24 Wedding Table Settings to Inspire Your Own

gold and white place settings with blue linens and floral centerpieces
Photo: Mike Cassimatis Photography

Most weddings feature vows, toasts, a cake, and flowers, but long after the celebration is over, it's the clever, personal details that your guests actually remember.

One way to make your wedding stand out from the rest is to add a unique touch to your dinner table. Be it through unexpected centerpieces, detailed menus, or cool and creative dishware, an innovative tablescape may be just what your wedding needs to bring your personality-infused theme to a whole new level.

Not sure where to start? Work in colors, unique shapes, and varying textures, which can all transform your reception table décor. Here, get inspired by these table settings from real weddings, designed for a diverse range of styles, tastes, and needs. Because while falling back on classic decoration is never a bad idea, swapping out tradition for personal, one-of-a-kind designs is always a good idea.

01 of 24

Mod Table Setting

dennis-bryan-wedding-italy-table-setting-menu-orange-blue-candle-centerpiece-004-0531-s112633.jpg
Corbin Gurkin

The table settings were right on theme at these grooms' modern wedding. Blue, orange, and marbled candles served as centerpieces, while hand-cut, hexagon-shaped menus sat atop simple white plates. The couple's big-day date and monogram were incorporated into the design, and light blue runners tied each table's look together.

02 of 24

Mixed Pattern Table Setting

dinner place setting
KT Merry

Planning a more-is-more wedding? Bring on the layers of patterns and textures. We love this maximalist take, curated byTara Guerard Soiree, which was complete with blue velvet table linens, mixed-patterned Chinoiserie china, gold vases and candle holders, tasseled, laser-cut menus, and lush floral centerpieces.

03 of 24

Classic Table Setting

Blue, Orange, and Marble Table Setting
Charlotte Jenks Lewis

Event planner Claudia Hanlin of The Wedding Library set the table at this New York City wedding with neutral linens, gold votives, and traditional china. Centerpieces featured roses, peonies, scabiosa, sweet peas, and privets.

04 of 24

Elegant Platinum Table Setting

metallic wedding place setting silver plates
Jose Villa

Use silver platters as plates—like Easton Events did here—to serve up some luxury at your reception. Silver-accented flatware, damask table linens, and lush floral arrangements in subdued pastels completed this elegant tabletop.

05 of 24

Eclectic Gold Table Setting

wedding place setting
Laura Gordon Photography

Gold can be spun in so many ways across a wedding tablescape. Here, an eclectic mix (courtesy of Rachael Lunghi of Lace & Likes) hits all the notes, with brassy gold chargers, cups, vases, and flatware; gold-trimmed agates; hammered gold napkin holders; and gold-embroidered menus. These metallic accents were tempered by neutral blooms and a gauzy tablecloth.

06 of 24

Tropical Table Setting

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Mi Belle Photography

The wooden tables at this destination wedding in Mexico, planned and designed by Tori Hendrix of Sitting In A Tree Events, were dotted with bright accents: pink-and-coral blooms, blue stemware, and lots of takeaways for guests. The place setting favors included tiles hand-painted with guests' names, shot glasses for tequila, and personalized bracelets that circled colorful tropical-print napkins.

07 of 24

Monochromatic Table Setting

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

To create a cohesive feeling, this bride (with the help of Alison Events Planning & Design) set her table with monochromatic centerpieces, linens, and glassware. She added a subtle bit of texture with striped napkins from Restoration Hardware.

08 of 24

Vintage Table Setting

gold and silver place setting with a pink rose atop plate
Caroline Tran Photography

Old-World romance looks fresh when you mix metals and styles. Here, an ornate, polished silver charger and modern blue dinner plate plays well with traditional gold flatware and gold-rimmed china; a gold-scripted menu and fresh rose top each place setting. The simple tablescape—a garland of olive leaves anchored by votives—balances the romantic, vintage details.

09 of 24

Colorful Table Setting

federica-tommaso-wedding-placesetting-090-s112330-1015.jpg
Catherine Mead

Parisian-style lobster, wild sea bass, and shellfish were served on white plates with gold details at this destination wedding in Morocco. Red-and-purple centerpieces and linens added a burst of color while vintage candelabras and small votives added a romantic touch.

10 of 24

Pastel Table Setting

Pastel and Pyrite Table Setting
Belathée Photography

Pastel dinnerware, rose-gold flatware, and menus weighted down with glittery pyrite rocks set the scene for dinner at this Palm Springs wedding, while vintage vases with peach, orange, and white poppies added a bright pop of color.

11 of 24

Copper Table Setting

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Leo Patrone

Tables at this fall wedding in Washington D.C. were set with copper chargers and flatware, and DIY vellum menu bags that held bread. Flowers in peach, apricot, wine, and clay colors picked up the place setting's copper tones.

12 of 24

Playful Table Setting

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Gideon Photo

To make menu and place cards more interesting, consider using an atypical shape instead of a square or rectangle. This bike-loving couple included cutouts that topped their yellow-and-white plates, which the pair collected by visiting every nearby Target store. Matching napkins, mixed glassware, modern gold flatware, and woven chargers that had been painted white rounded out the setup.

13 of 24

Casual Table Setting

Blue, Orange, and Marble Table Setting
Gary Ashley for Les Loups

Determined to make her wedding tent feel like home, this bride paired vintage indigo-dyed table runners from Thailand with napkins from IKEA, which were rolled up and finished off with a silver olive branch tucked into each. The copper flatware came from New England Country Rentals.

14 of 24

Minimalistic Table Setting

Blue, Orange, and Marble Table Setting
Erin Kunkel

Each place setting at this Big Sur wedding was a mix of humble and refined elements. Paper-bag place cards and kitchen-towel napkins were flanked by flatware and menus punched up with drawings by the bride's sister. Clusters of late-season heirloom tomatoes, persimmons, and figs replaced traditional floral centerpieces.

15 of 24

Rustic Table Setting

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Long garlands of olive branches, laced with blush-colored roses, and pomegranates decorated wooden farm tables at this Kentucky wedding. An eclectic mix of antique flatware spoke to the rustic theme. As a finishing touch, an olive branch rested atop each napkin.

16 of 24

Striped Table Setting

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Rachel Thurston

If you are using patterned linens, opt for simple plates and white flowers that won't distract, like this couple did at their California wedding.

17 of 24

Summertime Table Setting

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Tables at this rustic barn wedding in California were decorated with paper sacks of ripe red cherries, amber glass vessels, and simple floral arrangements. For an extra bit of Americana, the bride used ticking stripes as napkin holders.

18 of 24

Fall Table Setting

amanda-marty-wedding-marfa-texas-1496-s112329.jpg
Aaron Delesie

Tables at this October wedding in Marfa, Texas, were set with garden roses, amber amaranthus, basil, and café au lait dahlias; each plate held a personalized menu calligraphed in plum ink.

19 of 24

Pretty Pink Table Setting

Blue, Orange, and Marble Table Setting
Katie Stoops Photography

Table settings at this outdoor wedding in Palm Springs, Calif., kept to the pink color scheme with light and dark pink rose centerpieces from Hope Flower Farm and gold trimmed dishware and gold silverware. Wooden cutting boards from Wayfair, personalized with each guest's name, served as chargers, place cards, and favors.

20 of 24

Blue Table Setting

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Jodi & Kurt Photography

Guests at this wedding sat down to a pretty blue tablescape with personalized strips of linen wrapped around patterned napkins from La Tavola Linen, and topped with a blue eryngium stem.

21 of 24

Farm-to-Table Table Setting

Artichokes place card holders
Katie Grant Photography

Getting married in the spring? If so, look to this place setting full of seasonal details. An artichoke that looks plucked straight from the bouquet above cleverly serves as a place card holder while teasing the farm-to-table menu. The high-contrast, seasonal centerpiece of purple artichokes, burgundy ranunculus, white hydrangeas, and petal pink roses celebrates spring's blooms.

22 of 24

Unique Table Setting

Blue, Orange, and Marble Table Setting
Max & Friends

This Palm Springs bride wanted her tables to look like they were set with unique finds from the flea market—nothing too formal or matchy. Agates, geodes, and a mix of candles were set out along with simple arrangements of fritillaria, cacti, and ranunculus, while brass bracelets doubled as napkin rings.

23 of 24

Elegant Country Table Setting

table setting
Polly Alexandre Fine Photography

Individual mini loaves of olive, rosemary, and feta focaccia, topped with place cards tied with twine, were the perfect invitation to break bread with family and friends as they celebrated the newlyweds. Copper flatware, mixed-patterned drinkware, flax linens, and a fragrant garland of greenery studded with kumquats sat atop a long, rustic wood table for the couple's family-style wedding meal.

24 of 24

Floral Table Setting

Blue, Orange, and Marble Table Setting
Elisabeth Millay

At this destination wedding in Mexico, a bright rose rested atop each menu, which was tucked into the folded napkin that sat on an ornate charger. The color story continued in the centerpieces of phalaenopsis orchids, roses, dahlias, and ranunculus.

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