![](http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/weddings/2009Q2//wa104114_spr09_007_xl.jpg)
So I set out to find my own wood numbers, but it proved more difficult than I anticipated! There are a ton of options online and in hardware stores for use as house numbers. But the problem was that I needed numbers that were at least an inch thick, so they wouldn't tip over when the table is bumped, and all I could find anywhere were ones that maxed out at 3/4" in the 4" height I needed. I did find some that were thicker in the 6-8" range, but those were too tall and would have taken away from my centerpieces. And sadly, we can't laser cut wood that thick, and I didn't want to do the numbers in layers, because they wouldn't look good from the side. I did come across these on eBay, which eliminated the need for the thickness I was looking for, but I just didn't care for the round bases.
{Source}
So I turned to the next obvious source, Etsy! I put out my first alchemy request, and got several responses, but ultimately decided to go with Lizartestry. After several back and forth e-mails to clarify what I was looking for, along with her making trips to stores all across her town to find the right wood, she made these for me for $60:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMwX2vx2PwYTEmXz6LD-p2OpKcF0ZAbLp9f2r5mMUwW-Yrqg-veFqdUJNiDL8w58svQjuALPSoH7W08KMQFkhL-E8RJKUrqDfS6Cj41KbDCU4oVS3pg0yBARYI3Q6pDUyXLGtuw3hCuE3/s400/Unstained+Number+2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3ROq5xPlSKc3F5bgfd-dUjHb7-w3rPclH_lGtCXvlOfdP8Bsk_g6NwC9cDSYo0-V_JwlsSHpQwMh1TRMBeIWoN2Kc90oIPUucSshKl7C3pVX_cy-mm4L6DNJLiqUztz5TgzdHroQM1kP/s400/Unstained+Number+3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFC_dXtSsJxcIE-EtNsUS19AZkGzSIEwd8U-xf64KD2h6wxf3jinEI5-aBejG2xCkwX9AVMiFToT8OAsPqjNmtOh22H4HGwtd4PvZ8qkEMqst9ObZHwoS4Qdg4lof14XUTz0j-DNboiRP/s400/Unstained+Number+1.jpg)
(photos courtesy of Lizartistry, here)
Aren't they lovely? Combined with my table chart that will go on the escort card table, I think guests will have no problem finding their seats. I only got numbers 2-13, since I didn't think the head table needed one, but I wanted an extra in case we have to overflow to 13 tables. They're about 4 inches high (so won't overpower my smaller table arrangements that are in the 5-6 inch vases), and an inch deep, so won't fall over when the table is bumped. The font they're based on is called "Rosewood Fill," which was the closest I could find to the Martha version of the numbers.
The artist even offered to stain them for me, but I wanted to make sure they would match our wood grain paper, so I declined the kind offer. She also made the great suggestion that we should do something neat with the numbers that make up our wedding date, 6-12-10. I'm thinking of maybe putting them in a shadow box with some of our wedding photos or something, so it's great that I'll have a use for some of these after the wedding!
After receiving the numbers, I stained them with a Fruitwood stain, that is a very close match to the wood grain paper. Here are some shots I took with half of them stained, so you can see the contrast.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNJv3UIpLg2mPUwiWiuDR0dEDXQ9zp51gHSeKWZxCzZS4gFo2kOtvRNRnQ1q__CbUQXDlz2KwjZpjtc-gCyIKpBnkWQ03rXUdPQpqmYamWnqXyKr87kwY-pwYJvI8h6nQKeTG-1zbuFD6/s400/IMG_4875.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeANkCe17T0QDQ9bVjbI0MXWlfu4TEGlc6HfFCKf8QBf6JjTcyrTXQU5USOyFimAxxGDsJ8_SvuFFVPbSjM1uBo3UEP8i2cH05NWFxVsN6meFaUSFeShTVzFl0UYF8fi1OovZuUlEV6Nn/s400/IMG_4876.jpg)
And the final versions of our wedding date, all nice and stained.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FEsdDEdqV6yLjq-N52udPJwQ77Insd74glmAPM6sMoto0IxJaZn-zmYv6uBOZ-b4Tct_d1Xw34UT1-q6Pl-oWXJbezWVHdTvmaufVMo4RZd9QaiB1FP2c8u4wilQmSC8yIndnHjuNV5q/s400/IMG_5090%5B1%5D.jpg)
(last three photos taken by me)
I'm so glad to have put this table number issue to bed! I have no idea why I was stressing for so long about something so small, but I was.
What are you doing for your table numbers? And are you using an actual number, or going the named table route?
Those look great! I think our table numbers need to take up very little room on the table if we get away with serving our food family-style like we want to. I'm still trying to come up with something. By the way, is that Trader Joe's Pumpkin Ale I spy in some of those pictures? It's seriously one of my favorite beers!
ReplyDeleteThey look really great! I love the wedding date idea! And these won't get in the way of anyone. Sounds like you found yourself a great Etsy seller!
ReplyDelete@PartyPlannerGal, yep, it's Pumpkin Ale! But from Costco, not Trader Joes!
ReplyDeleteSo adorable! I love the bubbly type font used. Well done! What a great Etsy find. What's an alchemy request?
ReplyDeleteThese came out so great. I have the same picture in my inspiration binder. I've been considering these for our table numbers for awhile. I had no clue where to get them, so this post is super helpful!
ReplyDeleteall great ideas. i did something similar. they turned out great.
ReplyDeleteI peeked over at your centerpiece post. They look great. We actually are spending 7% of our budget on the flowers. Your numbers are so fabulous and simple and coordinate perfectly with your table chart! Love it. I already posted about my table numbers a few weeks ago and I am in love with them. We are taking a page from the Martha Stewart playbook and using frames with a votive candle inbetween 3 of them illuminating photos and the table numbers printed on vellum paper. My mom says it's her favorite part of the whole wedding so far :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad I found your blog! My fiancée and I are planning to make whatever we can for our wedding. For table numbers..it's not concrete but we are thinking of each table having a pictureframe and in that picture frame it will either be relatives or a member of the bridal party ( and their family) holding the number for the table...maybe doing something goofy
ReplyDelete