Weddingbees, I need your help. I put together a table layout yesterday to get an idea of what our reception will look like, but I’m torn about what kind of table cloth to use. We’re currently signed up for a cream colored tablecloth, but it might make the table look washed out. Orange would be too eye-watering, and bright green would hide the ring of circles and wheat grass around the centerpiece, and I spent far too long cutting them out to lose them. Maybe I should go for a celadon green?
The real layout will be a little more complete. Each green circle will have a pot of wheat grass in a white container and there will be bird of paradise in the center of the bowl of oranges in the centerpiece. Also, all of this will be on an actual table rather than the floor.
The place mats will serve as table numbers and will overlap by approximately the same degree at the reception.
We’re going for a kaleidoscope effect and I’m unsure about how to get the colors to pop without giving everyone a headache.
I second the vote for cream. I also think a khaki or tan might work as a nice balance to your vibrant colors.
I agree, the cream will be nice. How many options of colors are available? If possible, a pale yellow may be nice. Orange would be too bright, I agree. I don’t usually like peach too much but it may work just right for this layout/setting. Try photoshopping different colors onto the table, or do an actual layout with different colors and see what you think. The wheatgrass jars are really cool! Did I miss a blog entry about those? I’d love to learn more about them & see more photos. Good luck, keep us posted!
i second Chrissie’s tan or khaki suggestion. but as long as the cream is not the same exact cream as your table cloth, i think that would work just fine. i love the colors!
i agree! stick with what you have. i like your place mat/table number idea. cool!
Hmm…I wanted to comment on the penguins! So SO cute! But yeah cream or khaki for the table. Great job!
ooh looks nice! I agree with the tan/khaki idea if possible, otherwise, I think cream will be fine!
I agree that cream will work great, and maybe tan/khaki if that’s an option. If you stick with cream and are concerned that the placemats will lose some of their charm, why not back them up with a slightly larger sheet of orange paper to outline them and make them “pop”?
I really like meleven’s idea of a light yellow. I think cream and tan might be a little “blah” with your table set-up, while a soft yellow or orange would serve the purpose of a more neutral background while still bringing color to the table. A light green may also be nice to really make those oranges pop, but you’d need to make sure it wasn’t green overload.
celadon!
my whole reception was celadon themed. we got married in late july, and it was a very refreshing and light color that looked great at night. i can send you photos of what it looked like..
at first we were tentative about having too much green, but the color is so pale, we loved it, and so did our guests.
Have you considered black? The contrast with a black tablecloth will make the existing colors stand out even more. I think…I’d have to see it! 
If it’s not too hard to procure, I think that celadon would go very well with the setting (I’m assuming that the other color on the placemats besides the green number is a celadon green?), and it would be a bit unusual, too. Miss Lollipop, you have a great eye for color, as evidenced in your decor, invites and thank you cards. I am sure you will pick just the right color.
I actually like the burnt orange/ sienna color that your flooring is. I think it provides a nice contrast while still complementing the orange/ earthy green colors.
Chocolate Brown?
I would say orange. I think it would be a beautiful pop of color not eye watering. I think you’ll loose the the nice contrast on cream.
I vote for celadon…
Celadon as well….
Why limit yourself to just one linen color. I would split it up and do tan on 50% of the tables and orange on the other 50%. It will look VERY dramatic and eye-popping! ; )
i think light yellow could be very pretty. but i really love the chocolate brown idea too.
Dark brown would do well. Maybe a rich deep red.
[...] to some of the containers. We used our little containers of wheatgrass to add a little to our table settings and as companions to our guest table [...]
Mrs. Lollipop, Pittsburgh
Age and Occupation: 26, Computational Linguist
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Project Manager
Engagement Date: August 2, 2006
Wedding Date: September 2, 2007
Blogging Since: July 17, 2007
Venue: The PPG Aquarium at the Pittsburgh Zoo
About Me: I'm a Pittsburgh transplant who grew up in the deep south. I have a weakness for exotic alphabets, DIY projects, mobster movies and international travel. My fiance and I are both non-native Japanese speakers and we have a bullfrog named Skinny.
I think you should stick with the cream - your colors are vibrant, so I don’t think you need to worry about the table being washed out. And the last thing you want is for those beautiful details to be eclipsed! I think the cream is perfect.