Monday, December 21, 2009

Table Numbers - Revisited

Quite a while ago I lamented over what to do for our table numbers. Luminaries wouldn't work because it would still be pretty light outside at dinner time, and I just wasn't too excited about anything that I'd seen in the way of table tents or metal holders. Frames didn't really work for the feel of the tables either, and pretty much the only thing I'd seen that I liked was a plain and simple number, thanks to Martha:

{Source}

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:



(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 the
y'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 s
ure 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.


And the final versions of our wedding date, all nice and stained.


(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?

8 comments:

  1. 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!

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  2. They 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!

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  3. @PartyPlannerGal, yep, it's Pumpkin Ale! But from Costco, not Trader Joes!

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  4. So adorable! I love the bubbly type font used. Well done! What a great Etsy find. What's an alchemy request?

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  5. These 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!

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  6. all great ideas. i did something similar. they turned out great.

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  7. I 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 :)

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  8. So 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

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