STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Elle · Hermes

I am officially bridezilla: Freaking about tables!

Lola · Dooney & Bourke

I'd probably search for another place in fear that it might look like a cafeteria too

Irene · Dooney & Bourke

I have seen some truly beautiful setups with rectangular tables. You should look online for photos.

These are not the best examples, but you can still get the point.

-- Edited by Irene at 11:45, 2005-02-24

Andrea Julia · Coach

You should ask if you can come and look in on a wedding that they have set up with rectangular tables. Then you can see for yourself if it looks classy or trashy.

I can see rectangular tables being nice (if they are what I am picturing in my mind). The problem with round tables is that it is hard to talk to anyone but the people next to you when you are sitting down. On a rectangular table (if it is how I am imagining it), you can easily talk to the 2 people next to you and the 3 people across from you.

Hermes

how about setting them up diagonally - maybe in a chevron pattern?

this hotel has an intereactive table set up program - maybe you can determine which one of their rooms most closely resembles the room you are looking at and you can play around with table set up ideas

http://www.thegrove.co.uk/occasions/plan_event.html

jestillman · Kenneth Cole

at my wedding we're having rounds, squares and 1-2 rectangles. really not everyone fits into 8-10 ppl groups that usually sit at rounds.

my mom and i keep saying we're gonna need tables of 2 for people no one will want to sit with.

i think the major issue for you is space. rounds are great. traditional. BUT, the ppl accross from eachother can't really talk. at a rectangle you can talk to all the ppl next to you and the 2 ppl across from you, at least.

regardless....everyone will be up dancing!

i like the pictures Irene attached. Irene, you should be a wedding planner with all these sites you know about and perfect postings you always have!

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

I attended a wedding that had rectangles and rounds and I thought it was very nice. You should see how they can set them up.

Elle · Hermes

Thanks for the pics Irene!

Anyway, the event coordinator offered to draw out the floorplan of the room and include the rectangular table setup (poor thing, she'll probably be so glad to get rid of us!). I'm sure it won't be as bad as I'm thinking it will be!

jah · Dooney & Bourke

With the rectangle set-up think Colin Cowie--he uses rectangles a lot and does long and low centerpieces down the entire table (tons of votives). Once when he was on Oprah, he said rectangles were his favorite table setting. Anyway, it always looks really gorgeous. Check out instyle, and Instyle weddings for examples. I think rectangles actually look more modern when they are spiced up with runners down the center and awesome centerpieces that run the length of the table.

Here are examples:

Colin Cowie shows off a simple centerpiece.

Starbucks gift package

Colin Cowie's Dos & Don'ts

In addition to a charming South African accent and dashing good looks, Colin Cowie is known for designing glamorous weddings for such celebrities as Jerry Seinfeld, Lisa Kudrow, and Charlie Sheen. The host of his own show on Women’s Entertainment Network, he’s the author of five books on style and entertaining. His sixth book, Colin Cowie’s Legendary Weddings, will be published in early 2004.

As spokesperson for JCPenney Wedding Registry, Cowie is spending lots of time in Dallas. We caught up with him recently and came away with priceless tips for making your wedding perfect. Well, almost.

• First off, nothing’s perfect. Something will go wrong. You need to remember why you are getting married in the first place. It’s not about impressing people.

• Don’t try too hard. Weddings are no longer formal—we live in a much more casual world. Instead of champagne, have a martini bar. Don’t wear black tie.

• Make your wedding as personal as possible. Cowie did a Chinese tea ceremony for one Asian couple. For another wedding, he put these incredible handmade beads around the couples’ necks; the same beads were later wrapped around a unity candle.

•Incorporate ethnic and cultural themes at the rehearsal dinner, not the reception. Save your cowboy boots for line dancing the night before. The wedding ceremony should be more about you, not your heritage.

•If you’re planning a Valentine-themed wedding, remember the cost of the flowers will be five times more. Do not use red roses. Instead, float candles and flowers in vases. It’s mesmerizing and romantic, and much less expensive because you use fewer flowers.

Colin Cowie Spots the Trends

Newest colors are variations of purple: eggplant, amethyst, and lavender.
Serve food family style at the reception.
Seat guests at long, communal tables. “I did a wedding reception in Hawaii for 125, and we set up two long tables. It’s fun and keeps everyone together.”
Dress bridesmaids in different gowns, but keep fabrics and colors the same.
Use a DJ at the reception instead of an orchestra.