How to decorate a round table (8 ppl) served family style dinner platters

The only family-style wedding I've been to used the same tables you are, and they pretty much skipped table decor. There was a sign for the table number, a few small candles, and a bud vase on each table. It looked very simple but still pretty and the venue sort of shone on its own--I'd imagine your garden will, too! You'll want plenty of room for the dishes to be placed without cramping the guests, so I think keeping the table minimal (couple votives and one of your smal decorations) and scattering the rest of your decor throughout the space would be a great way to do it.

Definitely agree about doing trial runs for your set-up. Imagine what your family's Thanksgiving dinner dining room table looks like, if you serve family style.... Ours is super-crowded with serving dishes. I inevitably end up having to remove the centerpiece before we even sit down in order to fit everything on and leave enough room for people to juggle serving bowl placement as they pass dishes. Consider all that will need to be on the table (e.g, like, how many glasses will be at each place setting, etc.). Even if you use cardboard cut-outs to simulate all the stuff that will be on the table, do a practice run. You don't want people to be uncomfortably crowded -- they'll notice/remember that MUCH more than they will think about how pretty your centerpieces were. Depending on how your trials go, I'd guess you may want to keep centerpieces pretty minimal -- possibly just a taller, narrow pillar candle or something similar. Good luck!

I would do small, individual pieces in front of each place setting,