What is a charger plate? Why you need them at your wedding
Creating an elegantly set tabletop at your wedding reception is an art form. Crisp linens featuring layers of dinnerware, matching flatware, and stemmed goblets are both pieces of functionality and design. As you begin piecing together the collection that will comprise your wedding reception place settings, you’ll be met with dinnerware set collections that include charger plates. Typically used at formal events, the narrative around charger plates is somewhat uncertain. Through the details below, we’ll be delving into everything you need to know about charger plate rentals for your wedding. We’ve included information on what exactly a charger plate is, the purpose it serves, the elements they are crafted of, and whether or not you need one for your wedding.
What is a Charger Plate?
A charger plate is a part of the overall table setting at a wedding or formal event. Place settings are created with a layered approach. From the top to the bottom, you’ll find that a formal place setting will include a soup bowl (if applicable to the menu), a salad plate, a dinner plate, and then finally the charger. The charger plate is not intended for use as a piece of dinnerware in that your menu items will not be served directly from this plate. Although you will not be eating from the charger plate, it is important that the plate is made from a food-safe material. This will allow it to withstand the temperatures of the food being served throughout dinner service.
What is the purpose of a charger plate at a wedding reception?
Although the function of a charger plate is not intended for direct food service, its purpose is many:
Retain the warmth of the food served on the above platings
Protect linens & table from heat transference or spills
‘Catch’ or retain crumbs or spills that may occur throughout dinner service
Create a welcoming atmosphere at each of your guests' settings
Add an overall layer of elegance to your wedding reception setup
What material are charger plates made of?
Gooseberry Tabletop carries a range of heirloom-quality and modern tabletop rentals for weddings held throughout New England. Below are a few of the materials our chargers are offered in.
Ceramic - The Lilou Charger is made of ceramic and features a delicate scalloped edge, making it a great selection for weddings with coastal views.
China - Our Grace Moss Charger is crafted of china and imbued with vintage elegance; it’s best suited to weddings that desire an air of grace and sophistication.
Gold Finish - Our Kensington Charger has a gold finish and hand-painted details for a touch of the Gilded Age at your modern wedding.
Rattan - This Coco placemat can be used as a charger for events desiring natural elements and a boho aesthetic.
Wood - The Lotus Charger offers an air of old-world New England charm to your guests' dining experience.
How do we select the right charger plates for our wedding vision?
With your wedding day vision in place and your color palette selected, you’ll have the space needed to make additional design choices, such as your tabletop rental needs. Tabletop wedding rentals typically begin with the selection of linens, which are thought to serve as the canvas for each of your reception tables. From there, with the assistance of your wedding planner, you can begin sourcing from our collections to find dinnerware befitting your celebration.
Size
Our tabletop wedding rentals throughout New England are offered a la carte, thus allowing our couples and their planner to select the pieces best paired with executing the overall vision for the wedding. When selecting table top rental items, a crucial step that can so easily be missed is the size of your charger against the size of your dinnerware.
As a general rule of thumb, your charger plate should be 1-2” larger than your dinner plate. Many dinner plates are offered in the standard size of 10.5”. However, vintage and heirloom dinner plates can range in size from 9.5” to 11”. This means that, depending on your selected dinner collection, the size of your charger will need to be anywhere from 11” to 13”.
The bigger element to consider when selecting a charger plate for your wedding is the amount of space each guest will have at the table with this setup in place. Overall, this will also account for the number of tables & chairs needed at your wedding. Making it essential to work with a wedding planner who can configure the settings on your behalf.
Do we need charger plates as part of the dinnerware service at our wedding?
This is a common question we receive from the couples we work with. “Is a charger plate really necessary?”. In truth, working with a tabletop rental company for your wedding means that you have already said no to convention. The plates offered by your venue or caterer were provided as part of your package, but they just didn’t seem to fit your wedding day vision. You need something elevated to tie together the experience of your wedding reception. A charger plate, along with your linens and flatware, provides an added level of refinement and style to the dinner service at your wedding.
Tabletop Rental Company for Elegant Wedding Charger Plates in New England
Gooseberry Tabletop offers charger plates and tabletop wedding rentals for couples who have an eye for style. Whether hosting your wedding in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Martha’s Vineyard, or the surrounding areas, our approach is to create a highly personalized experience for your dinner service using our one-of-a-kind pieces to complement your celebration. You can browse our collections at this link, or contact us for more details, here.
