Your wedding reception place settings are an ideal focal point for showcasing your chosen theme. Especially one as captivating as the Vintage Glam style! Think about it. Your guests will each have this setting right before them for at least 2 hours. So we suggest that you design it to be like a mini vignette of the overall look. That way, you need not invest in an elaborate and expensive tablescape since the place settings will capture everyone’s attention and work their charm!
Key Elements that Say It All
These place setting images we found on the web are just so fabulous that they may in fact be intimidating! But we can all dream, can’t we? So taking these examples as inspirational—or even aspirational—we noted certain key components that you can focus on to simulate that Vintage Glam flair at your own reception.
Elegant dinnerware – Fine china truly sets an air of sophistication—whether it’s adorned with a dainty floral pattern (#9) or a bold contemporary design (#10), or has a distinctive color (#7). You could also opt for dinnerware with decorative rims (#10) or unique shapes (#6), or even glass dishes that are clear to show the chargers or table linens underneath or else etched with a delicate pattern (#4). With pieces this gorgeous, your place settings are practically ‘made’!
Fancy chargers – Another place setting element that has truly risen to decorative heights is the plate charger. You could find opulent ones of embossed silver (#5) or matte gold (#2); or ones of ceramic in fanciful designs (#7 and #10). Others could have fluted edges (#3) or simply a modern burnished finish (#9).
Striking napkin accents – If there’s one quick, easy, and affordable trick to creating an eye-catching place setting it’s through napkin accents. Think sparkly brooches or buttons (#1), bands of lace and tiny bunches of flowers (#3), exotic orchids (#5), themed touches like vintage sewing notions (#7) or cameos on burlap (#8). And of course, the napkins themselves can be made of printed fabric to match the theme (#6 and #7).
Stylish menu cards – We are amazed at the artistry that goes into today’s wedding menu cards! Just look at the variety of designs and treatments in the examples we found—from formal to whimsical to quaint to trendy. Again, having cards this creative is one sure way to instantly up the appeal of your place settings!
Fabulous cutlery and/or glassware – Who wouldn’t love to impress guests with really fancy flatware? But this may have to be reserved for your sweethearts table or, at most, the main table for your wedding party. So we suggest incorporating unique and interesting glassware—elegant emerald goblets (#4), for instance, or ones of metal (#10), vintage mercury glass, or tinted depression glass.
Image credits:
1 – Jerry Yoon Photographers, via Elizabeth Anne Designs; 2 – Style Me Pretty on Pinterest; 3 – Pepper Nix Photography, via Ruffled; 4 – Ali Harper Photography, via Snippet and Ink; 5 – Callaway Gable Studios, via Junebug Weddings; 6 – Marni Rothschild Pictures, via The Knot ;7 – Kristen Weaver Photography, via Burnett’s Boards; 8 – Simple Moments Photography, via Wed Society; 9 – With Love and Embers, via Bridal Guide; 10 – L Marie Photography