7 Ways to style your wedding napkins on your place settings

Are you totally obsessed with dreaming about the little details you could add to your place settings, to make them more swoon worthy for your wedding? As a wedding stylist and stationer, pretty tableware is what I live for, so you've definitely come to the right place if you're on the hunt for some creative inspiration. Nothing makes me happier than playing with new crockery pieces, fun coloured glassware, textured linens and my table stationery designs!

When it comes to designing tablescapes for a wedding reception, I really do think paying  attention to the finer details is what makes all the difference to elevate your design to the next level. When we pour all our love into how decor is presented, it's a way of showing your guests how much you care about their dining experience. 

I love playing with place setting ideas to inspire couples, as there are so many ways to style up your napkins. It all depends on what kind of vibe your wedding reception will be. In today's post I am going to be helping you explore some creative ways to display napkins, alongside your cutlery and table stationery. My aim is to inspire you with lots of fun options, so you can enjoy styling your own wedding place settings.

If you would love some quick ideas, you can watch this fun video below on my you tube channel, which shows you a few different looks I tried out.

First let's chat about the types of napkins available to you.

Linen Napkins

Linen fabric is great for creating neatly folded napkins. They work really well if you want an element of formality or elegance on your plates or charger mats. They also work well if you want to lay a menu card or a name card flat on top of them. Other styling options include tying a piece of ribbon or twine around them, or using a paper napkin wrap to style them up. I would say, just be mindful that they can sometimes be difficult to get creases out of, so it's best to iron them as soon as they are dry or even slightly damp. If you've ever owned casual linen trousers, you'll know exactly what I mean!

Cheesecloth Napkins

Cheesecloth material works beautifully with rustic wedding styles or a relaxed boho theme. It's common with cheesecloth that the edges will be frayed, which gives them a lovely texture. You can knot them in different ways to create a casual vibe on your place settings.

Paper Napkins

Now, paper napkins seem to get a lot of bad rep when it's for weddings! Personally I love paper napkins especially the patterned ones, they are so fun and can liven up a place setting in an instant. There are so many fun designs to choose from, they are great for adding a touch of colour or pattern to your tablescape design with little effort. I have used them for many wedding set ups now and I have never heard a guest complain about them. (honestly they are just glad to have one to wipe their hands on, as many couples totally forget to add anything!)  As long as you get good quality ones that aren't too thin, I don't see why there a problem. It's also a great option for couples who might be on a really tight budget as when you opt for fabric, you will be paying for the cleaning bill as well.

I used these bold leaf paper napkins for a fun tropical wedding theme and they looked fab. They tied the colour scheme in perfectly and were low cost for 100 guests.

So now you know your basic napkin options, let's take a look at how to style them; 

Napkin Wraps

If you are looking for a simple but effective way to style your plain napkins, why not use a paper wrap to neatly present them on your place settings. This are particularly great option if you're not having menus or place cards, but you feel like you need some decoration on your plate to make it feel extra special for them, and like you have made an effort. I have a collection of fun napkin wrap designs that you can find here. I have fun patterned paper wraps with nature inspired designs on them, perfect for outdoorsy wedding themes, as well as ones that can be personalised with your own text or with your names and wedding date for a special personal touch. My vellum wraps are also popular for a stylish look. You could even use them to wrap around a small bread roll for each individual guest. How sweet would that look! You could style them with a simple flower on top, or pop your cutlery underneath the wrap for a unique look.

Fern Leaf Napkin Wraps

If you want to add layers for the ultimate luxe touch, you could wrap some twine around the wrap and add a name tag, making each guest feel extra special. It's attention to detail like this that will up level your wedding tables instantly.

Top Knot Napkin

I love a doing a simple knot in the top of a napkin. This can provide you with plenty of fabric at the bottom to lay a menu, a place card or your cutlery on top, which provides you with a different look.

Vellum Brunch Menus Available here >>

Black and white menu card

Black and white name cards

Folded Napkin

You may want your stationery details to be the main focus therefore a simple folded napkin will be all you need. If your menu and place cards have a busy design with illustrations for example, you may want to keep distracts free, so steer away from clashing patterns and fussy folding techniques.

Triple Pocket Fold 

This is a fun neat little pocket fold napkin, which gives you three places to put your table details. Perfect for keeping your cutlery together, slotting a menu or flower inside. My popular straw flags work particularly well here as they will poke out the top, ideal for an alternative place card idea. You can really get creative with this one so I highly recommend having a play and experimenting with your layout.

Personalised Straw Flags

 Single Pocket Fold

This is a simpler pocket fold napkin which looks lovely with a menu slotted inside the pocket with a place card over the top as pictured. Or you could put your cutlery inside the pocket if you do not have individual menus for your guests. 

Copper Menus

Copper Name Cards

 A Simple Knot

Tying a simple middle knot in the napkin is perfect for a more casual look to your place settings. It works best with a cheesecloth fabric but you can use a soft linen as it will give you a much looser, relaxed look. You can place it to one side if you have menus and name cards.

Romantic torn edge menu cards

 Loose Tie

The loose tie style works well for a rustic style or an elegant place setting. Light, floaty fabric works best, to easily gather the napkin and tie with ribbon or twine. This is an great way to make plain white charger plates look more interesting as it will be bigger to drape over your surface. Adding name tags and a dried flower stem will make them look extra special for your guests.

Scallop name tags

I really do hope that these ideas have inspired you to go all out with styling your napkins! Trust me when I say, your guests will notice the extra effort you put into the little details, because when they sit down to dine, they will want to touch everything, which means they will be totally immersed in what you have created! If you're seeking table stationery pieces that fit perfectly with your chosen napkins, I do offer a bespoke design service. We can work together on creating you place cards and menus to compliment your whole look. If you want to find out more about it, you can read more about it here.

Keen to take your wedding tables to the next level?

If you want your wedding tables to wow your guests, but you're not sure how to achieve an amazing design, I have created a must have tool for diy brides. In my digital guide I am helping you pull out all the stops by sharing my exact step by step process for styling dreamy tablescapes. You'll be styling like a pro in time! To download your copy now, just head to my digital shop.

If you have enjoyed reading about this topic and you would like to hear more from me, you can join my email list 'The Nook' here. where I share more inspiration and tips to help you plan your event.

You may also like to read:

Table stationery for rustic wedding styles

10 Tips for styling wedding tables

How to display your table numbers