Table Decorations - The Family Spectrum

The first two weekends of July brought much celebration for Alex's side of the family: her cousin got married in a beautiful Methodist church and her sister got a civil partnership in gorgeous Brighton Town Hall. Both were fab, and I have to say, Alex and I looked the part. The receptions were held, respectively, in a marquee behind a pub (much prettier than it sounds) and the Latest Music Bar with french doors opening onto the street; and being the ever-observant, now-wedding-planning woman that I am, I was taking notes. Mostly, on table decorations.

OK, I was taking notes on most things, but the table decorations are really what get my creativity bouncing. Ah, craftiness.

Cousin of the Bride, Reception #1: Vintage Tour de France theme; white, burgundy and pink (although I'm told UK weddings don't really 'do' colors...)

The bride wore a vintage veil and vintage-style dress, and the table decorations matched. The red (1) and white (2) wine, from California (nice shout!), had bicycles on the label; the menu was covered in vintage French ads; alongside the ice bucket sat a framed photograph of a participant of the Tour de France. Name cards had a French-themed stamp and every place setting had a red and white sweets bag: guests were invited to 'tour' the 15 tables and collect sweets from the mason jars on each of the tables (although some people insisted on trading instead of collecting...). There were pink flowers, table names of places visited by the bride and groom and a full set of flatware and stemware.

Thoughts: The decorations felt meticulously thought out and very sweet, but the table was a bit busy.
Favorite Touch: Name cards with themed stamps.

Sister of a Bride, Reception #2: The theme was simplicity and joy, perfection for J & E; blue and white (I think there are always color themes...)



A bit too caught up in all the tapas, good music and the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus, I forgot to take a photo of the tables. However, there were no seating charts or name cards so people got to move around freely. J & E decorated with blue and white striped Brighton Rock Candy (6 per table tied with a white ribbon, one for each seat; pictured above), two white flower stalks, white balloons, and white bubbles with two love birds on the cap. Their sponge cake even matched--and tasted AMAZING!

Thoughts: I loved the local sweets to flavor the evening and the different levels really worked for decorating a small space with lots of movement.
Favorite touch: local sweets with meaning.

And the creativity is off bouncing again: Ok, so, purple tulips, vintage vases, handmade napkins (purple and green), Cornish fudge or truffles from Middletons... Hmm, custom stamps or photographs... candles or no candles...?