Everything You Need To Know For Your Backyard Place Setting
Your backyard wedding is nothing short of a beautiful statement for you and your spouse! When you choose to get married at home and invite everyone you love most, you choose to invite them in to see a more intimate side of your life. While planning the wedding, you get to invest in your home and know that you will always revisit your venue to think about your special day. This is why the food and decor you serve at your backyard wedding are so important. Decorating your table setting and meal can be a fun and creative experience. However, it’s not always easy to know what fork goes where or how to place it all. Here is everything you need to know for creating your custom place setting for your backyard wedding.
Why your wedding place setting is important
Your place setting is the first thing your wedding guests notice when they sit down at your reception. Regardless of whether you have a more casual backyard wedding or a more formal backyard wedding, the place setting and reception tables make a statement. Plus, they can truly help pull together the theme of the day.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the myriad of choices when it comes to wedding table setting. Choosing the right place settings for your wedding is a task that will require patience and care. To help you create the perfect place setting for your backyard wedding, we put together a guide to stay on brand and give your tables some added flair!
Everything needed in your place setting
When it comes to wedding table settings, you might think that the centerpiece is the most important part. This is not true! Your centerpiece is just one element of your setting. The floral arrangements and added details to your table are what make your table come alive!
Your place setting will need a few key things. It’s important to remember that you do need everything listed below. You can tailor your place setting to customize your wedding day. For example, if you’re day is a little more simple, don’t feel like you need to include a busier place setting. Keep it tailored to your day, and remember the sizing of your tables when creating your setting.
Typical place setting details:
- Plate
- Fork(s), spoon(s) and knife(s)
- Menu
- Name card
- Water glass
- Wine glass
Your table will include more details such as centerpieces and lighting. The list above should be what is given per guest. Some couples will also choose to identify the guest’s meal choice on their name card. This makes it a little easier for any wait staff to serve your guests without interrupting the conversation.
tips for backyard table setting
When your reception dinner is taking place outdoors in your backyard, there are a few more things to consider. The most important being the elements of nature. Considering covering your tables with a tent-like this. This will protect against heat and rain. Plus, your food stays at the appropriate temperature for longer. You may also want to consider how you’re going to keep bugs away. Nothing kills a vibe faster than flies or misquotes around when you’re eating. Explore Citronella candles like these. They can also add to the overall decor.
Also, be sure that your table and place setting compliment the aesthetic of your backyard wedding. Place your tables in the perfect spot in your backyard that isn’t too close to entertainment but not too far away. Your place setting is often a benchmark for your overall wedding vibe. So if you are aiming for more of a classier backyard wedding, dress your place settings up even more! Lastly, leave your place settings room for some backyard flare! Include cute backyard copy details on your menus, at your tables, or on name cards. There is a lot of room for customization and working in detail around your home.
Keeping it simple
When you first begin creating your wedding place settings, start by keeping it simple. Decide on a final place setting layout first. How many dishes will you have? How will they be served? This will help you understand how many utensils you should have and if you need additional plantings like salad bowls or small bite plates.
Be sure to consider the size of your tables as well. You don’t want to overcrowd your tables, just like you don’t want to leave too much room. If it helps, create a mock table before your wedding day. Layout 4-5 place settings together to see how it looks. This will help you visualize how close together your guests should be seated and how to fit in all of your place setting details.
Even if your backyard wedding is more upscale, keeping your place settings simple at first can help streamline the process. You will always have more time to add in smaller details. However, it’s important that your main details, like the plating, utensils, and drinkware, all fit seamlessly.
Adding in more detail
A busier place setting can be a fun way to give your backyard wedding some extra sparkle. Especially if your backyard wedding is a little more upscale and/or if the meal of your wedding is more of an event. If your backyard wedding is serving a sit-down meal with wait staff, having a more involved place setting is the way to go.
If this describes your wedding, try mixing it up by adding more dishes and drinkware in your place setting. You can even add individual finger bowls at your place settings to kick off your meal. Another way to bring in more detail is to provide a small token or gift at your tables for each guest. A lot of couples choose to include something like dessert bags or monogrammed trinkets.
Small touches
No matter if your place settings are more simple or extra fancy, the real magic is all in the details! The small touches of a place setting are what truly make your backyard wedding reception spectacular. Try to infuse small details throughout your tables and place settings that your guest won’t be able to forget. For example, you could have the linens on your places folded in a special decorative way!
The color table cloth you use, the different linen types, and details like napkin holders and plates are all details your guests cannot ignore. And if you’re having a backyard wedding, you have the opportunity not just to make your place settings beautiful but meaningful. Consider incorporating family china into your place settings for more of an heirloom feel.
how to create your backyard wedding place setting
Decorating and finalizing your backyard wedding place settings can be so fun! One reason why is because it means you’re close to the wedding day! When your tables come together, you can truly see the vision of your entire backyard wedding come alive. Between the flatware, the menus, and knowing where everyone is going to sit, you naturally become that much more excited!
If you are ready to start planning your place settings, there are a few general spots to start! One is finalizing your guest count. After your guest count is complete, lay out what you want your place setting to look like. Remember, start simple and go from there. Then begin to incorporate the backyard theme, your colors, and special flare! Lastly, add in any small and intimate details that will mean so much to you when you look through your wedding gallery.
If you are ready to start planning details for your backyard wedding day, like place settings, let us help! Download our free Backyard Wedding Planning Notion board template! This template is completely free to use and will help you organize all of the to-dos for your special day. Create task lists, store important information, brainstorm wedding ideas, and more, all using this free template!
