89 years of expert advice and inspiration, for every couple.
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Illuminate your tablescape to suit your style.
Molly Allen is a previous bakery owner with expertise in wedding orders, as well as a former event planner. She is now a freelance writer focused on lifestyle, travel, and food and beverage.
Photo by Tell Chronicles Photo; Design by A. Griffin Events
Planning to display the dreamiest tablescape at your reception? From incorporating long, lush arrangements of blooms to adding tapered candles, bud vases, fruit, and even personal trinkets, the options for decorating an awe-inspiring table are absolutely endless. Featuring lanterns in your centerpieces can also add a beautiful touch to your décor.
Lanterns come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, textures, and colors so you can choose the best option to fit your aesthetic and wedding style. From rustic iron lights to modern glass and metallic square casings, allow lanterns to speak for themselves with a single candle illuminating the table or add small pops of color amongst lovely greenery.
Think incorporating lantern centerpieces is the perfect fit for you? Read on for 34 ideas you're sure to love.
Photo by Allison Jeffers Wedding Photography; Floral Design by The Petal Artist
Want to incorporate lanterns but afraid they'll look too dull? Have your florist put together small bouquets to adorn the tops for a splash of color.
Keeping your color palette simple or matching an island vibe? Go for all-white as one micro wedding couple did. High-top cocktail tables were decorated with white lanterns and little vases of blooms for a light and airy look.
Photo by Asya Photography; Design by Love 'n Fresh Flowers
Stick to a natural, simple design, adding intrigue with a gold lantern. We love the way dainty sprigs of greenery are paired with it.
Photo by Bon Photage Film; Floral Design by Life in Bloom
While lanterns typically include a candle in the middle, we love the idea of switching it up. Open the doors and stuff it with flowers for a gorgeous, overflowing design.
Photo by Anna Jaye Photography
Planning a farm or barn wedding? From burlap to lace, there are so many textures to play with. Set the scene with a vintage-inspired lantern, plus multiple fabrics and a pop of color from flowers.
Photo by Hailey Ayson; Planning by Joyeux Events
When it comes to fall, it's all about warm color palettes. Spruce up your tables by incorporating a few simple wooden lanterns paired with leaves and greenery.
Think you can't pull off a woodsy-meets-elegant look? Think again. This display pulls it off flawlessly with plenty of pine boughs, baby's breath, and sleek black lanterns.
In some cases, you can never have too much greenery. Add sprawling eucalyptus down the length of the table and bring in vintage lanterns to tie it all together.
Photo by Haley George Photography
There's no need to add a huge candle to every lantern. This look pulls off a romantic vibe flawlessly with a unique geometric shape surrounded by lush roses.
Photo by Hannah Leigh Photography; Design by A. Griffin Events
If you love the look of a rustic lantern but don't want it to look too old, refresh the look with flowers. Adding lush blooms with pops of bold color can enhance any design.
Photo by Jordan Keenan Photography
There's no shame in keeping it simple! Use a sleek gold lantern as your centerpiece and add a bit of surrounding greenery to finish off the minimal look.
Photo by Jennifer Stuart Photography; Floral design by Urban Petals
Obsessed with rose gold? Incorporate rose gold lanterns and small rose gold candle holders with roses and succulents to put together a dreamy centerpiece.
Photo by Leigh Elizabeth Photography
Hosting a garden-inspired party? Channel spring with brightly-hued lanterns, plus plenty of sunny colored blooms for a pretty touch.
While it's easy to go overboard with a nautical aesthetic, it can also be as pretty as an understated design. Pair a lantern that's not too over-the-top with a beautiful striped blue linen to celebrate your love of the sea.
Photo by Mallori Ma Photography
Want a dramatic tablescape? Play with contrast. We love the look of this green and white setup with a pop of purple.
Photo by Love Life Images
While candles are a classic option for lanterns, you can certainly switch it up. Instead, make your centerpieces even more magical by displaying lanterns filled with fairy lights.
Photo by Olegs Samsonovs Photography
Lanterns can be entirely rustic from the get-go, but they have the potential to be dressed up. Use a slab of wood as a base, add a lantern, and then fill it with lush blooms to add a bit of refinement.
Want to truly make a colorful statement with your centerpieces? One couple paired a bounty of bright peonies and roses with lanterns and candlesticks.
PHOTO BY EMILIE INC.; PLANNING BY PLAN IT MARTHA’S VINEYARD
Setting up for a nautical-inspired reception? Choose sea-inspired lanterns with thick ropes, add a candle, and fill the bottoms with sand.
Hoping to add just a hint of a vintage vibe with lanterns without incorporating too many? Ditch the classic short and stout shape and opt for something tall. These unique slender lanterns work beautifully with tapered candles.
PHOTO BY LYNN DUNSTON PHOTOGRAPHY
There's no reason you can't stick with a lush floral centerpiece running down the middle of the table. Take your look to a whole new level by framing the florals with simple lanterns.
Photo by Eli Turner; Design by Sarah Khan Event Styling
Want something entirely unique? It is possible to incorporate a hanging lantern look into your reception. Deck out the arm of your display in greenery to make it that much more special.
PHOTO BY MELINA WALLISCH PHOTOGRAPHY
Celebrate the outdoors with a refined rustic vibe. Add lanterns in multiple shades of wood for an interesting display. We love the juxtaposition of the two different sizes on this stunning table.
Photo by Michelle Lippert Photo
Don't love the simple candle look? Switch it up! We love the modern design of this black lantern with a few green leaves inside, plus a modern table number sign to match.
PHOTO BY OLIVIA RAY JAMES; PLANNING BY GREGORY BLAKE SAMS
Hosting an outdoor wedding in the forest or even at a summer camp? Embrace a camp vibe with old-time kerosene lanterns with a few simple vases of flowers.
Photo by Kelsey Stevens Photography; Planning and design by Pearl Weddings & Events
Add a bold splash of greenery to your table with this look. Use gold lanterns as your focal point, and then surround them in greenery for added interest.
Photo by Tell Chronicles Photo; Design by A. Griffin Events
These lanterns with sleek, black lines offer such a beautiful modern touch to this table. Surrounded by plenty of greenery with a few blooms, it's as pretty as can be.
PHOTO BY RED ASPEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Celebrating your nuptials on a ranch? Embrace the setting to the fullest with old-time western lanterns paired with pretty blooms.
While these aren't necessarily on the table, they certainly command attention. Hang lanterns down the middle of the table with plenty of greenery for a unique floating centerpiece option.
Photo by Rustic White Photography
Want to add a chic pop of color? Set up beautiful lanterns with florals, and then add a ribbon on top to tie it all together.
PHOTO BY Photo by Julieta
Incorporating lanterns is a great way to add a splash of gold. Play with metallics by lining a table with gold lanterns, and then consider upping the fun with shiny silver disco balls.
Photo by Janine Licare Photography
We don't know about you, but anytime we see citrus fruit, white linens, and neutral details, we are immediately transported to the islands. That was the goal of this couple, who got married in the San Juan Islands. Neutral wicker lanterns and scattered lemons keep this design casual yet elegant.
Photo by Karla Garcia Costa / KG Ohh Snap
This couple's tropical backyard wedding was a nod to their marriage location in Miami. White orb lanterns mimic coral for a simple, yet natural centerpiece that makes a statement on its own. The monstera leaf and individual flowers add to the tablescape, and look as if they were plucked fresh from the trees.
Mixed metallics, when done right, can be classically glamorous and industrial at the same time. This couple, who married at The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, opted for a tablescape that featured square silver-edged glass lanterns, gold-rimmed candle votives and drinking glasses, and black and gold flatware. Neutral flora and a simple white runner allow the other elements to shine.
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