Table Crystals - How Many?

Vikki_74

I'm just in the process of ordering a few bits for our table decorations and have been looking at scatter crystals on ebay but I have no idea what size to go for, or how many. I'm sure many others have used these at their wedding receptions so was hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction?

We're having 8 round tables which seat 8-10 people, I can't remember the exact size now but hopefully that gives you an idea of the size of the table top. The centrepieces I'm making up with a load of stuff from Michael Dark (thanks for all those who have recommended them on here by the way - their stuff is such great value!) and will be on 25cm mirror plates plus we'll have all the usual favours, place settings etc - the crystals are just for a bit of sparkle on the mirrors and round and about the tables.

I was originally going to go for 1000 crystals but don't know if this will be enough so am now considering 2000 but is that going OTT? Also there seem to be 2 common sizes - 4.5mm and 6.5mm - are the smaller ones too small or do they still look ok? I know I've bought little gem stones in the past for card making and was shocked at how small they actually were when they arrived so thinking these might be similar.

From others' experience, do you think it would look better with more of the smaller size, or less of the larger ones?

I'm thinking of going for these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300436674509&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

but would appreciate any thoughts from those in the know before I go ahead and buy them.

mimosaurus

i went to a wedding recently with table crystals, they had the 4.5mm ones I think, and they were in little arrangements either side of the plates (I think!!) I would say there were probably around 20 crystals between each place setting, and a few dotted around elsewhere, on a table of 8. So in total I would say that she had 200max on each table.

i definitely think you could get away with less than this and 1000 should be plenty - particularly if they're small tables or your guests are fairly closely seated together.

And I definitely think more of the smaller ones would look better than less larger ones. The smaller ones are very pretty, but I think they start to look tacky as they get bigger!

dawnebabe

I've bought 150 per table, each of my tables will seat 8 guests. I have bought 120 x 4.3mm and 30 x 7.1mm crystals for each table. I have been buying a couple of packets each months as I've bought the genuine swarovski crystals, not very mse, but they are gorgeous & it is my part of our 'theme'... along with football for H2B! HTH!

indiegirl_2

I bought too many; I had 6 tables (5 of 8, 1 of 10) and bought about 1200 crystals - found the 4.5mm too small so had 6.5mm and probably used about 100 per table - so had loads left over! We had 30cm mirror plates (still have them sat at home wondering what to do with them!) and scattered some on the base as well as on the table/around the edges.

The bigger you go for, obviously the less you need but 4.5mm were tiny and I felt that the 6.5mm were perfect.

I've just found a photo of my tables - looking at them maybe I should've asked the team to be as generous as possible with the crystals as it doesn't look as if many are on there... so maybe allow 200-250 per table? I had no control over where they were used and I think my sister had to go back and ask them to scatter more! (they'd only scattered on the mirror plates!)
http://giraffeonastick.com/images/table.jpg

Bride2be24

where do u get them from? swarovski shop?

dawnebabe wrote: »

I've bought 150 per table, each of my tables will seat 8 guests. I have bought 120 x 4.3mm and 30 x 7.1mm crystals for each table. I have been buying a couple of packets each months as I've bought the genuine swarovski crystals, not very mse, but they are gorgeous & it is my part of our 'theme'... along with football for H2B! HTH!

Lexxi

I got the 4.5mm I think, I'm having long tables and scattering them all over, I bought 4000 and for 4 tables it will be way too many

4nnabella

I've got 2000 at the moment, 1000 each of two different sizes, although off the top of my head I can't remember what those sizes are (and I'm sat on the sofa with a sleepy cat on my lap so I can't go check just yet...). Anyway, 2000 crystals for 8 round tables.

xtinkersx

sure i read in wed mag that they sy approx 200-500 per table!

Jane81

xtinkersx wrote: »

sure i read in wed mag that they sy approx 200-500 per table!

Yeah, but the total cynic in me says 'well they would say that wouldn't they'!

Vikki_74, I'd go by what indiegirl and mimosaurus have said, as they have had prior experience - around 150-200 per table sounds like plenty.

Bride2B24, I'd suggest ebay, and I've also seen them in high street craft shops.

Ladies who've already bought them, where did you get them from?

emsbet

My reception will have nine long tables. I have bought 2000 4.5mm crystals from ebay. I think they should be enough as I'm having petals and butterflies too.

I bought these ones.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160475496190&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Vikki_74

Thanks everyone for the input - I've gone for 2000 which will give me 200+ per table &/or a few to scatter around elsewhere if there are spares - they were not much different in price to just getting 1000 and I'd rather have too many than not enough! I really couldn't make my mind up between the 4.5mm or 6.5mm...have gone for the smaller size in the end but it's so hard to know what they'll be like without seeing them in 'real life'. Hopefully they'll be ok though with everything else we have going on with the tables.