use mostly the less expensive basics offered by your caterer and to really punch up the finished tablescape with one or two special details.
As an example, if you are having your wedding reception in a hotel ballroom that provides white table linens, clear wine glasses, and simple white china with a gold rim, there would be a number of different choices as to how to transform the basic to the beautiful.
The great thing is that if you are trying to work within a budget, just doing one or two of these things is enough to give your tables that customized look that everyone is going for these days.
The first option would be to use the white tablecloths, but to rent colored napkins.
Deviating from the basic white napkins will add an instant pop of color to your tables at a reasonable cost.
You can match the napkins to the color of your flowers, or if your flowers are white, choose a pretty pale colored napkin, such as a soft pink or champagne.
Another way to add instant style to your tables is to place the napkins on the center of each plate with a small flower tucked into each one.
If your wedding is very elegant, you might choose to keep the white linens and play around with special stemware instead.
Brides who have bedecked themselves in crystal bridal jewelry can make their tables equally dazzling by substituting sparkling cut crystal wine glasses for plain ones.
To further enhance the theme of elegance, you can even have some Swarovksi crystal drops added to the centerpieces to sparkle like your bridal jewelry in the candlelight.
Another way to personalize your tablescape is to add pattern.
For instance, if the hotel offers plates with a simple gold rim, use those plates for dinner, but rent salad plates with a decorative pattern on them.
They will look beautiful when layered over the simple dinner plates.
Many brides also choose to up the wow factor of their tables by using gold or silver chargers under the dinner service.
Of course, if you are working with a venue that does not provide any of the table needs, you will be able to choose any combination of pieces that you like.
This gives you the freedom to truly customize your tablescape.
Just be sure that all of the pieces look as fabulous together as they do individually, and you will have a stunning looking reception!