Pros and Cons to Reception Table Shapes

Pros and Cons to Reception Table Shapes


If you’re getting married at an all-inclusive hall, you may not have much of a choice when it comes to your tables. If you’re responsible for renting them, though, read this before you make your pick.



Round
This is the classic choice, so if you want your wedding to have a timeless feel, it’s the way to go. As long as the centerpieces cooperate, guests can easily have cross-table chats as well as ones with the people sitting right next to them. Another plus: Round tablecloths are easy to find in many sizes, in case you’ll be personalizing the linens.

If you want round, but want the look to be less traditional, see if you can mix small and large tables for a more eclectic feel. That way, you don’t have to break off your guest list into perfect groups of 10; smaller collections of friends and families can get tinier tables.

One downside: It’s harder to fit more round tables in a small venue because they don’t fit neatly against straight-edged walls and into corners. If you’re short on space, try one of the options below.

Oval
These also have a traditional feel without feeling as expected as round. Guests can still easily talk to the people right next to them and right across from them, though guests on opposite ends of the table won’t get to chat much.

You may want to play up the length of the table with a few small centerpieces instead of one large one like round tables tend to have.

One downside: Oval-shaped tablecloths aren’t easy to find outside of standard linen colors, like white and black.

Rectangular
This shape is oval’s hipper cousin. The guest chatting opportunities are much the same (people at opposite ends would have to shout to engage in conversation, while guests right next to and across from each other will have no trouble talking), but the straight edges modernize these tables. They’re also good to use if you're short on space, and connecting many rectangular tables to make just a few super-long ones can look very regal.

Again, it’s smart to choose a few centerpieces, placed in a row down the center, instead of one big one.

One downside: If you opt for banquet-style (those extra-long rectangles), it can be a little annoying for guests in the center of the tables. Why? They may have to walk around the whole thing to hit the dance floor or get to the bar or bathroom.

Square
This is your most modern choice, and aerial shots of rooms with square tables always look so cool. It has the best of all the worlds: Guests can easily talk to everyone else at the table (again, if the centerpiece was chosen with care), and it’s pretty easy to fit many of them in a room to maximize the space. I love when couples go all the way with the contemporary look and choose square plates and centerpieces, too.

One downside: These tend to fit only eight guests, so you’ll need more tables than the other shapes, which can get pricey if you’re renting. Also, guest legs may bump. Rectangular tables have this problem, too, but only for people on the corners. Every guest is on a corner at a square table, so it can inconvenience all.

What shape tables are you using for your reception? Any pros you’re finding about your chosen shape? Any issues I forgot to address about the above kinds of tables?



by Meredith Bodgas