5 Unique Table Configurations

One of the most impactful decisions you can make for your wedding reception is the design of your tablescapes. Shaping both the aesthetic of your event and greatly influencing the mood and flow of energy in a room, a seemly simple choice of table shapes is one that needs deep consideration. To help you navigate a myriad of choice – from rounds to rectangle, a singular long table or meandering curves, we’ve put together a guide for 5 unique table configurations.

(main image by Zonzo Studio)

Curved

Why We Love It

Certainly the tablescape of the season, curved tablescapes naturally provide a beautiful flow and ease to your layout. Use this shape to contrast a structural space, or mimic the fluidity of an organic, natural surrounding.  For simple space, this ads such an artful statement. We also love the impact of a curved table meandering through trees and other naturally occurring aisles.

What To Consider

Not every table hire company will offer curved shapes, so keep in mind depending on your location. An artful alternative is also to stack together round tablescapes to create the meandering shape you’re after.

U-Shape

Why We Love It

U-shape dining is a visually impactful style that works beautifully in courtyard settings or in expansive spaces. We love that it creates a dramatic space inside, ideal for your dance floor, lounge area or styled grazing stations. Allowing you to seat guests at both sides of the table, with bride and groom in the centre, it creates an intimate, communal atmosphere.

What To Consider

This layout is best suited to a guest list of up to 100 people, and works particularly well for more intimate gatherings of 20 – 40 people.

Single Long Table

Why We Love It

There is nothing more dramatic and striking than a single length dining table stretched throughout your reception space. Visually this table layout allows for bold impact when it comes to showcasing table styling and florals, emphasizing the art of repitition.

We particularly love the drama a single tablescape brings to vast spaces of baron beauty, or lining the textured walls of a historic village.

What To Consider

While visually impactful, the cons are intimacy for guests when it comes to dramatic lengths. Single length table settings are ideally suited to wedding receptions parties of 100 people or less (although, this French chateau wedding for 120 was one of our favorites!) Consider the length required to seat your guests. A typical trestle table at 6-foot will comfortably seat 3-4 guests at each side. An 8-foot trestle will seat 4-5 guests per side. As a common guideline, allow no less than 50cm per guest per side of the table. And tablecloths – measure correctly, and if you want them to spill and pool on the ground, be sure to allow for plenty of extra fabric.

Rounds & Rectangles

Why We Love It

We love the idea of dynamic table configurations, a concept where you mix round tables with rectangle, long tables with short and horizontal tables with vertical.  It’s one of the simplest ways to reimagine a traditional room layout and offers great flexibility in terms of table size, direction and placement. Great for venues that pose unique shapes and layouts, where you can place long tables in narrow spaces and round tables where wide or square. With the different shapes comes the option to style the centrepieces differently also, offering you the chance to mix it up a little in terms of flowers and centrepiece heights etc.

What To Consider

An extremely flexible layout that offers the best of both worlds, however when not planned correctly, the dynamic shapes could leave the room feeling a little cluttered. To avoid this, ensure you plan the tables with the width and flow of the room along with keeping a sense of symmetry and order to ensure the overall appearance of the room feels intentional.

Single Rows

Why We Love It

If the a single tablescape doesn’t work with your guest numbers or venue, the next best choice is rows of long tables. Ticking all logistical and aesthetic boxes, the shape allows for practicality and creates a visually stunning event – especially shot from above.

What To Consider

Consider running table lengths in odd numbers (such as 3 tables or 5 etc) with the centre table falling in symmetry under the centre point of the room. This centre table then becomes a great place for you and your bridal party, as well as an opportunity to display a cascading overhead floral and lighting installation. The layout works best when placed vertical to the entrance point of your room, ideally also running parallel with the longest length of your space.

Mixed Layout

Why We Love It

Reimagining traditional tablescapes through a modern lens, mixed layouts offer unexpected beauty and so much flexibility to align with your space. Whether it be an odd shaped room that you’e working with, or simply wish to accommodate guests by seating larger groups on the same table, a mixed layout approach is now widely welcome for any wedding event. Ditch the idea of having to seat tables of 10 in rows of absolute symmetry and opt for a casually appealing floor plan that mixes it up on all fronts, remaining truly authentic to you and your guests.

What To Consider

Whilst the idea here is to break all the rules, ensure its produced with an intentional and eye pleasing manner. Allow adequate room for guests and waitstaff to move about between the tables, playing close attention to high traffic areas such as the bathrooms, entrance and exit points. In an open plan setting mix a layout to your liking whilst keeping the tables within close proximity to each other to keep the nights atmosphere alive.

Discuss your wedding plans and ideas in more detail with our directory of handpicked Wedding Planners and Stylists.