Décor & Styling

Top Tips to Make the Perfect Wedding Tablescape

You and your guests will probably be spending lots of time at a table, particularly for the wedding breakfast, dinner and/or reception. So it’s important that you make it as enjoyable a place to be as possible. Make your autumn wedding tablescape cosy and inviting—the last thing your guests need is to have your artistic arrangements of flowers poking them in the face.

Autumn Wedding Tablescape Decoration Ideas | Confetti.co.uk

 

Set the Scene with Your Autumn Wedding Tablescape

Set the scene—it’s an easy thing to say, but much harder to do. After all, it encapsulates everything from your venue to your music and even the mood of your guests.  Even when focusing on the table itself there are a few things to consider:

Layout

You want your guests to be comfortable or they simply won’t enjoy themselves. Worse, they might even want to leave early! Avoid pushing your guest tables very close together. If you do, you run the risk of your family and friends being unable to get out of their seats without bulldozing tables, chairs and small children out of their way. Similarly, don’t cram everyone together round the table; observe the capacity of the table.

Outdoor wedding reception lighting and seating | Confetti.co.uk
Annette & Brendan’s Outdoor Wedding Reception

Be mindful of your chair and table layout to ensure everyone has enough space. Especially if you are having lots of guests, make sure you have a wide enough space that gives everyone some freedom of movement. If need be, ask at your venue if you can re-arrange the room, and if you have an outdoor wedding (or a venue where the space is yours to do with as you will) you have untold possibilities!

Decor

Wedding decor is one of the first things we think of when it comes to setting the scene. Everything you do to your wedding tables, whether it’s their layout or their accessories, becomes its decor. That’s why you’re right to focus so intently on it! To keep all of your room decor looking magnificent, you should, ideally, carry your theme through to your wedding tables as well.

Rustic woodland wedding table centrepieces and decoration ideas | Confetti.co.ukAbove, wedding table centrepiece and decoration ideas from the Confetti shop. Clockwise from the top-left: Birch Branch Centrepiece | Birch Bark Vellum Wra | Birch Paper Straws |  Mini Birch Bark Wrap

Wedding decor, when done right, can shape the mood of your venue. Take care not to pile items for your tablescape too high. It will hinder proper conversation if your guests are trying to talk across the table and succeed only in playing hide-and-seek through your roses. Layers work wonderfully. Vary the height of your decorations for ease of conversation between guests. Have only one focal point to avoid a cluttered look—your focal point is usually your centrepiece, so don’t lessen its impact.

For autumn wedding tablescapes, red and gold leaves look magnificent scattered across the table or clustered around your wedding centrepieces. Horns of plenty are a popular autumn extra that make beautiful table centrepieces too. In fact, a lot of couples now use food and drink as wedding decorations. Because everything around your table contributes to the overall tablescape, give attention to how you decorate your guests’ chairs, the walls around them, and even the space above them.

Wedding décor small details | Confetti.co.uk
Ideas for the finer details of wedding decoration that might be overlooked.

Clockwise from the top-left: Antique Finish Wooden Sign | Wood Effect Napkin Ring | Rustic Wooden Decorative Tray | Rustic Pencils

Lighting is another big mood-changer. Colourful lights, sparkling lights, bonfires, hearth fires…all can give a different ambience (read up on Easy Ways To Add Ambience to Your Wedding Reception). Candles and lanterns give a beautiful effect for autumn weddings with soft glows and ornate settings. Incorporate fresh, seasonal produce by carving fruit and vegetables (apples, gourds, pumpkins, squash, etcetera) and placing a votive or tea light candle in them. Add a touch of glamour by decorating the fruit with glitter.

Autumn wedding candles, lanterns, and lighting | Confetti.co.uk Left to right: Lamp Silhouette Glass Votive Candle Holders shown with  Battery Operated Tealights | Mini Lanterns with Hanger

Magic is in the details with your autumn wedding tablescape. Consider your place settings: opt for incorporating thematic ways to tie in your theme instead of the usual paper place cards. We love the idea of bringing the outside in and scrawling guests’ names on stones or leaves. Alternatively, you can use these items to serve as props for displaying the place cards.

Autumn wedding stationery | Confetti.co.uk
Autumnal wedding stationery & place card displays with natural stones.

From the top: Heart Strings Stationery Collection | Natural Rocks with Card Etch | Autumn Leaf Stationery Collection

For further wedding décor ideas, read How To Make a Statement on a Budget.

Be Wonderful Hosts

Just as important as your tablescape is how you and your other half present yourselves. You both have every reason to be happy on such a big day, so smile and mingle with your friends and family. Welcome them to the wedding reception warmly with a drink or wedding favour and offer to show them to their seats.

Autumn wedding bride and groom at the wedding reception | Confetti.co.uk
Rebecca & Peter’s Autumn Romance

Read all our articles discussing autumn wedding ideas.

 

Download the free wedding planning app

Plan your dream wedding with Wedx, the free wedding planning app that makes organising your big day a breeze. With a countdown clock and intuitive planning tools, you'll stay on top of every detail. Discover amazing suppliers, explore their services, and view stunning photos and videos, all in one place. Wedx helps you connect with the perfect professionals to bring your wedding vision to life.

Free App Right Arrow
Wedx Icon

Claim your free wedding magazine

Claim your free copy of Confetti Magazine, one of the UK's premier wedding publications. Inside its beautifully curated pages, you'll find expert tips, checklists, and inspiring real-life stories to spark your imagination and plan your dream day with confidence, ensuring your wedding is just the way you envision it, down to the last detail.

Free Magazine Right Arrow
Confetti Magazine

Find Wedding Ideas, Inspiration, Venues and Services