will it be weird if my tables don't match?

Question

Instead of table numbers at the wedding reception, I am naming each table after a place that is important to us. (for example, Kelowna, Victoria, Waikiki). On the back of each table marker I'll have a photo of us in that place, and a description of why the place is significant to us.

I am thinking of making a custom centerpiece and name cards for each table to match it's "place". For example, the Kelowna table could have a wine and grapes centrepiece and use apples as placecards... the Victoria table would have flowers in the centre and butterfly name cards on the wine glasses, Waikiki would have a beach & shells theme etc.

Would this be weird if my tables are all different and don't match? The linens and basic setup would be the same but centrepieces and name cards would vary from table to table. There will be about 10 tables. What do you think?

Answer 1

Love your idea. You can believe people will be circulating to see the other tables after the meal, and this will get everyone talking, so each table is not isolated and there is a true community of guests.

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Answer 2

I think you'll be fine. Normal people do not look at another table and think "that table is more beautiful than my table." That just...doesn't happen. People take a quick look around the room and say "that's pretty, where's the bar?"



I've been to a wedding where they did almost exactly what you're describing - each table was named after a place that was special to them. It was sort of fun reading the story that was on the table and it was a bit of a conversation starter.



Again, I'm assuming that your friends are normal people and normal people do not see their table at a wedding as part of a social pecking order. ESPECIALLY not when there is the level of detail you're describing. They'll be too charmed by the details and thoughtfulness to even consider it out of the ordinary to have non-matching tables.

Answer 3

Personally, I think it's a fantastic idea. Not only will it be personalized to you (what a wedding is all about) but on a practical point of view, guests will remember the visual cue of their table, since they're all different looking anyway. But then, I'm the type of person that detests matchy-matchy. When I got married I had different (but coordinating) centerpieces and table settings. It's your wedding, it's whatever YOU want and whatever makes YOU happy. There are no wedding police who say it all has to match. I don't think even Martha Stewart would say it all has to match! I would keep a central color theme though--otherwise your room will look too haphazard.



Good luck!

Answer 4

I think it sounds like an EXCELLENT idea! For more ideas for decorating your tables, check out Wisdom Vitamins custom-made table toppers. They are totally unique!



Info below is copied from their website! Good luck and best wishes!



SIDE 1: Displays wisdom about love, life, friendship, family, etc. from authors such as Nora Roberts, Lao Tzu, Brian Tracy, Menander, Russell Bertrand and many others. Transitions your guests and serves as a natural ice breaker.



SIDE 2: Displays the name of the guest of honor or bride and groom along with the date of the event.



INSIDE: Contains an interactive opportunity for up to 8 guests/table topper to leave advice for the newlyweds on creating a successful marriage or well wishes for the guest of honor.

Answer 5

As a frequent wedding guest, I can tell you quite honestly that most people are not even going to notice. The few that do notice aren't going to care, except for a quick, "Oh, that's cute" before they go back to their dinner or the dance floor.



Brides care a LOT more about things like centerpieces than any guest ever has.

Answer 6

It's a great idea. We did something similar for ours. We named each table a place that was important for us. The table name holder included a picture of us there, but table decor was all the same.



It's a matter of personal preference: are you going for an even, clean, organized look; or an eclectic one?



Good luck

Answer 7

I think it's a really cute idea, but risky.



People will feel insulted if another table is more beautiful to them. It sounds silly, but at weddings every little thing is noticed socially, people's etiquette senses are tingling. It's bad enough when the tables look all the same but a guests feels shafted because they thought they would be seated closer to the head table, to add anything else to that will just create more jealousy, competition, and hard feelings.



It's totally ridiculous, but that's how people are about weddings.



EDIT: people are giving you bad advice. At almost every wedding there is at least one or two people who are upset that they are not seated closer to the bride and groom. Your friends will probably not care, but your older family members will be sensitive to this.

Add in the different tables and you are just creating a formula for unintended insults. Old-school traditional women such as grandparents, great aunts, and aunts will be unhappy with their seating. I absolutely guarantee it. You will be creating a situation where not only does seating placement matter, but the "grass is always greener" ideal applies here too. "I wish I was seated at wakiki. It's so much more exotic" and "I think our table location was thrown in at the last minute, it doesn't seam as important as the other places they visited. I guess they think Aunt Jo is more important than us, because she's in Paris and we're just in Boise."



It will happen. Just wait and see.

Answer 8

I don't think that's weird at all. I was thinking of doing something similar for our wedding but instead of places, we were going to have the beaches that we've visited together and apart since we're having a beach theme wedding.



I like your idea because each place is important to you + you have a picture of you at the place for the frame.

Answer 9

No, this sounds like a great idea. If it's what you and your partner want, then go for it. Personally i think it makes a change from the normal uniform tables and will get people talking.

Answer 10

I think it is a terrific idea and very different. Will take alot of planning, but I'm sure everyone would enjoy looking at all the tables alot. Cute!

Answer 11

Sounds beautiful and unique! You should also do that in the bedrooms of your home. I did it. Each one has a theme that reminds me of some place I have visited and loved, or want to visit one day.

Answer 12

No under no circumstances, i like all black and white, yet while your partitions are a colour, i could get rid of something no longer black, white, silver, or sparkling. otherwise its gets messy. perhaps paint some image frames black, or your cloth cabinet white with black drawers stick to a inflexible colour scheme and it will seem fairly cool

Answer 13

Bad idea. Uniformity is important at weddings so that no relatives feel that their table was somehow not quite as pretty as the table someone else was at. It is a small thing, but do you really want to risk accidentally hurting someone's feelings at your own wedding?



Ask someone who had their bridesmaids all in the same color but in different styles of dresses if you don't believe me.

Answer 14

Very nice idea to me, something different and your wedding is all about you, so do what you want. Again, sounds good to me.

Answer 15

I think this sounds really nice. Of course, not everything has to match exactly!

Answer 16

No, that will NOT be weird. Sounds very different and unique.

Answer 17

Not Weird at all... Go for it....