Small guest list, big vibes.
Microweddings are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to larger, more traditional weddings. The intimate guest lists—no more than 50 people and sometimes as few as 10—mean couples can go all in on details like dinnerware, curated tablescapes, and creative venue choices. Think: greenhouses, rooftops, art galleries, retro arcades … and all without the costs and drama of big weddings.
At the heart of these intimate celebrations is the table, and the right dinnerware and decor set the entire tone. If your small guest list allows you to buy some of these items instead of renting them, you can set your wedding table with pieces you’ll cherish for years to come.
Find some microwedding tablescape ideas below, along with styling tips based on your wedding aesthetic.
1. Maximalist Miami Dinner Party
The couple: Stylish and playful
The vibes: Tropical meets mod—vibrant, nostalgic, and effortlessly cool blend of MCM’s sleek aesthetic and Miami’s bold colors and tropical energy.
The dinnerware: Bold, geometric-patterned plates and serveware
Villeroy & Boch La Boule Miami Dinnerware Set
Price: $600
This seven-piece dinner set contains two bowls, two plates, two pasta bowls, and a serving platter that can be nestled together when not in use, creating a retro-inspired statement piece with simple lines, geometric shapes, and MCM-inspired colors.
Styling tips:
- Mid-century furniture elements like acrylic or lucite chairs.
- MCM-inspired flatware for a touch of retro-glam.
- Florals and botanicals in modern vases.
Finishing Touches: Personalized matchbooks as favors and signature cocktails—think: classic daiquiris mai-tais, or espresso martinis—served in vintage glassware.
2. Secret Garden Fairytale
The couple: The romantic dreamers
The vibe: A Bridgerton-meets-fairytale escape—a tablescape with overgrown florals, twinkly lights, and hidden nooks for dreamy romance, set in a greenhouse, ivy-covered courtyard, or flower-filled backyard.
The dinnerware: Vintage (or vintage-inspired) floral china or porcelain with delicate details.
AllLittleCuteThings Vintage Mismatched Dinner Plates
Price: from $15
Mismatched china creates a storybook, collected-over-time feel.
Styling tips:
- Glassware in soft, romantic colors.
- Ruffled placemats are feminine without feeling twee.
- Delicate botanical details to add a touch of whimsy.
The finishing touches: An abundance of florals, like overflowing centerpieces and hanging floral installations to enhance the “hidden garden” atmosphere, lanterns and fairy lights for soft, romantic lighting, handwritten place cards, and tapered candles in soft colors.
3. Tuscan Vineyard Dinner Party
The couple: Slow-living sweethearts
The vibe: A relaxed yet elegant family-style meal under string lights with rustic Italian charm—like an intimate Sunday supper in the Italian countryside, with wine and conversation that lingers long into the night.
Dinnerware: Simple, organically-shaped earthenware plates for an artisan feel
Vietri Incanto Stone Stripe Dinner Plate
Price: $64
Handcrafted in Italy, these plates draw inspiration from columns of Palladian villas along the Brenta River, adding a touch of elegance that’s easy to mix with other settings.
Styling Tips:
- Tables covered with hand-embroidered or printed linen tablecloths or runners.
- Minimalist glassware and carafes for wine.
- Chic serving utensils for family-style serving.
The finishing touches: Mini bottles of olive oil or limoncello as favors, olive branches, fresh herbs, and lemons as natural tablescape decor.
4. Victorian Gothic Romance
The couple: Dramatic and passionate
The vibe: A candlelit, moody dinner in a historic mansion, library, or intimate parlor with deep colors and antique details.
Dinnerware: Moody hues
H&M Home Large Stoneware Plate
Price: $15
These simple stoneware plates provide an elegant base for a dramatic tablescape. (And are perfect for mixing with more intricate salad plates like the ones below.)
Styling Tips:
- Ornate, vintage-style flatware.
- Crystal goblets or etched glassware for an old-world feel.
- Candles in all shapes and sizes along the table (place them on mirrors to create a fuller feel).
Finishing Touches: Gothic-style calligraphy place cards, small Victorian-inspired trinkets at each seat (mini cameo brooches, vintage keys, or vintage lace handkerchiefs), and dark, moody floral arrangements with roses, peonies, and dahlias in deep reds and purples.
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