| Long tables with family style service have become | | | | the table, if need be. A mixture of flower colors and |
| very popular for wedding receptions. The idea behind | | | | textures suits the relaxed character of family style |
| this style of dinner is to create a relaxed convivial | | | | service. Choose flowers based on the season, the |
| atmosphere that encourages conversation and good | | | | location of your wedding, and of course your |
| times. It is not enough to swap out long tables for | | | | personal taste. If you are a bride who loves the |
| round ones, though; you also need to set the table | | | | timeless look of pearl earrings and lace, clusters of |
| to encourage this friendly flow of conversation. | | | | white garden roses, pink peonies, and yellow sweet |
| These are some suggestions on centerpieces for | | | | peas tumbling over the sides of vintage white hobnail |
| family style wedding receptions. | | | | vases and bowls would be lovely. Loose |
| The tall formal floral arrangements which are often | | | | arrangements will lend a "fresh from the garden" |
| seen on traditional round reception tables simply do | | | | feeling to the centerpieces. |
| not work for long family style tables. Not only are | | | | Less usual natural elements like succulents, river |
| they too stuffy for the laid back atmosphere of a | | | | rocks, and desert flowers (just no prickly cactus |
| family style dinner, but their tall height blocks the | | | | plants, please!) would be a fresh contemporary |
| view of the people across the table, hindering the | | | | approach to decorating long reception tables. Set the |
| flow of conversation. The number one rule of | | | | table with white linens and place a runner in down the |
| designing centerpieces for long tables is to keep | | | | center to help unify the various decorative elements. |
| them low. Your guests should be able to chat | | | | The runner could be in a natural color like wheat, or |
| without craning their necks to see around the | | | | contrast with the understated decorations by |
| centerpieces. | | | | choosing a runner in a vivid hue such as hot pink or |
| If you opt for tall elements like candelabras, choose | | | | orange. This would be a fantastic tablescape for a |
| ones with narrow bases and open designs that will | | | | reception in a field or a venue with clean lines like a |
| not create a wall between the two sides of the | | | | city loft. |
| table, and set them in the spaces between place | | | | When decorating your family style reception tables, |
| settings to keep the line of vision clear. You can then | | | | do not overlook the design possibilities of fruit and |
| fill in the spaces between the candelabras with low | | | | vegetables. For a classic autumnal celebration, set |
| floral arrangements. Rustic iron candelabras would be | | | | hollowed out gourds, mini pumpkins, and eggplants |
| wonderful for a vineyard wedding with rectangular | | | | down the middle of rectangular tables. Fill them with |
| tables. For a more airy look, create groups of clear | | | | seasonal flowers in shades of red, purple, orange, and |
| glass candle holders with very tall stems in several | | | | cream. A fun idea for a summer reception would be |
| heights. Float ivory candles in them to add the soft | | | | to set low footed bowls filled with lemons and limes |
| romantic glow of candlelight to your family style | | | | down the length of the tables. Between the bowls of |
| reception, and will cast a flattering light on your | | | | fruit, layer in very low arrangements of hot pink |
| guests in their lovely wedding attire and pearl | | | | gerbera daisies, lime green kermit mums, and a |
| earrings. | | | | scattering of small white blossoms (to break up the |
| Flowers are very popular for centerpieces. A great | | | | intense color palette just a bit). The final effect of |
| effect for long family style tables is to use a series | | | | your centerpieces will be inviting, festive, and |
| of small low centerpieces down the length of the | | | | absolutely perfect for a fun family style wedding |
| table, rather than a few larger arrangements set far | | | | reception. |
| apart. It also makes it easier to pass dishes across | | | | |