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Before I started reading wedding blogs, it never crossed my mind that reception tables came in any shape other than your basic round. It seems pretty obvious now after seeing long tables plastered all over wedding blogs, but talk about an eye-opener when I realized this possibility. I love the concept of long tables. They look so intimate and remind me of grand family dinners. And they look so pretty.
See for yourself:
Above two photos by Allison Stahl / Florals by Martha Andrews of Blooms / via Blooms
Photo by Instyle Weddings / via Simply Perfect Weddings
I realized after looking at these pictures that what I really want is a reception space straight out of Hogwarts’s Great Hall:
Image Credit: Warner Bros. via IGN
DJ Dumbledore, anyone?
Even though I love long tables, we may not be able to have them at our wedding. Despite the fact that our venue offers both round and banquet tables, our venue coordinator looked at me like I had two heads when I mentioned this idea, and then sputtered out something about the layout of the room not accommodating long tables very well. Uhhh…it’s a giant ballroom, but whatever dude.
All is not lost, though, as there are still many inspiring pictures for round tables to be had:
Photo by Joshua Zuckerman / via Style Me Pretty
Photo by Sarah Kate / Event Design & Florals by Blue Lotus / via Style Me Pretty
Image source: The HAC
It’s no Great Hall with floating candles and an enchanted ceiling, but it will do. Maybe.
What say you: fight for the long tables or embrace the curves of the round tables?
Maybe the venue coordinator just isn’t creative enough to see the possibilities of long tables. I toyed with the idea of doing some long and some round (since in our venue long seats more than round)
If I really, really wanted it, I’d fight for the long tables. It sounds like you do. (for the record, our venue doesn’t offer long tables, but if it did, I’d be all over it).
I get so mad when wedding “professionals” aren’t professional. Especially the venue - they’re making MULTIPLE THOUSANDS of dollars off you; if you want people to sit on the floor and eat with their fingers, it should be accommodated, no questions asked. Grr!
I soooooo wanted long tables but my FI nixed it. He feels you can only talk comfortably with the people on either side of you and it makes it a bit uncomfortable for guests. Surprisingly, many guests I’ve spoken to agreed. I was bummed. To compromise we are having square tables instead of round tables. They still seat 8 people, but it’s a different shape and set up and gives me more of the “look” I want and the function he wants. Check them out!
Hogwarts! why didn’t i think of that?!
can’t they show you pictures of the room set up with both sets of tables? or pull them out so you can see what they look like in the room?
if its something you want i would fight for it or at least fight to see what it looks like and if you like it too. I went round, our venue didn’t have the option for long but i love they way they look. good luck!
We did a combination of rounds and long tables. It enabled us to seat large groups of people together and develop a grand dinning room table as our head table so our wedding party and their SOs could sit with us.
We loved they way the room looked, how the different arrangements made the look and interesting and most importantly, made our reception a celebration of friends and family.
I agree with chrispygal, it is very hard to talk to people at long tables. I always feel more squished with a person on either side of me too.
But, those long tables are beautiful
I totally agree with you!!! I love long tables and that would be my preference but alas it is not to be at our wedding… we are trying to be cost effective and it appears as though rounds are the more cost effective option in our case… Bah!!
The long tables are fantastic though… In my case there is a silver lining though… To help relieve some of my disappointment the FH is going to build me a long picnic table (similar to the 3rd picture) to seat at least 10 people. Then after the wedding we are going to have a get together so i can decorate my long table and have that setting I was looking for!!
Anyway I say fight for the look you want… If cost or space isn’t and issue then fight for your vision!!!
I am falling more and more in love with the long tables! But I think we are going to end up with round ones too. 
Thanks for reminding that long tables aren’t necessarily bad! 
I envision all rounds, like your 2nd set of inspiration pics. It’s what I so dream of for our reception! However… In order to accommodate our #s at the venue, we may have to do some long around the edges and some round in the middle… We’ll see what happens!
Long tables! I don ‘t know if it was just our group, but our guests were chatting every which way and when I’ve wanted to talk w someone but they were a bit far, I just got up and walked over to their chair. Do what you love….eitherbwill be fabulous.
We’re having a single loooong, candlelit table for our wedding. I knew that before I ever read a wedding blog or knew what our venue would be. But I could never put my finger on how I knew that a long table was the only option for me until just now. Hogwarts! Seriously, my vision is Hogwarts in the real world, and yet I never connected the inspiration dots in my brain. Go figure.
I’m loving long tables too, and if you want them, fight for them! That seems like an easy thing that can be adjusted if the space is there.
I have been loving the look of round tables, but I wonder if it’s not easier for people to see the head table/ dance floor at rounds? Why are rounds the tradition?
We’re doing long because our facility only has long….but my heart was set on round! I guess we really do always want what we can’t have! Either way will be fab!
Thanks, Pony. I just decided I need to scrap my entire wedding and put together one that’s Harry Potter-themed. I can do that in 10 days right? We can give away golden Snitches as favors, and people can place their food order directly to their plates.
I’m totally biased, but I say fight for the long tables. Our venue coordinator also looked at me like I had two heads when she saw the floor plan, but we stuck to our guns and have no regrets. Our guests said they really enjoyed the different layout, too!
Go long!
I have a long thin space and I am so excited about have long tables down either side of it! I find them a LOT easier to talk to people as you can talk to people either side of you AND across from you. I am not a big fan of round after going to a wedding and literally having to shout at friends on the other side of the table!
Hi I was wondering what everyone thought about putting round tables together to make a long table? I love long tables but I am stuck with round tables as well because they are free with our venue (which only has a few long tables for the head table and buffet). I tried to show a picture below but the round tables would be touching. I am just worried it might be hard for people to sit at the cracks of the tables?
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Mrs. Pony, Bloomington, IL Age and Occupation: 25, Attorney Fiance's Age and Occupation: 34, Attorney Engagement Date: March 22, 2010 Wedding Date: September 2011 Venue: Mackinaw Valley Vineyard; Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts About Me: I found my Southern counterpart in law school and since he popped the question last March, we have been busy graduating, job searching, bar taking, and wedding planning. My loves include must see TV, magnets, quotes, anything green, my car, fun socks, the Cubs, and my Mr. Together we love wine, playing outside, and exploring the world together. Stay tuned to see our Midwest wedding full of Southern charm, vintage flair, lots of DIY details, and a whole lot o’ wine.
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