- 1). Cover the guest table with a tablecloth. Thick cloths add elegance. If you want to incorporate your wedding's theme color, lay out a contrasting cloth in that color over the first table cloth. If the table is round, a red square table cloth over a white round table cloth will make your guest tables memorable.
- 2). Add place settings for each guest at the table. Set out all plates and flatware that will be needed during the dinner and dessert. Forks go on the left side of the plate while knives and spoons go on the right. Place dessert forks and spoons horizontally just above each plate. Don't forget the glasses, placed northeast of the place setting. If you're having a buffet-style reception, leave the plates off the tables and keep them in a stack at the beginning of the buffet.
- 3). Incorporate a decorative centerpiece into the middle of each guest table. The centerpieces should go with the theme of your wedding. An outdoor, nature-themed wedding could feature white votive candles placed around driftwood sculptures. For a wedding with an antique theme, add votive candles to glass jars of different sizes. If all else fails, feature a low, wide flower arrangement that's both elegant and easy to see over, so guests can talk to each other at the table.
- 4). Set out place cards if you created a seating arrangement for your wedding. If you're good at calligraphy, hand write each card and place it in the center of each plate. If you have assigned guests to tables but don't want to choose the seats for them, name each table instead. Rather than numbers, make each table unique with its own name. Choose a naming theme that relates to the married couple, whether the countries you've traveled to or the names of your childhood pets.
- 5). Set out party favors for each guest. Traditional wedding party favors include small mesh bags of Jordan almonds, or monogrammed books of matches. If you want to add a special flair to your wedding reception, incorporate the bride and groom's unique personalities. Music lovers can create CDs for each guest featuring their favorite music. Writers or illustrators can create small books detailing the bride and groom's love affair. Put the party favors at each place setting on the guest tables.
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