Add elegance to your wedding reception
If you’re looking to add elegance to your wedding reception but not sure where to start, take a look at these 13 ideas.
What is wedding reception elegance?
Honestly, it’s anything you desire, but typically elegance is described as having “restrained beauty”. It can be simple, yet sophisticated. There’s usually an overtone of quality and even luxury.
You can introduce a sense of polish into your wedding reception through a variety of ways, from the flow of your venue’s space, tablescapes, and decor to your menu and meal service. Just remember, it’s better to focus on one element and pull it off successfully, than scatter time, attention, and resources on too many ideas.
Open space invites elegant floor plans
Your floor plan is more than just a seating arrangement. It contributes to the flow of your reception, from meal service to guest interaction. And when you have a spacious, open floor plan, it allows for some creativity.
Have you ever seen serpentine table design? It’s just like it sounds. Rather than using rectangle tables, curved ones are linked together in a “serpentine” fashion. Guests can be seated on either side.
And don’t forget that event staple, the banquet rectangle table. Place two long banquet table configurations in a parallel fashion, then fill the space in the center with incredible florals.
Work with your event manager to discuss the pros and cons of different types of floor plans, based on your guest count and what will be taking place. And look at these ideas for inspiration.
Level up wedding reception elegance
Whether it’s through colors, patterns, or textures, floor length tablecloths, cloth napkins, runners, and overlays, linens are one of the best ways to add finesse to your wedding reception. Bring some luxury to cocktail hour with gold satin linens on high top tables tied with black bows. Transparent overlays with some embroidery for texture raise the tablescape standard. And your dessert table will take on a softly splendid touch with lace runners.
If you want to keep a more neutral palette with your linens, consider adding tablescape visual interest with upgraded service ware – plates, glasses, utensils. And chargers are always a go-to piece that add to any occasion. Keep it classic with gold or take a look at another metallic, like copper – great for a fall wedding reception.
More elegant wedding reception design ideas
When you take the time to put together a beautiful wedding tablescape, it’s not a bad idea to look at your venue’s chairs. Chiavari chairs, like those rectangle tables, are a workhorse of the wedding industry. And they’re versatile, setting up beautifully for a ceremony then gracing your tables at the reception.
Banquet chairs are often another seating option for event venues. And these chairs take on style with a cover. This is also a great opportunity to add a satin chair bow. Nothing is more simplistic yet sophisticated than a white chair cover with a black sash.
When it comes to table decor, count on candlelight. Don’t be afraid to mix tapers, pillars, votives, and tealights in a variety of glass and crystal. Place your candles on mirror tiles to maximize the glow.
And while washing walls with uplighting is a standard when it comes to events, pin spots are a magnificent way to highlight table centerpieces as well as areas like your cake table and dessert display.
Look up, look down, and all around
Ceiling decor provides your wedding venue with another dimension and gives your space a feeling of grandeur. Continue the effect with pipe and drape along walls and around columns. Then complete an effect of opulence with a black and white “checkerboard” dance floor.
How to serve your wedding reception meal in style
In general, plated meals are considered more refined by event planners compared to buffets. For starters, plated meals offer a more refined presentation. Plates are carefully styled and served individually, making the dining experience feel more upscale and curated.
Being served at the table feels more formal and luxurious than standing in line at a buffet. It signals that the event is highly organized and that guests are being personally cared for. And plated service allows for a more controlled event timeline. Courses are served at specific times, helping planners manage speeches, entertainment, and other formalities seamlessly.
Can you have an exquisite wedding buffet? Of course you can! At a luxury wedding, a gourmet buffet featuring chef-attended action stations (like made-to-order pasta, carving stations, or sushi bars) can feel extremely upscale. Beautifully styled, almost like an art installation, your buffet should feature premium ingredients to elevate the experience and a staff who blends buffet flexibility with plated service finesse.
Elegant wedding receptions in Winston-Salem
Millennium Center is one of North Carolina’s premier wedding and event venues. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem, Millennium offers a full-service wedding experience with planning assistance, decor, food and beverage, and a host of specialty rentals and special services. Out of town guests will enjoy a variety of accommodations just minutes away. Visit our contact page to fill out an inquiry form. Tours are available by appointment, Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
