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August 11, 2026#1: Not Assigning Tables
The first and biggest mistake you are doing with table numbers at your wedding is not having them. You decided not to assign tables and you’re going to let everybody do open seating. I have so much to say about this topic that I will address it completely in another post about things you think will happen when you don’t assign people to tables and what we see actually happen. Stay tuned!
#2: Having the Wrong Size Table Numbers
We have found over the years the perfect size for table numbers is a 4×4 inch square. It’s just perfect. It works in so many little holders. We do these with cardstock, of course, and they come in so many different designs. Whatever the design of your wedding, we have found that 4×4 is really the perfect shape. If you must, 4×6 is okay as well. What is not okay is larger than that. A 5×7 table number next to a centerpiece honestly looks way too big. There’s an online paper company that always makes 5×7, and this size is too big for many reasons. Most of all, because of how large it looks next to your centerpieces. Even a 4×6, when you put it in a table number holder, it will not stand up straight. It bends when it’s in a holder, and it looks really funny next to your centerpieces. The goal of your tables is to show off your flowers, not your table numbers and if they’re the wrong size, they really stand out way too much.
#3: Using Paper/Cardstock Table Numbers Outdoors
Although I love paper, we do paper and I love a good card stock, paper does not work well when your reception is outside. I know you think that the biggest culprit of outside problems on your wedding day is rain, but it’s not. It’s wind. Wind is the biggest problem for outdoor events more than rain. And, honestly, if it rains, your paper’s going to get ruined anyways. So, you never should use loose paper for an outdoor reception. It’s not going to work. It’s either going to blow away or it’s going to get wet. So, for things like that, really good acrylic table numbers that come in different shapes and sizes are your best bet. We have all of these for rent among many more. Alternatively, you can take your paper table number cards and insert them into a frame. So remember, if it’s outside, you need to put the table number in something sturdy; otherwise, it’s going to blow away, then no one is going to know their table number, and by the time you figure it out everyone’s confused.
#4: Using Venue’s Table Stanchions/Holders
Most of venues that have really tall silver table stanchions ones that are like 12 inches high. They’ve probably had them since like the 1970s. They’re kind of thick around the middle. They typically don’t match anything and they make the table number higher than the centerpiece if the centerpiece is low. I never like to use these. We have ones you can rent in gold and silver and that we let our clients use. They’re much skinnier and much lower, so they’re going to look really good even with a tall centerpiece. For low centerpieces, we always use these little, low holders. They are very unobtrusive in front of your low centerpieces. If I’m at an event and I have tall centerpieces and low centerpieces, I use the low ones on my low centerpiece tables and the taller ones on my tall centerpiece tables. It’s okay to do a mix as well.
by Meredith Commender, CSEP