23 Beautiful Banquet-Style Tables For Your Wedding Reception

wedding reception banquet table design — Photo by Love Tribe Weddings

Aside from the ceremony, the second most important part of the wedding is the reception. For one special night, all of your friends, family, and loved ones will sit together in your honor to eat, revisit cherished memories, and create new ones. For those hosting a large wedding, there's no easier way to make your celebration feel warm and intimate than with long, banquet-style reception tables. What are some other benefits of long tables? We're glad you asked...

Not only are they beautiful and romantic, but they're perfect for facilitating conversation among your guests—especially for people who are meeting for the first time or haven't seen each other in a long time. They're also easily customizable, serving as blank canvases with a myriad of style possibilities to suit you and your partner's tastes. The centerpiece options are endless with banquet tables.

Whether you're hosting backyard nuptials or a classic ballroom ceremony, a long reception table can make your guests feel right at home. Rustic wooden tables are perfect for family-style seating, where guests can pass along various dishes and choose their own portions and plates. Add a dash of whimsy with lush greenery garlands or floral centerpieces for a garden party vibe. If you're hosting a more elegant bash, drape your tables with neutral colors like ivory or slate for a clean, airy look and pair with gilded accents. For lighting, consider using hanging café lights to brighten up the night's toasts or opt for romantic candelabras to create a truly magical setting.

With any of these long reception table ideas, your guests will feel like a special part of your big day. Click through our slideshow to see how you can design your own.

How to Choose the Right Wedding Reception Tables

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Monochromatic Décor

tented reception table with greenery — Photo by Lauren and Abby Ross

A monochrome tent and hanging greenery all the way down the table truly creates a dreamy vibe at a wedding reception.

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Double up on Greenery and Linen

long reception table — Photo by Erich McVey

Who says one runner is all you need? Double up on both greenery and a soft and organic linen like this one and then put as many candles as you can possibly fit and run 'em all the way down the table.

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Go Long

centerpieces down a long table at reception — Photo by Golden West

At this beautiful wedding, all guests sat down at one long table that was beautifully decorated with florals and natural items to fit an autumnal tone.

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Make an Entrance

Catie Li wedding reception at Mission Inn Hotel — Photo by Haley Rynn Ringo Photo

At this Old Hollywood-inspired wedding, two long banquet tables created an aisle from the reception space's doors to the dance floor, making a perfect pathway for the couple's grand entrance.

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Try Exposed Wood

Who needs linens to cover your long tables when they're so beautiful on their own? Skip the tablecloths if you've got wooden beauties like these.

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Shorter Banquet Tables

A wooden reception table. — Photo by Jose Villa

In case you don't want to go too dramatically long with your table, but still like the idea, try shorter banquet tables for a similar feel.

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Romantic and Classic

long banquet table at wedding reception — Photo by Lane Dittoe

Try a long, romantic reception table with floral centerpieces, crisp white dinnerware, and rustic cross-back chairs.

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Ahead of the Curve

Curved reception table — Photo by David Bastianoni

A beautiful serpentine-style banquet table took the design of this elegant outdoor affair to the next level. Chandeliers hanging from the trees helped further elevate the aesthetic.

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Match the Mood of the Venue

indoor reception with banquet table — Photo by Pat Furey

We love this long, rustic reception table decorated with colorful flower arrangements, mismatched candles, and eclectic dinnerware. An industrial, urban space—like a renovated factory or warehouse or a brewery—would be the perfect place to pull off this look.

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Have Pops of Color

Go all out with your long tables and really make them pop with a bright and cheery linen color like this bright coral. The floral garland echoes the linens and brings everything together. Just make sure you go more neutral with the rest of your décor so it doesn't get too overwhelming.

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Play With Pattern

Meredith and Eshaan's tables with a blue and white patterned tablecloth and bright floral centerpieces — Photo by Caroline Lima Photography

A patterned tablecloth is a fun way to bring color and design to your wedding reception. We love how this pale blue tone provides a fun contrast to the pink, orange, and yellow florals.

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Decorate Your Surroundings

autumnal reception decor — Photo by Gianna di Natale Photographers

The florals in your reception space don't have to stay on the table. We love how greenery and blooms surround the space of this intimate banquet table at a reception in Italy.

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Think About the Chairs

long table at dinner reception — Photo by Joe + Kathrina

Beautiful chairs can absolutely make your banquet table stand out in a unique way. These comfortable woven designs lend a lovely natural element to this dinner party wedding.

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Bring in a Hanging Garden

Reception dinner tablescape — Photo by Austin Gros

Nothing dresses up a reception like (what appears to be) a hanging garden. This thick and winding greenery installation feels wild and whimsical and is a perfect way to bring the outdoors inside.

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Embrace a Natural Aesthetic

Cabo rehearsal dinner — Photo by Valorie Darling

Sweeping runners, exposed wood, and neutral-toned florals and taper candles create an absolutely dreamy feeling at this gorgeous Cabo reception.

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Customize Your Tables

reception bench seating long tables — Photo by Miles and Miles

Who needs flowers when you've got potatoes and grasses and dozens of candles in every color of the rainbow? This couple constructed these custom tables themselves for an artsy-cool reception.

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Create Variation

Alli and Adrian's banquet tables covered in white linens and decorated with flowers and taper candles — Photo by Max Wanger

One way to make a long table design more intriguing is by creating a bit of variation throughout. We love how the florals along this tablescape feature a wide variety of arrangements and vessels, and only some of the candles are placed in hurricanes.

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Go Effortlessly Chic

outdoor wedding reception dinner tables — Photo by Braedon Flynn

A subtle palette of light blue, wood, brick, and whites make for an effortlessly chic setup. Add in some romantic curtains and lots of candlelight to really set the tone.

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Make the Banquet Table Stand Out

disco balls and fringed lanterns hanging in tent — Photo by Studio This Is

If your reception has round tables and one central banquet table for the wedding party, make it stand out of the pack. At this stunning affair, the central table has a tablecloth in a different hue and huge centerpieces defining the space.

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Create a Gradient of Color

Lindsey and Connor's head table with ombre flowers — Photo by Gracie Byrd Jones

With a long table, you have plenty of space to play with your design. The centerpieces at this ombré-inspired reception created a gradient of color with the florals.

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