Planning an affordable wedding buffet and now wondering what to do about the plate situation? Yup. I’ve been there. Do you place them at the buffet, while leaving the tables barren and sad? Or do you go for the full place setting setup and have guests awkwardly carry their plates to the buffet? Ugh, right? Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with incredible wedding table setting ideas without plates.
Whether you’re skipping place settings entirely, or want the look of a place setting without the expense, these plate-free wedding table settings are here to prove that you don’t need a full place setting to have a gorgeous tablescape
10 Wedding Table Setting Ideas Without Plates To Steal
First, let’s talk through the more elevated option: incorporating chargers into your tablescapes. These options give you the look of a full place setting, while allowing you to leave your dinner plates at the buffet.
Wedding Table Settings with Chargers
Buy in bulk or rent chargers instead of an additional plate. This creates a sophisticated look for your tablescapes without needing to rent additional place settings.
Simply add a printed menu, or a DIY wedding favor on top for an elegant wedding table setting without plates.
Design your menus using Canva and print at home using heavy-duty card stock or at a local economy printer like Staples or FedEx Office.
Another idea for simple wedding table setting without plates is to go with a classic napkin fold as pictured, laid across your charger. You can’t go wrong with this option. It’s simple and sophisticated.
As an alternative, this wedding place setting uses a charger and folded napkin placed underneath.
If you’re serving bread or salad at the table, another wedding place setting idea with a charger is to go with a more unique napkin fold set on the salad plate instead.
This creates a full place setting aesthetic for your wedding reception tables, without dinner plates.
Love the charger look, but not the rental prices?!
Here are some options you can snag in bulk on Amazon!
Wedding Tables Without Chargers
Considering wedding tables without chargers? No problem! You can keep your place settings simple yet chic with a simple napkin fold and place card, like these gorgeous wooden guest names.
You can also keep it simple by designing wedding placecards on Canva and printing at a local print shop, just like your menus!
Another option for wedding tables without chargers is to get creative with your napkin folds like the one pictured here.
Or, to simplify your wedding tables even further, you can choose a simple napkin fold paired with your wedding favor like pictured.
This creates sophisticated wedding table settings without plates. (Your guests won’t miss them!)
This wedding table place setting is so sweet, using the salad plate, a simple napkin fold tied with ribbon and a cute little succulent wedding favor to complete the look.
You don’t even miss the plate or charger, do you?! I sure don’t.
This is another wedding place setting idea without a charger or dinner plate, using the salad plate, a more formal utensil setting and a simple, yet elegant napkin fold.
This is also an idea for a more compact place setting, where space is a premium!
Out of all the wedding tables without chargers, this one might be the MOST genius. This place setting is a PLACEMAT! Yup. I didn’t even consider this as an option when I planned my DIY backyard wedding, and honestly, these would have been perfect.
I’ve included a few of my favorite placemat finds below if you’re into this idea.
These placemats give the look of chargers for less!
Explore all the options on my storefront.
I hope these gorgeous wedding table setting ideas without plates helped inspire you as you make your tablescape plans. If you have any questions, feel free to drop those in the comments below.
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