Some of my biggest pet peaves at a wedding are looking at a semi formal wedding and having cheap paper plates and red party cups. The theme clashes for me. I figure if you are going to spend a few extra to make it nice then do it with what the guests are going to be looking at the most. There are so many ideas that you can do that will make it nicer.
I love the look of square plates. These ones are cheap and disposable but no one would know that from looking at it!
If you want more traditional plates maybe try something a bit more like this.
These are both plastic plates that are easy clean up and still make the event look classy and elegant. Check out http://www.4-plasticplates.com for more great ideas on dishes. They sell tons of disposable and elegant dishes. Cups, serving platters, plates, silverware. Here area a few more examples of ideas that you could do to keep it classy from this website.
Another thing that can make a huge difference in the feel of a wedding is the style of tables used and how they are arranged.
Round Tables tend to be the most common. They are considered the most formal and can seat anywhere from 4-10 people per table depending on the size.
Round tables are great if most of your guests don't know each other and will have a hard time socializing. Also this can make some people more comfy because they will only be around people they know and will be close enough to be able to be heard by all of them. These are great for large weddings.
Another option is to do long rectangle tables. This can go to two extremes. It can either be old fashioned formal or it can make it feel more intimate. These are preferred for smaller weddings that are based on family and very close friends.
No matter what you decide to do just remember that it's your wedding and that you are the one making the decisions.
