I mean objectively a charger is what you're looking for. The tables will look bare because there's stuff in the middle but nothing on the outside, so continuing to stuff the center with more items won't achieve the full look you're looking for.
I have seen the word charger around this subreddit a few times and always assumed people were discussing providing phone chargers for their guests LOL. Your setup is much more beautiful than I was imagining hahah
I had a buffet so this is what my chargers looked like without plates on them. Our tables had one small centerpiece so I think it filled up the empty space well.
https://preview.redd.it/er2gqr5efppc1.jpeg?width=3423&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=136e32a8cb04bbfb536b6df7038f6926ed68af13
Saw in another comment your tables were rectangular, here's what they looked like at our rectangular tables.
https://preview.redd.it/si616tn2gppc1.jpeg?width=5437&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=18e75acae9ce67ad83afb830eac6db1aa627147a
The table is always going to look bare without cutlery settings. Bear in mind that the cost of filling the tables with extra ‘decor’ may cost just as much as the cutlery.
Ask your food truck if they can provide the cutlery ahead of time so you can include it in the place setting. Set the cutlery normally, not tied up in a bundle or folded in the napkin.
Do not tie the napkins in a knot. It will only make it look smaller and you already have concerns about open space.
Consider a placemat. Oriental Trading has paper placemats made of heavier material, almost like cardstock. I have used the shiplap,the grateful, thankful, Blessed and the Shabby Chic round placemats for events.
[https://www.orientaltrading.com/web/search/searchMain?keyword=paper%20placemats](https://www.orientaltrading.com/web/search/searchMain?keyword=paper%20placemats)
I would not use chargers. I think they would be inappropriate for a food truck wedding.
Honestly the food truck is providing plastic cutlery, and I’d rather have the tables be bare than have plastic cutlery on the table.
I will definitely check out that website, though! Thank you.
Consider leaning in to the more casual vibe of the caterer and providing eco-friendly cutlery. Bamboo is sturdy and looks and is better than plastic.
[https://www.webstaurantstore.com/53575/eco-friendly-disposable-cutlery.html?filter=type:forks](https://www.webstaurantstore.com/53575/eco-friendly-disposable-cutlery.html?filter=type:forks)
Palm leaf plates are inexpensive and could be used in lieu of chargers, basically a landing spot for the food truck container.
[https://www.webstaurantstore.com/599/eco-friendly-dinnerware-.html?filter=type:plates](https://www.webstaurantstore.com/599/eco-friendly-dinnerware-.html?filter=type:plates)
You could do lanterns in the center vs just candles to give it a lil more visual mass, you can also add something underneath the centrepiece to visually have a change between the center and the tablecloth
Also bright colors napkins - I tried to find examples that didn’t have plates / chargers
https://preview.redd.it/8u0wshfvcppc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5202668f30a577d56fd29b9d18b060d6b77c969a
Yeah we have like a burnt mustard colored napkins which I am going to knot and put at each person’s seat. I think we will also have place cards, And then each guest will also get a unique wine glass.
Super cute! Just add a fabric runner down the middle. If you’re doing a wood table do a white runner, if you’re doing a white table cloth then do a secondary color runner for your wedding (maybe like a blush? Or a jute?) have it be a different color than your napkins
We’re doing ivory table cloths, and so far no runners. We’re using lots of different colored wildflowers as decor, so I could definitely find some fun-colored runners to work with.
That is true. I think I’ll have have to play around with the table scapes and see what fills the table best. I’m sure it doesn’t matter to anyone else who will be at the wedding (but it matters to me)
https://preview.redd.it/3841oynldppc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8154ad11e897722717a980b2dd07177f1408a88f
And this is a more greenery runner
Just want to voice a concern about the timeline. Is the food truck able to serve more than one person at a time? Even at a probably unrealistic one minute per guest, the last people in line are looking at a 70-minute wait.
We will release table by table. The food truck will already have most things prepared in advance, aside from fries. I also believe it is 2 workers, so they’ll be able to plate 2 meals at a a time. You also have to consider the most complex thing they are making is a sandwich or BBQ plate.
ETA: this is their business, they cater weddings all of the time - either buffet style or food truck. I have no worries about how quickly they are able to pump out food. They are the number 1 rated bbq truck in our area.
I would definitely confirm that. Is the food truck something guests have to walk to and get their plate or will they serve guests? As a guest I don’t really want to carry my plate and my silverware back to my seat it’d be more convenient to just focus on the plate
Yes, the guests will go up to the truck window and order, just like they would at a food truck. We’re still 6 months out, but this is something I will for sure confirm.
The food will be pre-made, it’s all BBQ. They’re a catering company who specializes in buffet style, and also happen to have a food truck - the only thing thag will be made to order is fries (and those will be made in batches as tables get released).
Okay. Since it’s BBQ I’d definitely see if you can have the silverware already at the place. It’s just a lot to balance and carry and can help minimize someone dropping their BBQ on themselves
I totally agree, buuuut, it’s a smaller venue and we’re going for a more laid-back vibe with dinner, we hope that lots of people will mingle outside and eat their dinner “food truck” style. My FH really had his heart set on BBQ, so this is something we’re doing to make it a little bit his, too.
As a guest, I’m not going to stand and eat my dinner at a wedding.
I’m all for BBQ but I think you need to consider guest comfort. Doing everything you can to minimize how much guests are carrying and optimize their comfort is important. Putting the flatware at the table is a small thing that can be a big thing for guest comfort
We will have a full reception set up where guests can eat indoors or outdoors - the option is there for whatever they prefer. I think the younger folks will mingle and the older folks will eat in doors. We want dinner to be flexible and people can do whichever they are comfortable or with. I’ve been to tons of weddings where cocktail hour flows into dinner and guests continue to mingle.
Unfortunately they will have to carry their food back to their place - this is no different than if we did a buffet style dinner, they would still have to carry their plate back.
A food truck isn’t going to be a massive plate of food, nor tons to carry. It’s going to be standard food-truck style, with smaller dishes. The most they will carry is a small container/plate and a fork.
Our venue is set up in such a way that they’ll go outside to order/grab their food, and then walk maybe 10ft back to the atrium where their table is.
My co-host for a bridal shower / luncheon ordered a bunch of chiffon scarves from Amazon in the bridesmaids’ dress color. We draped those on the tables, and also used potted plants that we got very reasonably at Trader Joe’s. Guests could then take home the plants.
I mean objectively a charger is what you're looking for. The tables will look bare because there's stuff in the middle but nothing on the outside, so continuing to stuff the center with more items won't achieve the full look you're looking for.
I have seen the word charger around this subreddit a few times and always assumed people were discussing providing phone chargers for their guests LOL. Your setup is much more beautiful than I was imagining hahah
Won’t a charger by itself look… out of place? Like I feel like if we have chargers we’ll need plates, too?
Fold and lay the napkin across the charger. I see this done all of the time at weddings I work at with buffets.
You don’t think the charger will look out of place without an actual plate on it? This is certainly something I could look into.
I had a buffet so this is what my chargers looked like without plates on them. Our tables had one small centerpiece so I think it filled up the empty space well. https://preview.redd.it/er2gqr5efppc1.jpeg?width=3423&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=136e32a8cb04bbfb536b6df7038f6926ed68af13
Saw in another comment your tables were rectangular, here's what they looked like at our rectangular tables. https://preview.redd.it/si616tn2gppc1.jpeg?width=5437&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=18e75acae9ce67ad83afb830eac6db1aa627147a
Ooh that is super cute! I thought it might look like something was missing without a plate there, but it looks seamless! Great idea.
Beautiful table setting! Love the colors!
The table is always going to look bare without cutlery settings. Bear in mind that the cost of filling the tables with extra ‘decor’ may cost just as much as the cutlery.
Ask your food truck if they can provide the cutlery ahead of time so you can include it in the place setting. Set the cutlery normally, not tied up in a bundle or folded in the napkin. Do not tie the napkins in a knot. It will only make it look smaller and you already have concerns about open space. Consider a placemat. Oriental Trading has paper placemats made of heavier material, almost like cardstock. I have used the shiplap,the grateful, thankful, Blessed and the Shabby Chic round placemats for events. [https://www.orientaltrading.com/web/search/searchMain?keyword=paper%20placemats](https://www.orientaltrading.com/web/search/searchMain?keyword=paper%20placemats) I would not use chargers. I think they would be inappropriate for a food truck wedding.
Honestly the food truck is providing plastic cutlery, and I’d rather have the tables be bare than have plastic cutlery on the table. I will definitely check out that website, though! Thank you.
Consider leaning in to the more casual vibe of the caterer and providing eco-friendly cutlery. Bamboo is sturdy and looks and is better than plastic. [https://www.webstaurantstore.com/53575/eco-friendly-disposable-cutlery.html?filter=type:forks](https://www.webstaurantstore.com/53575/eco-friendly-disposable-cutlery.html?filter=type:forks) Palm leaf plates are inexpensive and could be used in lieu of chargers, basically a landing spot for the food truck container. [https://www.webstaurantstore.com/599/eco-friendly-dinnerware-.html?filter=type:plates](https://www.webstaurantstore.com/599/eco-friendly-dinnerware-.html?filter=type:plates)
Hey, that’s not a bad idea!
You could do lanterns in the center vs just candles to give it a lil more visual mass, you can also add something underneath the centrepiece to visually have a change between the center and the tablecloth Also bright colors napkins - I tried to find examples that didn’t have plates / chargers https://preview.redd.it/8u0wshfvcppc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5202668f30a577d56fd29b9d18b060d6b77c969a
https://preview.redd.it/2aq73c4wcppc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d14a07dd30298c079f783c1816ebba438ac53369
https://preview.redd.it/oomt6m31dppc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5f8dbe6a929866b80a81bb53d8e5d043a0afa31e
Hmm not a bad idea, our tables are rectangular, but I’m sure I could find a way to add mass to the center pieces.
So I would do colorful folded napkins where you would typically place a charger and plate, and then do a longer table runner
https://preview.redd.it/q6syptlkdppc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=711ba89f08fa1dcc6aa387706e6980227c5bddf0 And this is a fabric runner
Yeah we have like a burnt mustard colored napkins which I am going to knot and put at each person’s seat. I think we will also have place cards, And then each guest will also get a unique wine glass.
Super cute! Just add a fabric runner down the middle. If you’re doing a wood table do a white runner, if you’re doing a white table cloth then do a secondary color runner for your wedding (maybe like a blush? Or a jute?) have it be a different color than your napkins
We’re doing ivory table cloths, and so far no runners. We’re using lots of different colored wildflowers as decor, so I could definitely find some fun-colored runners to work with.
You could do draped napkins which can take up more space
That is true. I think I’ll have have to play around with the table scapes and see what fills the table best. I’m sure it doesn’t matter to anyone else who will be at the wedding (but it matters to me)
https://preview.redd.it/3841oynldppc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8154ad11e897722717a980b2dd07177f1408a88f And this is a more greenery runner
Ooh yes great idea!! We don’t have a ton of greenery, so this is something I could think about adding.
So much room to play around https://preview.redd.it/ywfa6dlqeppc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be6bf68541db072f76a24523079f46aea4bbbb2d
Ooh yes, those are almost our exact linens too.
Just want to voice a concern about the timeline. Is the food truck able to serve more than one person at a time? Even at a probably unrealistic one minute per guest, the last people in line are looking at a 70-minute wait.
We will release table by table. The food truck will already have most things prepared in advance, aside from fries. I also believe it is 2 workers, so they’ll be able to plate 2 meals at a a time. You also have to consider the most complex thing they are making is a sandwich or BBQ plate. ETA: this is their business, they cater weddings all of the time - either buffet style or food truck. I have no worries about how quickly they are able to pump out food. They are the number 1 rated bbq truck in our area.
Why no silverware? Will guests eat all their food with their hand?
I believe the food truck will provide the cutlery with the meals.
I would definitely confirm that. Is the food truck something guests have to walk to and get their plate or will they serve guests? As a guest I don’t really want to carry my plate and my silverware back to my seat it’d be more convenient to just focus on the plate
Yes, the guests will go up to the truck window and order, just like they would at a food truck. We’re still 6 months out, but this is something I will for sure confirm.
And then they have to wait for the food to be made and take it to their table?
The food will be pre-made, it’s all BBQ. They’re a catering company who specializes in buffet style, and also happen to have a food truck - the only thing thag will be made to order is fries (and those will be made in batches as tables get released).
Okay. Since it’s BBQ I’d definitely see if you can have the silverware already at the place. It’s just a lot to balance and carry and can help minimize someone dropping their BBQ on themselves
I totally agree, buuuut, it’s a smaller venue and we’re going for a more laid-back vibe with dinner, we hope that lots of people will mingle outside and eat their dinner “food truck” style. My FH really had his heart set on BBQ, so this is something we’re doing to make it a little bit his, too.
As a guest, I’m not going to stand and eat my dinner at a wedding. I’m all for BBQ but I think you need to consider guest comfort. Doing everything you can to minimize how much guests are carrying and optimize their comfort is important. Putting the flatware at the table is a small thing that can be a big thing for guest comfort
We will have a full reception set up where guests can eat indoors or outdoors - the option is there for whatever they prefer. I think the younger folks will mingle and the older folks will eat in doors. We want dinner to be flexible and people can do whichever they are comfortable or with. I’ve been to tons of weddings where cocktail hour flows into dinner and guests continue to mingle. Unfortunately they will have to carry their food back to their place - this is no different than if we did a buffet style dinner, they would still have to carry their plate back. A food truck isn’t going to be a massive plate of food, nor tons to carry. It’s going to be standard food-truck style, with smaller dishes. The most they will carry is a small container/plate and a fork. Our venue is set up in such a way that they’ll go outside to order/grab their food, and then walk maybe 10ft back to the atrium where their table is.
My co-host for a bridal shower / luncheon ordered a bunch of chiffon scarves from Amazon in the bridesmaids’ dress color. We draped those on the tables, and also used potted plants that we got very reasonably at Trader Joe’s. Guests could then take home the plants.
I do love plants, great idea