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I have a confession to make. I’m not really a fan of those big, giant, generic table numbers that many venues allow you to use. I knew from the beginning of planning that I wanted something a little cooler. At first, I thought I could use the idea of the Mad Hatter’s hat and put the table numbers IN the hat…
OK, yeah. Maybe not such a good idea. But don’t worry—a few weeks later I came up with a GREAT idea.
My “great” idea for place cards came from the pages of Martha Stewart (so it wasn’t my idea at all, but an incredibly ingenious bride’s). She made flags out of different fabrics for each table and sewed a table runner in each fabric. So, the guests found their flag, found their matching table runner, and sat down to enjoy their wonderful meal. Awesome, right? Right.
The problem is, I don’t want to go all over the place with fabric, and I’m assuming I’m going to have between 35 and 40 tables at eight people a table. That’s a lot of different patterns to find in gold, indigo/deep purple, and green! I’ve been thinking about branching out to red as well if I have to. It’s also an added expense that is a want and not a need. I found $2.99-a-yard fabric at Joann, but only about ten or so in the colors I’d like to use.
I decided I’d need two yards for each table, so *insert calculator sounds* that’s over $400 for place cards that the venue provides for free. Sigh. I was thinking about buying a few different types of fabric each month so I could spread it out. I just think the different runners will add a nice splash of color to the table and add some whimsical touches that I love. It’s also a lot to sew, but I’m up to the challenge (read: I’m crazy).
Do you know of better places online or near me to buy inexpensive fabrics? What are you doing for place cards?
In NYC I head to the garment district.. is there a factory provider you could visit? Buying from them is often unglamourous but super easy on the wallet. As a side note: I LOVE this idea. Please post pictures as you go along. Would love to see how the runners go 
Cute idea! Lots of work though. I didn’t want to do standard numbers either so I am going to name the tables with something significant to us and then explain it on the table card. This will give our guest a chance to learn about us and I hope it encourages people to go around and visit other tables to read the cards. For example–a guests place card might say “Cameron’s” (in a beautiful font of course!) and then the card on the table will say “Cameron’s” in large font but then in a smaller font underneith I will say what it means. So this one will say “Cameron’s is where the bride and groom went for their first dinner date”. We will have fun facts about us all around the room. We only have about 20 tables though so that will make it easier than 40 fun facts. Good luck!
That does add up to alot of time and work,not to mention $$$! However, it is a cute idea!
[...] Who Doesn’t Like a Place Card? | Weddingbee weddingbee.com/2011/01/24/escort-cards-2/ – view page – cached I have a confession to make. I’m not really a fan of those big, giant, generic table numbers that many venues allow you to use. I knew from the beginning [...]
So, I love this idea! I think the matching fabrics will look rad and make everything very cohesive, which we all love to see, of course! I would think about doing something on the table that requires less fabric than a table runner. Could you use some fabric on the table number signs? Could you use a smaller piece of fabric until your centerpiece? It’s not a big change to your plans, but a small one that might save you a lot on fabrics!
What if you just pick 8 fabrics you love, using them 5 times each & just give each table a name? Like, have a gold flag with their name on it & on the back say something like “the jesters table.” So they know to look for the gold runner with either a sign that say’s JESTERS on it or has a cute jester’s hat centerpiece on it. There would be 5 tables with that name, but only 1 with a gold runner. Follow me? Haha. Sorry, I’m just spouting out ideas, but you never know where you can get inspiration from! Good luck figuring it out- Don’t let go of this idea, though, you’re on the right track!!
Have you thought about renting runners? Or try buying from ebay! I got mine from the store eWedding & they are great quality for a great price.
Cute idea, but yes, I agree could be time consuming. I like to paint ceramics, so I thought it would be cool to design and paint my own table numbers. I found curly wooden numbers and small round plaques to glue them to at Joann’s Fabrics. So I’ll be painting them to match my wedding colors.
Another idea, that may be cheaper, might be to use patterned scrapbook paper instead of fabric. Then you can use the patterned paper on the table as decor of some sort - flags, pinwheels, bunting of some sort. I just adore the mismatched patterns. Can’t wait to see pictures!
I second the idea for scrapbook paper! It’s stiff so the flag should stand up on it own (I don’t know how to get the fabric that stiff). Then you can use the scrapbook paper framed on each table, or use it as a mat underneath the centerpiece (or something like that). It’s way more affordable, and if you get it on sale, you can get 4-5 sheets for $1! Lots of patterns too!
I’m 100% aware of how time consuming this project is…I’m just one of those super stubborn people who has to do something once she’s decided on it. My idea has transformed a bit (into something MORE time consuming), but I think as long as I get some help it will be fine. Or it won’t, and I’ll scrap the idea and do something small last minute. That’s the nice thing about details right?
@MissGoose: I wish we had a garment district! I actually have had some luck finding affordable fabric, but am always on the lookout for better options. I bought half the fabric I need…for about $140 or so, which really isn’t THAT bad (it’s not that great either, but livable).
I think this is a great idea and if you can find enough fabric it’ll be so great! I think Brooch has a great idea with using the fabrics in your table numbers in a frame so that you don’t need quite as much.
You’re overlooking a huge money-saver: thrift stores. I’ve made some amazing costumes reusing bedsheets. Instead of $2.99/yard, you could spend half that for 4 times the fabric! It’s not uncommon for me to find several sheets in the same pattern. You can find some amazing vintage patterns, too.
Just throw whatever sheets you find in the wash. Remember, you’re just making tablerunners and flags out of these. They’re probably going to be thrown away. Why not use the thrift store to go green and save a little green?
WAIT!!! Your plan can work, your just going about it the wrong way!
I looked at the DIY tutorial, you only need 6.5″ by 1.75″ rectangles for each flag. So lets even round up to 7″ x 2″ for error and whatnot. That’s 14 square inches per flag.
Each yard of fabric has 36″ x 36″, or a total of 1296 square inches. So you can get 92 flags out of one yard of fabric! You only need one tenth of a yard for each table! (or if you like rounding up for safety’s sake, how about an eight of a yard per table)
So for 350 flags, you would only need 4yds, 5yds if you want to extra careful!
So buy 1yd of all the 10 fabrics you like, you’ll spend only $30 on fabric and have enough to make 920 flags!!!
Even if you want the tables to have all different fabrics, if you get just 1yd of 20 different fabrics, the cost is now $60 for fabric instead of $400! (If you stick with $3 fabrics anyways) You would have enough to make 1840 flags that way!
Relax and enjoy making your flags from the Joanne fabric!
[...] you remember way back when, I had this lofty goal for my place cards. If not, here’s the Reader’s Digest version: I wanted to color [...]
I know! You could go to Joann and only get a little fabric. Then buy about 800 toothpicks.[really cheap]
Then buy about 100-300 red delicious apples,and some squeeze frosting or whipped cream. On each table put a white Styrofoam plate. Spray a mountain of whipped cream on each plate. Then place two apples on top,with a two inch space in- between the apples. Stick the tooth into the apples to decorate them.Sew the fabric into numbers,or instead of fabric buy wooden numbers.If you choose fabric,place into the gap and use the toothpicks to hold them up. If you choose wood,just place them.
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Mrs. Biscuit, Morgantown, WV Age and Occupation: 24, Dental Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Chemist at a pharmaceutical company Engagement Date: April 2010 Wedding Date: July 2011 Venue: Catholic Church, Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa About Me: I'm an engineer who decided to trek back to my hometown three years ago to become skilled in the arts of drilling and filling. I'm engaged to a pretty awesome guy who tests your assorted benzodiazepines by day and home brews by night. Together we have two fur children, Tsali and Tobias N. Fünkat. I'm a lazy perfectionist and eternal sorority girl who enjoys running, crafting, string cheese, good beer, and bad reality TV. We are planning a Big Fat Italian/Sicilian/Polish wedding filled with DIY details and are expecting 300 +/- 50 guests. Our whimsical summer affair is themed "Alice attends the Mad Hatter Vintage Garden Tea Party in a Ballroom. She Thinks That The Venue is Odd for a Vintage Garden Party, but is Tripping on LSD, so She Doesn't Really Care." Yes, I am the Dickens of themes.
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