Tablecloth question

gamecockwed · October 2015

Here is the scenario. We are having our wedding ceremony in our church at 11 am followed by a 12 noon lunch in the reception hall. Here is the menu:

BBQ with three kinds of sauce
roasted chicken
green beans
Salad
Hash and Rice
seafood display
stuffed mushrooms
fruit and cheese
and of course cake

Heres my dilemma. We are having assigned seating and using the mismatched china idea. Ive purchased various china in blue and yellow (our colors are seaglass, horizon and yellow) from thrift stores and will be donating it to the church afterwards. Ive designed centerpieces as well. Ive looked everywhere and all rental companies rent are white tablecloths. There is no white in our wedding at all (not even my dress). The few that I have found that would rent yellow tablecloths want astronomical prices for them that is not in our budget. I figured since we are hosting properly (no gap, lots of food at meal time) that it would be ok to use plastic tablecloths. Would you think plastic tablecloths are tacky with assigned seating and actual china???

ShesSoCold · October 2015

gamecockwed said:

Here is the scenario. We are having our wedding ceremony in our church at 11 am followed by a 12 noon lunch in the reception hall. Here is the menu:
BBQ with three kinds of sauce
roasted chicken
green beans
Salad
Hash and Rice
seafood display
stuffed mushrooms
fruit and cheese
and of course cake
Heres my dilemma. We are having assigned seating and using the mismatched china idea. Ive purchased various china in blue and yellow (our colors are seaglass, horizon and yellow) from thrift stores and will be donating it to the church afterwards. Ive designed centerpieces as well. Ive looked everywhere and all rental companies rent are white tablecloths. There is no white in our wedding at all (not even my dress). The few that I have found that would rent yellow tablecloths want astronomical prices for them that is not in our budget. I figured since we are hosting properly (no gap, lots of food at meal time) that it would be ok to use plastic tablecloths. Would you think plastic tablecloths are tacky with assigned seating and actual china???

Personally, I would prefer white linen tablecloths to any plastic. People don't notice tiny things like tablecloths unless they stand out - like plastic would. I think the china would look more mismatched on a cheap (sorry) tablecloth than it would a nice crisp white tablecloth. I don't even know what color the tablecloths were at my own wedding (I think maybe black?) and I'd be willing to bet my guests wouldn't remember either.

But, at the same time, this is entirely up to you. If your guests are talking behind your back about your plastic tablecloths, that's their issue and their assy-ness. There's nothing wrong or incorrect or against etiquette about plastic tablecloths.

Maggie0829 · October 2015

Just because you have no white anywhere in your wedding color scheme doesn't mean that you can't use white table cloths. And sorry but I would find plastic table cloths super cheap looking, especially next to china dinnerware.

And IMO, nice, clean, crisp, white table cloths go with everything.

Cookie Pusher · October 2015

I think the white tablecloths would look much better than plastic.

gamecockwed · October 2015

Thats kind of what I thought. Maybe I can find some yellow overlay to go on top of the white tablecloths. Here are two of the colors that we are using. The seaglass is a really light blue to off set the two bright colors.

lnixon8 · October 2015

Have you checked Facebook for wedding item swap/consignment groups? People in the MD one are always trying to sell their tablecloths. Otherwise...stick with white cloth.

kimmiinthemitten · October 2015

I agree with @lnixon8 or check the local boards here.

Also, check with the caterer, they often have contracts with rental companies and may be able to get them for you.

ILoveBeachMusic · October 2015

I agree with PPs. You really can't go wrong with classic white table clothes. White goes with everything, and in my opinion would be a nice backdrop to the yellow and blue.

jacques27 · October 2015

Not everything has to be in your colors - in fact it can start to look like college game day when you have EVERYTHING in those colors. And there are some colors that are just considered neutral and go with everything (black, white, ivory, beige, grey, possibly taupe - I'd argue that navy is another one in that respect). Having neutrals is a good way to set apart your theme colors to make them pop - yellow dishes on a yellow tablecloth is going to be muddled. Go with the white - plastic will look tacky regardless of the color. It has its place, but with china isn't one of them.

MairePoppy · November 2015

The mismatched china would look better on white table cloths, rather than yellow. You don't need the overlays. After going to all the trouble of buying china and making centerpieces, why you spoil the look with plastic table cloths?

MesmrEwe · November 2015

Couple options... Flat sheets can double easily as tablecloths. Check Walmart or Target to see if you can find some in your color and if it's more of a neutral, you could also donate these to your church. I purchased my linens (B&W, then tan napkins) from Sam's Club and a local restaurant supply store (red napkins) pretty reasonably. The one thing about owning linens is taking care of them. Obviously price it out because sometimes it is cheaper to own than to rent, but choose a color that you will have occasion to use again. At the end of the day, plastic does add up the costs too, and it doesn't give near the appearance that linen will. Ideally though, you'd be able to rent through your caterer, venue, or a local rental company.

julieanne912 · November 2015

I found the cost to purchase linens online was about equal to renting them. I bought all of my chocolate brown ones from www.smartyhadaparty.com Even after the cost of shipping it was still a really great price... just a bit above $200 for 24 rectangle cloths, so a little under $9 a cloth. Plus, I own them so I can reuse them or sell them.

Jen4948 · November 2015

I would use white linen tablecloths. They go with every color scheme, and linen is much better than plastic with China.

spockforprez · November 2015

julieanne912 said:

I found the cost to purchase linens online was about equal to renting them. I bought all of my chocolate brown ones from www.smartyhadaparty.com Even after the cost of shipping it was still a really great price... just a bit above $200 for 24 rectangle cloths, so a little under $9 a cloth. Plus, I own them so I can reuse them or sell them.

We are scouting out tablecloths from Smarty during Black Friday! They also have an annual tablecloth sale in December, if the price on BF isn't great. I think Smarty will be responsible for nearly all of our wedding accessories, lol.

Tablecloth question

Re: Tablecloth question

Choose Another Board

Search Boards