By Amy Brown, Jack Loves Jill
When it comes to your wedding, the devil’s in the detail. One of the most overlooked styling opportunities? Your guest table names.
Sure, numbered tables are simple and traditional. They serve a purpose. But if you’re looking for ways to inject personality into your wedding styling, your table plan is one of the easiest places to start. And if you ask Amy Brown, founder of wedding styling company Jack Loves Jill, it’s one of the most underrated ways to set your day apart.
“Guests will expect to be greeted with a board displaying which number table they’re on, so why not surprise them with something that’s a bit more you?” Amy explains. “Because, after all, that’s who they’ve come to celebrate.”
Here are five creative and genuinely personal ways to name your tables, with tips from Amy herself.
- Your Story, told through dates
If you love a little sentimentality, why not name your tables after key dates or moments from your relationship? Think: the day you met, your first holiday, your first flat, your proposal, or even the day you adopted your dog.
Amy suggests, “This idea gives your guests a timeline of your relationship. It’s sweet, meaningful, and makes for great talking points at the table.”
You can even add mini descriptions on each table, something like ‘The Day We Met – June 2016, Nottingham, over far too many espresso martinis’.
2. Your Hobbies
Your hobbies say a lot about you, so why not incorporate them into your wedding day? Whether it’s a shared love of hiking, your obsession with pub quizzes, or even your guilty-pleasure film franchise (yes, Harry Potter tables are still a thing, and we are not mad about it), this is a great way to personalise your space.
“One or both of you might have a hobby or interest that everyone associates you with—or even one that might surprise your guests”, says Amy. “It becomes a great conversation starter and makes each table feel unique.”
Bonus tip: if your tables are named after locations or walking routes, include small maps or photos on each one.
3. Your Groove
If music plays a big part in your relationship, lean into that energy. Whether it’s shared playlists, first gigs, or the songs you belt out on long car rides, let your soundtrack double up as your table naming scheme.
Amy has seen couples take it one step further. “One of our favourite interactive table plans incorporated actual headphones. Guests could listen to songs that the couple had selected for each table. It was such a cool way to get everyone in the mood and added another layer to the day’s styling.”
No headphones? No problem. Add QR codes to each table that link to a playlist or Spotify track.
4. Food and Drink Favourites
You’d be surprised how many guests light up at a table name like ‘Cheesy Garlic Bread’. Whether you’re foodies, cocktail lovers or takeaway champions, naming tables after your go-to dishes or drinks adds a touch of humour, nostalgia, and personality.
“You don’t have to be serious about it,” Amy shares. “It’s all about making your guests smile and giving them a glimpse into who you are as a couple.”
Other ideas we love:
- Your favourite restaurants or dishes
- Signature cocktails (bonus points if they’re your welcome drinks too)
- Inside jokes around food (‘Snack Queen’ is still one of our favourite table names to date).
5. A Floral Take on Tradition
Want to keep things feeling elegant and timeless, but still with a twist? Amy suggests naming each table after the flowers in your bouquet.
“Ask your florist to note the different varieties being used,” she says. “You can then name your tables after them and even incorporate small floral stems on the table plan itself. It ties your styling together beautifully.”
This is a great option for couples who want to keep things refined but still incorporate a personal touch.
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but naming your tables is a low-effort, high-impact way to make your wedding feel more personal, fun, and you. Whether you go down the memory-lane route or lean into your quirks, we always say the same thing: make it feel like you.
“Styling your wedding is about more than just how it looks—it’s about what it says,” Amy says. “And your table names are the perfect place to say something meaningful.”
