Wedding Table Decor Ideas: 7 Looks for Round Tables and Long Tables

There are endless wedding table decor ideas, so today I am not showing you just one kind of table. My couples nearly always get to choose between round and long tables. Smaller parties tend to go for long tables, larger ones for round tables, and sometimes the venue decides for you, because columns or curved walls only allow one or the other.

Here are seven very different looks: round tables, long tables, bold colours, boho, Mediterranean, lots of light and completely simple. Pick what suits you and feel free to mix them. And please do pin them on Pinterest!

Table decor for round tables: think from the centre out

At a round table everybody can see everybody, and that is what makes it so sociable. The decor is planned from the middle: a centrepiece that looks good from every side, because there is no back here.

Height matters. Either keep the decor low, or make it tall and slim so people can look underneath it. At eye level it only gets in the way of conversation. Around it, candles and a lovely place setting are all you need.

Table decor in bold colours: go for it!

White is always beautiful, but Spain can take colour. Pink bougainvillea, coral, orange, blue glasses: against the sea or a white wall it all glows by itself.

My tip: choose one or two main colours and repeat them in a few places, for example in the flowers, the napkins and the glasses. It will look joyful rather than random.

Colourful boho: table decor with personality

This look is allowed to be a little playful. Lanterns, macrame, flowers in many colours: everything you love can come together. What counts is that the table looks like you and not like a catalogue.

A calm base helps to stop it feeling busy. A wooden table or a plain cloth carries all those colours without competing with them.

Lemons, olives and the Mediterranean on your table

Why not put on the table what grows here anyway? Lemons, olive branches, herbs, clay pots and a little bottle of olive oil look as if they have always belonged there. And this look smells wonderful too.

If your table is wide, plan a runner down the middle so the individual elements do not get lost. On a narrow table, place the decor in a line. And it does not have to be evenly spaced: several small groups along the table often look livelier.

Lights and hanging decor: what goes above the table

If you have the chance to hang something above the tables, use it. String lights, curtains of lights, arrangements or lemons: what hangs above takes the work off the table. You need less decor below and it still looks rich.

During the day you hardly notice the lights. But as soon as it gets dark everything changes, and for me that moment is one of the most beautiful of the evening.

Elegant and simple: sometimes less is more

There is no need to put a lot on the table. One clear colour, plenty of air and a few chosen elements are enough, whether that is white with black, driftwood, pampas grass or small vases in a row.

Outdoors this calm really helps, because the landscape here is often decoration enough. By the sea or in the desert, the table does not have to be louder than the view.

The details: what your guests will photograph

The nicest surprises only appear once you sit down. A tile as a place card, a name in gold on glass, an olive sprig on the napkin: every time I watch the phones come out, and of course I love it.

If the budget for large arrangements is limited, this is where it pays to invest. Every guest has their place setting right in front of them and looks at it all evening.

Frequently asked questions

Which is nicer, round tables or long tables?
That depends on your venue and your number of guests. Most smaller weddings choose long tables, larger ones round tables. The space often decides too: columns or curved walls suit round tables, narrow terraces suit a long table.

How tall can the table decor be?
Your guests should be able to see each other across the table. So either stay low or go clearly upwards with slim vases and frames.

How much decor does a table need?
Less than you think. One or two eye-catchers and lovely details at each place are usually enough. If something already hangs above the table, it can be even calmer below.

What should I look out for with outdoor table decor?
Plan for wind and sun. Candles belong in lanterns, and light things like cards need something to hold them down. It is best to finish laying the table just before the reception so the flowers stay fresh.

Photos: Eloy Muñoz, Lidia Clemente, Antonio Ordoñez, Michael Pieter, Visual & Co, Marmellata Films, Bopholk, Violeta Pelivan, Eloy y Aleks and others.

Planning your wedding in Spain? Everything about places, travel and weather is on Wedding in Almería. Or simply write to me.