Got a stupid question! Re: linens

hollyweenOR

Okay...I think I slept through this part of wedding planning class. I was going to be renting linens from the vendor that services the restaurant that will be our caterer. They just do white tablecloths, and napkins in many colors, so I was just going to either pick white or see if I liked a color that worked w/ ours. And then I see pictures w/ table runners (going w/ long tables, like 3 tables that seat 30 or so) and was starting to wonder if the party rental place would rent those (the place we're renting the flatware, plates, etc. from). But now I see a lot of people purchasing linens. So here are my stupid questions:

1- How does that not cost eleventy-billion dollars? I admit I haven't looked anywhere- any suggestions? I expect I'll still rent the tablecloths & napkins but maybe that's the way to go w/ runners.

2- Okay, I know not everything you buy for the wedding must have a use after the wedding, but I am trying to rent more "single use" things than I buy, apart from my dress and some smaller items. But what in heaven's name would I do with said runners after the wedding? Goodwill? Craigslist?

Trins

I think we were both sleeping during that part of class I know what you mean I keep seeing people talk about buying their linen and part of me wonders if there is something I don't know, and then the other part of me thinks "well why would I buy, I'll have no use for them after"! So please if you figure this out let me know

doublenn

I believe most people that are buying them plan to sell them afterwards on ebay or craigslist. I've seen pretty low prices for purchasing. I know for myself, it wouldn't be worth the hassle to buy these runners and then try to sell them, so if I wanted them, I'd just rent.

A lot of people recommend save on crafts, but I've never personally used them.

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/tablelinens.html

DreamCLG7

im planning on purchasing them and then selling them after the wedding.

i'm renting 8 ft banquet tables. to rent linens it's about 10/piece. for me to purchase linens, its about 12/piece. once i sell them after the wedding, i plan (hope!) to get at least 50% of the price i paid back, bringing my cost down to 6 dollars a piece. still cheaper than renting.

for runners, i purchased a 100 yard roll of burlap from ebay. it cost me $80 (with shipping) and I can make about 30 runners, easily. If I sell those after the wedding, I'm sure I could actually make money on them, bringing my costs down.

if i didn't have to rent them in the first place though, i would probably just go with what the venue provided. much easier.

DreamCLG7

I've used efavormart for some of  mine (i had a coupon).. I just stalk websites for deals and coupons, and purchase them when I can.

caterpillar85

There are many reasons why people are buying instead of renting-

When you rent they are pre-used so might be a little worn.

There are no contracts to sign when buying, and if one gets ruined you don't have to pay a lot of money to "replace" it. It's already yours!

The price is a big one too. HERE is a link to buy online. A 90 inch round table linen is $8.59, and free shipping over $50. HERE is a rental store (local to me and is the cheapest in my area) and their 90 inch round linens. It's $9.50 to rent the same thing! (granted there are more colors when renting but it's the same cost for white)

After you use your linens, you can sell them for half you paid, helping you and the person buying them. Granted if they don't sell you have to store them but personally I'd rather have them sit in my basement for a couple months than spend more money to have them for just one day.

I guess it depends on what is more important- price or convenience.

bridezillatobe2009

Well it was either rent the runners and chair covers for $5 or buy them for $5 and sell them for $4 on kijiji therefore only costing me $1.

Same with my table cloths, I bought them for $10 when a rental store was clearing out excess inventory, they are $35 to rent. I plan on selling them for $15 on kijiji therefore making a profit.

I need to rent 50 or so more chair covers and I am renting my napkins, but in the long run I'm saving WAY more money by buying rather than renting.

Check out bbj linen and linentablecloth.com, great prices and free shipping

mspurr

It was more cost effective to buy linens than to rent them.  I bought mine through efavormart.

ltleen

We plan to buy white chair covers through www.linentablecloth.com They are $2 a pop, whereas our venue will rent them to us for (get this) ....... $6!!!!!!! We plan to sell them after the wedding. It's actually such a huge savings versus the venue that we'll probably just sell them for $1 each.

QueerFemme

I'm buying mine too.  Even without the coupons, its going to be less expensive than renting.  I can sell them after the wedding on recycledbride.com or oncewed.com or here on theknot classifieds.

Not only will I be saving a dollar or two in the purchase price compared to the rental price, I can sell them and make some of my money back, and hopefully help another bride on a budget.  Cuz, she can buy them from me instead of paying full price.

there are three or four good linen sites that have coupons pretty often.  My rental place was charging about 10.00 per linen to rent. I can buy them for about 7.

Trins

Thanks for all the info ladies! I was surprised to see that linentablecloth actually had exactly what we are looking for, red and white checkered! Hahaha those aren't on the cheap side and not sure what my chances of re-selling would be like, would be much easier if I was just doing white. Something to think about

hollyweenOR

Ok, this is super helpful! I haven't gotten to the actual details of the renting yet so that is very good info to have, that buying could be the same or less! I never would have guessed!! Thanks for letting me crib off your notes, gals!

vantica

I'm thinking about buying chair covers too because afterwards I'm pretty sure I will be able to sell them again for the same price, therefore costing me nothing, or very little.  I was thinking of just foregoing chair covers due to renting costs, but table setups look soooo much nicer with them that I think the extra work to sell them is worth it!

SCogs18

We are just renting our tabel linens.  They were included in our wedding package with our venue.