Gala table design: one setting across a ballroom
A gala is one table repeated twenty or thirty times. Design that one table well, then decide what changes, if anything, at the head table.
Floor-length cloths on every table
Galas usually seat ten at a 72-inch round. A 132-inch round cloth falls to a 30-inch drop on that table, to the floor. The Black Poli Table Linen and White Poli Table Linen are $18 each in the 132-inch size; for drops on other tables, see choosing a tablecloth size.
The setting, priced per guest
A formal setting with a charger, two plates, three pieces of flatware, three glasses for water, wine and the toast, and a velvet napkin:
| Piece | Price |
|---|---|
| Signature Collection Charger | $3.00 |
| White Mercer Dinner Plate and Salad Plate | $2.75 |
| Silver Matte Flatware (dinner knife, dinner fork, tea spoon) | $2.25 |
| Melodia water goblet, wine glass and champagne flute | $4.50 |
| Velvet Cream Napkin | $1.75 |
| Per guest | $14.25 |
Two hundred guests, counted
Two hundred guests at twenty tables of ten: 200 settings at $14.25 is $2,850, and twenty 132-inch cloths at $18 is $360, for $3,210 before delivery. Nonprofit, corporate and office events get 20% off the first order and 10% off every order after that, which matters for a gala that returns every year.
Silver at the center
One silver piece per table reads as deliberate across a large room. The 5 Arm Silver Candle Holder, $8, has four available, enough for a head table and sponsor tables. For every guest table, a Medium Round Display Tray under a low arrangement, or a Silver Bowl (Medium) at $10, keeps sightlines clear across the table.
The head table
Change one element at the head table rather than designing a second one: a different charger, such as the Sage Pearl Charger at $5, or the candelabras. More on terms and setup is on the gala rentals page. Send us your table plan.
