Planning a wedding or party can be a daunting task, especially when you’re short on time and faced with lots of empty tables to decorate. Whatever the occasion, you want guests to be bowled over by your place settings, so this week it’s time to focus on 6 table top essentials that create instant wow factor.Easy, inspirational and memorable – your table tops will be a breeze.

1.) Sparkling Table Crystals

Is there any better way to add glamour, glitz and sparkle to your table tops? We think not. Scatter across table tops or fill tin favour pails then add a pretty tea light – perfect.

Gorgeous sparkling table crystals

Scatter across table tops for maximum effect

Combine colours for added depth to your table top

2.) Preserved Rose Petals

Fill vases or gently thrown a handful of these delicate petals over a crisp white table cloth. No matter which colour you choose, every one of them is sure to delight.

Add some drama with bright rose petals in glasses

Alternatively, scatter on table tops for a delicate effect

Ivory petals are a classic choice for weddings

3.) Place Cards for Glasses

Oh how we love these gorgeous little place cards. An individual twist on your usual place card setting, they take just seconds to place over your guests glasses.

A quick and unusual twist on the usual place card...

Gorgeous butterflies for glasses come in a variety of colours

Try heart place cards for glasses for an added romantic touch

4.) Sparkling Garlands

Entwined between a candleabra or in your floral centrepieces, crystal garlands are a perfect and simple edition to wedding or party table tops.

Sparkling garlands are gorgeous draped round candleabras

Or, add drama by entwining the garland through your floral centrepieces

5.) Pretty Paper Windmills

As sweet as you like, these Pretty Paper Windmills are delightful placed in favour pails on table tops or alternatively as gifts for children.

Pretty Paper Windmills make brilliant little gifts for children...

Or, add them to tin favour pails for the sweetest table decorations in just moments

6.) Place Card Holders

Perfect for adding a little glitz and glamour, nestle your name cards in a place card holder for maximum effect, minimum effort.

Pretty place card holders add wow factor in seconds

How about a touch of bling for your name cards?

Bauble place card holders were last Christmas' big favourite!

Got any other table top decoration ‘must haves’ you think we should know about? What’s your simple go to when you need to create a place setting in an instant? We’d love to hear from you…