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I’m currently debating the necessity of fancy linens. Our venue will provide ivory or white tablecloths (that do not go all the way to the floor… what is up with that?!) and ivory or white napkins. I’m down with the ivory napkins, but I don’t think I can get behind the shortie tablecloths.
I really like the idea of champagne pintucked satin or ivory dupioni silk.
However, I don’t really like the idea of paying around $30 per table. With 14 guest tables and 2 specialty tables I’d be out over $400 for rentals! Ouch!
So here’s my dilemma: do I suck it up and deal with the free ivory linens (boo!), find an alternate source for more budget friendly rentals, or beg my mother to add sewing 16 satin tablecloths to her list of wedding projects?
Are you renting linens or going with the ones your venue provides?
We’re going with the free table cloths. This just isn’t one of the things I care about, so I’m not going to spend time or money on it…
Beg your mom!
I helped plan a wedding recently and they did the cheap non floor length white and it ruined the whole look of the centerpieces. Tacky!
I am in the same dilemma—the venue has damask patterned white tablecloths (which reach the floor thank goodness!) but it all feels so blah. I was thinking maybe crisscrossing 2 table runners on each table. It would be cheaper, but I soooo love pintucked tablecloths!!!! sigh…
We put money into linens and I have to say it was worth it to bring color and polish into our venue. It was a bit pricey (~$800) but it was our big splurge on decor and was worth it.
I faced the same dilemma and I am actually making my own linens from discount fabric that I found. I can tell you it definitely isn’t easy as its time consuming and additionally the cost is only slightly cheaper. Yesterday I was searching for napkins, but things don’t look too much cheaper online that just buying them in the end.
Good luck!
How to do you (the venue) have not-to-the-floor table clothes as an option? This isn’t someone lunch cafe!
We are using our venue’s “blah” ivory table clothes but making runners to add more color. However, it would really bother me if they didn’t reach all the way to the floor. I’d say, BEG your mom! Maybe you can work on it over the holidays together. That’s when my sister and I are our making my table runners. 
I agree with you the whole linen rental prices are crazy. I think I may just get the standard white and get colored napkins. I just cant justify it because the dancing is being held in a different area so I am not going to splurge in that area. I try not to look at nice pics of table linens though it hurts me, the linen colors and textures out there are just add that extra umph!
I am choosing to upgrade, but we have a choice of 39 linen and napkin colors already, so it’s only $9 a table for an overlay. Can you wait until the wedding is closer and see if this is in your budget before making a decision? Either way, people will be too busy admiring you and enjoying your event to notice!
I was extremely fortunate to have won a substantial gift certificate to a local rental shop before my wedding… It still ended up costing me an additional $300, but the chocolate pintuck linens seriously made the room! ….you could go the runner route though much cheaper & consider charger plates (I ended up buying 150 of them as they were cheaper to purchase than rent- and then sold them) - the more you cover the table the less you’ll notice the cloth!
We bought our own linens off eBay and we are sharing them with two other brides. All together, 200 napkins and 20 white 120 inch table cloths cost us $450 dollars. split 3 ways (even with cost of laundering in between) we each spend around $200. If we sell them again either here or on eBay afterwards, it comes to even less. I am considering buying burgundy squares to overlay on the table, or the criss-cross runners like Elizabeth suggested, to spruce things up a little. Maybe it’s my overly frugal nature, but I didn’t want to spend that much on tablecloths.
don’t do it… You will never notice at the wedding. I thought about it and after the table is set it won’t matter what’s under it.
I would say you won’t really notice it, except that they don’t go to the floor? I they fall just above the lap, you will notice them…or lack of them.
We had the same option…. white or ivory. I went back and forth on the decision for so long… I really wanted to upgrade, but the cost seemed so much, and I couldn’t decide if it was worth it. And you know what? Honest to goodness, I COULDN’T REMEMBER WHAT I DID. I just had to go LOOK AT PICTURES from my wedding to see what the tables looked like. That, right there, just answered my question that it was NOT worth it, when I couldn’t even remember whether or not I had white linens… because if I, the bride, couldn’t remember, Aunt Helen sure as heck can’t remember!
I’m fortunate enough to live in LA so I went downtown to the garment district and bought pintuck linens for $4/yard. My mom is a whiz on the sewing machine. It didn’t take her very long to make them. If you do the DIY route make sure to buy 120in fabric which is kinda hard to find. Most places carry the stand 60in fabric so you’ll have to sew 2 pieces of fabric together to make floor length tablecloths….not cute! I didn’t even know there was a difference until I got there. Everyone carries the standard size but only a few places had the large table cloth size so make sure you double check. I hope that helps!
The tablecloths provided by my venue do not reach the floor either! I hate that! We are renting plain ivory tablecloths that do reach the floor, but we are not splurging on fancy fabrics. You can still rent floor-length linens that reach the floor for a lower price. We might be adding less expensive table runners to add a pop of color.
I say beg your mom or give up something else that you don’t really need. IMO, white/ivory table clothes are blah! Colored linens can really make a significant difference! THey are super classy and elegant looking. I’m using the chocolate pintuck linens and paying about the same price, but there’s no way I would change my mind about them!
Overall though, linens don’t make the day. So if there is absolutely no way you can afford them or your mom can’t make them..just forget them! and don’t look back or have regrets
You may not notice AT the wedding… and no, your guests may not care… but it does make a difference in the pictures! My sister decided she would use the venue tableclothes (white and NOT floor length) so she could save the money for other things. Looking back, her ceremony pictures are gorgeous… but the reception pictures? Not so much. It’s very blah and has no personality.
We rented beautiful linens for our tables, and it was one of the best decision we made in terms of decor. It really tied everything together and made the room look really special.
You will be thankful that you went with a floor length linen. The pintucks and silks are amazing, but if you can’t find the $$ to splurge on them, you can always go for a colored polycotton. Floor length of course. It will still add to your centerpiece and elements of the room decor and only run you $10 - 15 per table instead.
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Mrs. Lemonade, Austin/San Antonio Age and Occupation: 28, Bureaucrat Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Music Management Engagement Date: December 21, 2007 Wedding Date: April, 2009 Blogging Since: August 22, 2008 Venue: Country Club ceremony, ballroom reception About Me: I’m a total wonkette who is lucky enough to be surrounded by her favorite things on a daily basis – awesome music, the great State of Texas and of course, Mr. Lemonade! I find any excuse I can to craft something and am completely infatuated with the 1950’s, all things Kennedy, and my furbaby Vida.
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