Community› Wedding Discussion Boards› Wedding Reception Forum
Wedding Reception Forum
New Discussion

Am I overthinking this?

gamecockwedgamecockwed member
5 Love Its First Comment First Anniversary
in Wedding Reception Forum
I am doing assigned seating. We will have painted windows holding the escort cards at the front of the reception location. My issue arises at the actual tables. I am having round tables that seat 8 with lace runners. each place setting will include a big and small vintage china plate, silverware wrapped in yellow napkins, a menu card (on top of plates), a chocolate army favor (on top of plates) and a mason jar to drink out of.
Here are my two questions-how do I display the place card at each spot. I already have so much at each place setting. I was thinking of tying them to the mason jars but Im afraid that they wont be seen. There is already so much on top of the plates Im not sure if it would fit. The second question is regarding the table centerpieces that I designed (pic attached). The mason jars will have hydrangeas in them and the chalkboard frames will have the names of each table (named after Army bases). My concern is once the drinking mason jars etc are placed on the table that the table names wont be seen. Should I elevate the entire centerpiece and if so any suggestions on what to use that wont clash with the colors used in the centerpieces
Report Reply to Post

Re: Am I overthinking this?

  • KatWAGKatWAG member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its

    gamecockwed said:
    I am doing assigned seating. We will have painted windows holding the escort cards at the front of the reception location. My issue arises at the actual tables. I am having round tables that seat 8 with lace runners. each place setting will include a big and small vintage china plate, silverware wrapped in yellow napkins, a menu card (on top of plates), a chocolate army favor (on top of plates) and a mason jar to drink out of.
    Here are my two questions-how do I display the place card at each spot. I already have so much at each place setting. I was thinking of tying them to the mason jars but Im afraid that they wont be seen. There is already so much on top of the plates Im not sure if it would fit. The second question is regarding the table centerpieces that I designed (pic attached). The mason jars will have hydrangeas in them and the chalkboard frames will have the names of each table (named after Army bases). My concern is once the drinking mason jars etc are placed on the table that the table names wont be seen. Should I elevate the entire centerpiece and if so any suggestions on what to use that wont clash with the colors used in the centerpieces

    Are you doing assigned seating or assigned tables? I would strongly advise only doing assigned tables. Thus eliminates the need for extra stuff, on an already busy table.

    I would skip mason jars as part of the centerpieces if you are also going to be using mason jars as drinking glasses. It could be confusing and again, really busy.

    With regards to the mason jars, will each guest get one? What will they use for cocktail hour (if you are having one?) What happens when a guest wants to switch from beer to wine? Will they get a new jar? Will some one clean it out for them?

    BabyFruit Ticker
    Report Reply
  • gamecockwedgamecockwed member
    5 Love Its First Comment First Anniversary
    The centerpieces are done so the mason jars are set there. We are having a early wedding (11 am with 12 noon full lunch afterwards). All occur at church so no cocktail hour and no alcohol at all. We are having water, tea sweet and unsweet, lemonade and punch (sonic ocean water that the caterer is making for us). I didnt think about the reusing of the jars between different beverages. 
    Report Reply
  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    First Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2015
    Is there a reason for the assigned seats?    I've mostly only been to assigned tables.  

    I did go to one wedding with assigned seats.  That was because the bride hand made pendants for the ladies and cuff links for the men.   They were sitting in boxes with a tag with our name on top.   

    Other than for something like the reason above (personalized favors) I don't see the need for assigned seats.  Just assign the table, let the guests pick where to seat.  One less item on the table and one less thing you have to worry about.



    ETA - Go TIGERS!!!!!






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
    Report Reply
  • gamecockwedgamecockwed member
    5 Love Its First Comment First Anniversary
    Some of the favors are specialized. I am having chocolate but have 10 guest that are diabetic and they are getting sugar free chocolate (at my future mils request). I dont want guests having their chocolate. 
    Report Reply
  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    gamecockwed said:
    Some of the favors are specialized. I am having chocolate but have 10 guest that are diabetic and they are getting sugar free chocolate (at my future mils request). I dont want guests having their chocolate. 
    How big/heavy are the favors?  Would it be possible to attach the favors to the escort cards?  This way everyone gets the appropriate chocolate according to their food needs and you don't have to assign actual seats. 

    Report Reply
  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    edited December 2015
    And as for the centerpieces, have you considered attaching a piece to the bottom of the wooden tray to make it more like a pedestal tray?

    Like this...https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThaH-ohk-MF-BqW-me-oICZP5zzsTaDfDaRALNEbiqzZJu6ADh_g


    Report Reply
  • jacques27jacques27 member
    First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2015
    gamecockwed said:

    The centerpieces are done so the mason jars are set there. We are having a early wedding (11 am with 12 noon full lunch afterwards). All occur at church so no cocktail hour and no alcohol at all. We are having water, tea sweet and unsweet, lemonade and punch (sonic ocean water that the caterer is making for us). I didnt think about the reusing of the jars between different beverages. 

    Also not only reusing, but what if someone wants water and another beverage at the same time? I usually have both at the same time with my meals. I don't consider water my mealtime beverage, it's a constant - either I have a water bottle beside me at all times or a water glass at the dining table. My mealtime beverage is in addition to my water.

    As an aside, I don't like drinking out of jars. Something about the threaded area on the jar where the lid screws on makes me far more prone to spilling/dribbling while I'm drinking...Unless you're expecting everyone use straws.
    Report Reply
  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    First Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2015
    Maggie0829 said:
    gamecockwed said:
    Some of the favors are specialized. I am having chocolate but have 10 guest that are diabetic and they are getting sugar free chocolate (at my future mils request). I dont want guests having their chocolate. 
    How big/heavy are the favors?  Would it be possible to attach the favors to the escort cards?  This way everyone gets the appropriate chocolate according to their food needs and you don't have to assign actual seats. 
    That is a good idea.


    I'm also a water + another beverage fan when I eat.   Even in my own house I have will have a water sitting next to my wine at dinner.   If I'm out for lunch I will have a water + an iced tea.  Water is a constant for me.     



    ETA - overstuffed tables are a pet peeve of mine.  I hate them with a passion.   I also hate so much shit on the table I can't see people on the other side.   Please keep that in mind.   8 people around a table is crowded enough. You do not have to cover every single spot on the tablecloth.    






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
    Report Reply
  • MandyMostMandyMost member
    First Anniversary First Comment 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    I think you need to do 3 things to make this work:

    1. Incorporate the person's name into something already on the table. Why can't it be at the top of the menu card, or clearly labeled on the favor, which are already at the table? There are already so many things, I agree that you really don't want to add one more.

    2. Your centerpieces look to be the low wooden box with a single mason jar and the single frame, correct? It's a bit hard to tell with the picture. As long as you keep the flowers in that mason jar very low and very minimal, I think this will work fine. However, people are going to have a tough time reading writing of a name on a little chalk board like that. I suggest you add a table number that is elevated up about a foot on a little stand...it only has to be about 2 inches by 2 inches square. This way you can have the tables numbered in order. Don't scrap the names, just add the numbers. For instance, your escort cards would then say: "Jane Doe, Table 4: Smith Army Base"

    3. Consider the mason jars at the table to be the water glasses, and have other glasses for people to use for whatever else they are drinking. Like when you go to a restaurant, you usually have a water glass and then another glass for wine, soda, whatever it is you're drinking. 


    Example table number holder:
    http://www.webstaurantstore.com/images/products/extra_large/60415/46945.jpg
    Report Reply
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    First Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its First Comment
    Keep things simple for you and for your guests, just assign people to table numbers and let them pick their own seat at their assigned table.
    Report Reply
  • gamecockwedgamecockwed member
    5 Love Its First Comment First Anniversary
    I like the idea of incorporating the name to something already on the table. I nixed the menu card idea (we are having a buffet anyway)so that alleviates one thing and I am going to elevate the centerpieces slightly. I wanted specific seats because some of the chocolate favors will be sugar free (I have 10 diabetics that I know of). Also we are using vintage china but we are having a child friendly wedding so we have plastic plates in our colors for the kiddos and they will be at specific seats. 

    Honestly as far as the glasses go-alot of restaurants in my area dont do two glasses anymore. You have to specifically ask for water. If someone must have water with their meal in addition to the 4 other drinks provided, the caterer will have a small amount of plastic cups available. If people really want to wash their glass out between drinks (we are not having alcohol) there is a kitchen on site ( we are having the reception in the church assembly room). Straws are included with every glass. I just dont know that there is a way to please everyone. 
    Report Reply
  • ILoveBeachMusicILoveBeachMusic member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    gamecockwed said:
    I like the idea of incorporating the name to something already on the table. I nixed the menu card idea (we are having a buffet anyway)so that alleviates one thing and I am going to elevate the centerpieces slightly. I wanted specific seats because some of the chocolate favors will be sugar free (I have 10 diabetics that I know of). Also we are using vintage china but we are having a child friendly wedding so we have plastic plates in our colors for the kiddos and they will be at specific seats. 

    Honestly as far as the glasses go-alot of restaurants in my area dont do two glasses anymore. You have to specifically ask for water. If someone must have water with their meal in addition to the 4 other drinks provided, the caterer will have a small amount of plastic cups available. If people really want to wash their glass out between drinks (we are not having alcohol) there is a kitchen on site ( we are having the reception in the church assembly room). Straws are included with every glass. I just dont know that there is a way to please everyone. 
    Honestly, I think having to ask for water in little plastic cups is a bad idea. I also always have water wherever I am. Usually at restaurants, they can't keep my water glass filled. At my daughter's wedding, I drank water with my wine at dinner and got water from the bar during the dancing hours. I know you aren't having a bar, but I think requiring your guests to ask for water and clean out their own glasses between beverages is not a good idea.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards