"Look, Ma! No Plates!": Dressing Up the Tables

OK, hive—I need your advice! Apart from my post on choosing our caterer and our menu, I don't think I've mentioned that our meal will be served buffet style. I know, I know—a "black-tie" wedding...buffet style? Well, yes, dagnabbit!

We chose to go this route for a few reasons. While the price was right, cost effectiveness was truly not the only reason—I liked the idea of my guests being able to try a bit of everything and loved the idea of not having to fuss with keeping track of who's eating what.

My only concern was the dreaded buffet line but once my lovely catering coordinator informed me that we'd be running two, separate, double-sided buffet lines, I was sold. Considering she has done several weddings at my site before, I was confident there would be none of this:

Image via DetroitNews/Photo by Clarence Tabb Jr.

So why do I need your help? Well, in choosing to to have a buffet this has left me PLATELESS! Ahhhhh. Well, we'll have plates—pretty ones in fact, just not set out on the table. (I'm really still not clear why—I guess because it's easier for everyone to grab their plates at the buffet station? Bride brain! Must...remember...to ask caterer.) For the sake of giving you a mental image, I should mention that, though there will be no plates, we will have our centerpieces, table numbers, silverware, and three different types of glass drinkware pre-set at the table.

Anyhow, this is where you come in. Which would be the best way to dress up the table to make up for the lack of plates? Here are a few of the options I am considering.

Option 1: Chargers

 Image via TheKnot/Photo by Tamara Lackey Photography

I absolutely love the look of these chargers—they're classy and elegant...and fit my vision perfectly. However, they are very costly. If I had room in the budget to add them on (which I really don't), I'd feel much more responsible spending that money on food or videography. Sigh. So pretty.

Option 2: Napkin + Menu Card

Image via Choco Studio/Edited by me

This image was taken at our venue (and I think I've blogged it like a billion times already). I didn't even notice that there weren't any plates on the table the first 356 times I stared at this image, so I'm thinking that bodes well for this option, no? The only issue I have with choosing to go down this path is that I had originally planned to put only one menu on each table—if I go this route, I would need to print menus for everybody. 

Option 3: Get creative. Doilies anybody?

Image via Geographics

Image via StyleMePretty/Photo By Heather Elizabeth Photography

I think the doilies are absolutely adorable, but I could only feasibly afford foil or paper doilies (like the ones above). Do you think they would look out of place in our big ol' ballroom?

So what do you think, hive—is there an option you like best from above? Have any creative ideas I haven't thought of?! How are you dressing up your tables?