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Weddingbee Blog
Hive, I need your help, stat!
While Mama and Poppy Peep were in town over the Holidays, we all went down to Hotel Vitale and met with the new Events Coordinator. The meeting was fantastic. Since we had never met before, she wasn’t 100% sure about everything in our contract, so she and I sat for over an hour answering each other’s questions, while everyone else just sat and soaked it all in. I have to admit, the coordinator I met with originally was nice, but this woman is AWESOME. It felt so nice to talk to someone who was just as concerned about the details as I was.
That said, I found out one pretty important piece of news. The hotel does not have all white linens like I thought. Instead, they have olive. Here they are in all their glory:
source.
The linens just don’t go with our color scheme, and don’t look all that exciting.
The bad news: We need to rent linens.
The good news: We only have 8 tables, and the hotel just emailed me and said that if we order our linens by January 31st, the rental company will give us a discount.
So hive, I need your help. I can’t decide for the life of me what linens to choose.
First up, some inspiration. Remember, our theme is modern organic.
Here are some pics I love:
This one is taken from our own Weddingbee Pro: Angel Swanson
But Mr. Peep is afraid that it will look too dark.
Here’s my original inspiration from another one Weddingbee Pro: Nancy Liu Chin:
Mix these two centerpieces together and you have my centerpiece inspiration. This one is from our own Mrs. Bee’s Wedding:
And this one from my florist, Huckleberry Karen Designs:
And finally here are our choices:
A. Plain Ivory
B. Hazelnut Brown
C. Specialty Ivory
D. Specialty White
E. I am totally overreacting to the olive tablecloths and drinking too much of the wedding industry Kool Aid. Don’t order linens.
I know the hive is the only place that would understand this decision.
I agree that the olive looks too dark. I don’t think it’s the Kool Aid. Ivory or Specialty Ivory looks best. The plain ivory will be a cleaner look, but the specialty adds a little something. Good luck!
since most venues include white/ivory, if I was paying for linens, I would definitely go with brown…I love that first pic!
We are having the (free) white linens for the tables but the sweetheart table will have rented chocolate linens
I think the Brown is a good middle ground between the first two inspiration pics. I’m afraid the specialty linens may look to busy with the beautiful and intracate centerpieces. I don’t think it’s the koolaid talking, linens can do a lot to change the look of a reception hall.
We want to have a “restaurant-like” experience for the dinner portion of our evening, so we’re going with basic (cream) colored cotton linens, and saving the pizzazz for the tables around the dance floor. Just something to consider…
I think if you are going to rent the linens you should go for the brown or the specialty ivory. I think as long as your centerpieces aren’t too busy everything will look beautiful together.
I agree with Mr Peep about the brown, esp if the room will have the blue curtains like the picture. My vote is for Plain Ivory or Specialty Ivory. It will brighten things up. If you want to include chocolate brown, perhaps you can rent napkins in that color?
No you aren’t overracting, the olive brings down the room while a little color will open it up. I like the specialty white beause it isn’t your common linen so it will add a little bit of simple interest.
I really think you need to add another neutral into the mix, with the blue curtains and the olive carpet.
My vote is for Plain Ivory or Specialty White. I like that the specialty white echoes the carpet pattern without screaming it, and the plain ivory ties in with the chair cushions.
But, what color would your napkins be? Are the plates white or ivory? Both of those questions will affect your tablecloth, as white for the plates, napkins, and tablecloth will cause them to all blend together.
Good luck!
I like the specialty white, because the detailing is similar to the carpet pattern, plus it will blend more. Unless you think it will be too busy.
I like plain ivory the best because it brightens/warms up the space, and echoes the color of the lampshades. The chocolate is nice too–would create more of a dark/clubby atmosphere, which could be cool, but if you want more light and bright, I’d go with the ivory.
I say don’t rent linens - I was going to vote brown, but I think it is too dark and the white is too bright for the rest of the room… the olive is perfect to blend in and have your centerpieces Pop 
Either one of the specialty ivory or white. I think that would give you a nice texture that people wont expect
Just to let you guys know, the napkins are white, and I am not if the plates are ivory or white. Keep the votes coming- looks like a close call so far!
I am in love with the chocolate brown, and it will make your white napkins and plates POP! on the table.
Assuming you’re having round tables, I strongly feel that you should do a linen with a pattern. My one bizarre tablescaping obsession is tables that look too empty–and 90% of the tables I’ve seen do! Having a pattern on the linen helps visually take up some of the space, without having to have a crowded table. I vote specialty white (I also don’t like ivory and white mixed).
I like the specialty white the best. I think it’s unique and would look good in your venue.
I’m in the minority, but I think the olive green will look great with your centerpieces (and my memory of your inspiration board). Plus, it’s harmonious with blue walls and carpet, so it’s actually really neutral.
I actually like the olive and to kind of feel like it will go with your theme. In that photo in looks like a neutral that would go with anything. If you are really set on renting linens, though, I would probably get the specialty ivory.
I would worry too… I don’t like how the olive goes with the room, and I’m biased in not liking olive… but I’m also biased in that I prefer white to ivory. I like the pattern on the specialty white, and think it would tone it down from being too bright.
Pre-marriage, I’d have said that unless linens were fairly cheap, I’d skip them.
BUT, we ended up pitching $50 (i know, not that much) for chair sashes that matched our scheme, rather than take the white ones for free, and I do have to say that it made a HUGE difference in the look of the setup. (We did all white linens otherwise). I was SO glad I did it!
I’m not sure what your flowers are going to really look like so I dont really have a preference to your linens. But definitely spring for linens to coordinate to your scheme, even if it’s just white or ivory (we had plain white. It looked great.) If the olive clashes, nix it! Esp. since you are doing crisp greenery, I’d stick with a really light or really dark color… not something in the middle like ivory! Whatever will make your centerpieces pop!
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Mrs. Peep Toe, San Francisco Age and Occupation: 29, Policy Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 36, Olive Oil Production Manager Engagement Date: December 16, 2007 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Blogging Since: November 26, 2008 Venue: Hotel Vitale About Me: I am a west coast lady who loves the San Francisco Bay Area. I love living with Mr. Peep and our animals: Huck the Dog and Ferris the Cat. I work to save the environment in San Francisco, while Mr. Peep makes ridiculously delicious Olive Oil. On any day you can find me reading the latest book I have gotten my hands on, eating Swedish Fish, and perusing wedding blogs! We are both champagne drinking foodies on a Bud Light budget. We are planning an eco-chic, intimate, and interfaith San Francisco City wedding.
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