Banquet Party Table Ideas

Determine the Theme

Consider the tone of your event. You may be having an elegant affair that requires pressed linens, rented china and candelabras. Perhaps your event is more casual and family oriented. If your event is more down to earth, select more humble table coverings and accessories.

Choose elegant table linens to achieve a more formal table. Select refined linens like brocade, woven silk or fine pressed Irish linen. When choosing a color scheme, consider a black and white color combination with red and gold accents. A black tablecloth with red napkins and white plates with gold chargers projects an air of formality.
Rent fine silverware and china to reflect the elegant tone of your banquet. Choose buffet ware, vases or servers to coordinate with your theme. You can select either a coordinating elaborate pattern on your china or a more simple but refined silver- or gold-striped china pattern.

Select floral centerpieces to reflect the tone of a formal banquet table. Flowers like long-stem roses and lilies are most commonly used for more upscale events. Their style, color and scent all suggest an opulent affair.
Make sure the vessels the floral arrangements are in reflect the atmosphere you want to create. Silver or simple ceramic vases would be perfect for this purpose. Height will also lend an air of sophistication in a floral arrangement. Very tall floral arrangements tend to look more formal than short bunches of flowers.

Purchase either disposable or inexpensive cloth linens to use as tablecloths for a casual event. Many dollar stores carry inexpensive tablecloths in their inventories. If you can't find the right size covering, you can always layer two tablecloths together. If you find a bargain on a large tablecloth that is too big for your table, you can always cut it down to fit and sew or glue the edges to look finished.
Instead of renting silverware for a casual banquet table, purchase plastic ware at a bulk wholesale club to save money. There are even plastic ware brands that are colored to mimic real silverware.

Purchase small vases, baskets or other containers at dollar stores or discount stores. Creative containers like beach buckets or mason jars can be charming and inexpensive. Select flowers like daisies or wildflowers for a more down-to-earth atmosphere. Use seashells, pine cones and cinnamon sticks as accents in your floral arrangements.
Purchase floating candles and put them in clear vases filled with water and scatter those casually around the table. You can also add a touch of food coloring to the water to coordinate with your banquet-table color scheme.