Wedding Planning 101: Why Your Tables Need Charger Plates

For every special occasion, a beautiful setting will not only add spark to your dinner tables but inspires lively conversation and sets the tone for the day. Want a fun and exciting way to elevate the style of your party tables? Use chargers! Decorating with charger plates for parties and events is fast becoming a growing trend. Seems like a small detail, but here, you will find out the reason why chargers will never fail to create a huge impact on the overall look of your tables.

What Are Charger Plates

A charger plate is an open dish placed on tables that can be used as a handsome base for dinnerware like your plates and bowls(so it is not used for your food). It is great for protecting your tabletop and tablecloths from heat, spills and stains (especially necessary if renting) and it also helps servers in the right food placing.

Today’s charger plates are very stylish. They come in many shapes and designs like checkered, marbled, trimmed edges, wooden textured chargers and more. They are also found in an array of materials such as glass, mirrored glass, paper, metal, acrylic, plastic and porcelain. With a variety of colors, styles and materials, chargers can perfectly serve both functional or decorative purposes. Use them as a base to highlight your centerpieces, floral arrangements or simply as decorative accents for your party tables. As the name implies, charger plates help you take charge of your table setting, presentation, and décor!

How To Use Charger Plates

Blending is important when it comes to decorating with charger plates. They should perfectly match your party theme and other table decorations. Make sure that you have chosen your table linens before deciding which charger plate to use. You must also take into consideration the size of your tables and the number of guests per table to properly provide space between charger plates. Once everything is sorted out, you can finally start setting up your tabletops!

Your charger plates should fit your event’s style and ambiance. Choose the ones that will complement the dinnerware that you are going to put on top of it. Glass charger plates are the most preferred choice for fine dining because they are easy to blend with eating plates and general décor but remember that you can always bend the rules when it comes to decorating. After setting up your charger plates, you can now align your matching flatware, napkins, napkin rings, place cards, centerpieces, flowers and other tabletop decor accordingly. You may also opt to use them with placemats or you can simply set them directly on top of the tablecloth as you desire.

Another important thing to note when placing your charger plates on the table is the arrangement of your silverware and drinking glasses which should all be in their right places so as not to disrupt the dining of your guests, and also to give your entire table décor a classy finish.

25 Round 13" Vintage Style Paper Serving Plates - Gold and White

6 Round 13" Rustic Faux Wood Plastic Charger Plates

Charger Plates Formalities

As mentioned earlier, you are always free to bend rules when it comes to decorating with charger plates but what if you are setting a table for a formal gathering? You might want to exert a little effort when arranging your silverware and drinking glasses. Having them in the right places will not only provide comfort for your guests but will give your entire table decor a classy finish. Let us help you set the perfect table with the following ideas:

• Charger plates should be ready in place when guests arrive.
• Keep your chargers one inch away from the edge of the table to give enough space for each guest. 
• Place the chargers two feet from one another to provide enough elbow room.
• Properly arrange your napkins with rings. Menu cards and name cards should be placed on top of the charger plates too.
• Event managers and servers should make sure that the dishes served are placed directly on top of the charger plates.
• Remove the chargers with the dinner plates on top after your guests are done with the main course so that the table will be ready for the final course. Charger plates are never used for desserts.

Entertaining guests is always personal. You may opt to follow rules but again, it is all up to you! The only rule that you must follow is to never let your food have direct contact with the charger plates.

6 Round 13" Peacock Pattern Plastic Charger Plates Serving Trays

Whether used for formal or casual dinner, chargers will complete the look of your dining tables. They are just perfect for setting the mood and creating an elegant atmosphere, and adding a visual appeal to any dinner parties and events. You can never go wrong with charger plates! Love decorating with charger plates? Don’t forget to share your styling tips and creations by tagging  @LeilaniParties on Instagram!