These was the replacement for 3 tables we used to have in the living room. I salvaged the legs from the original tables and built the 3 new tops. The tops were all constructed from Maple for the two outside boards and walnut for the centre board.
I buy rough boards from Windsor Plywood that are called "shorts". They are rough cuts a little over 1" thick and from 5 feet to 7 feet long or there about. I am lucky to have a well equipped shop so I have a really good cabinet saw in the SawStop brand that I bought the table attachment that allows me to have the router on the 2 foot extension of the table saw. I also have a planer that I received from my wife's father that I would have a difficult time living without and a good planer/jointer from busy bee.
All that means I can buy the bargain lumber and make it into what I want. For the last few years I have wanted the rough lumber because it has, in many cases, the live edge with the bark still on it. so the procedure is to run the boards through the planer and in this case bring them all down to 3/4" thick, then to the jointer and dress the edges that aren't live edge to square them up, cut the pieces to length and get ready for glue.
I join the pieces together using biscuits and glue, clamp them together and use boards across the top to keep them flat. Use a damp cloth and clean up the glue that has squeezed out and ready for finish.
I start with a 100 grit sandpaper to get the big lumps off, then 180for to smooth and finish with 220.
The finish I use most a wipe on gel that is easy to control, this stain was Fruitwood from Varethane top and bottom.when that dries ,and make real sure it is dry - day or 2, then clear coat with a polyurethane.
Most important - be sure to check the stain and finish with the quality control department, that being your wife.