A Guide to Wedding Linens

So you are getting married. There will be a lot of details to plan. The main items on your list should be your dress, a venue, cake, music, and photography. Do not overlook the need for tablecloths and other linens. The tables will take up a big portion of the location and may be one of the first things your guests see. You will want them to be beautiful. There are many different linen options and you can get lost in the possibilities.

What is available?
If your venue includes tablecloths check to see what they are exactly before deciding to use them. Many locations only have white and some don't go to the ground. There are many places to get tablecloths. I don't recommend buying them. They can be very expensive and when will you need ten floor length linens for big round tables again? There are rental companies that carry several sizes, colors and fabrics. You can also check with your caterer or decorator. Often they will have a small inventory to choose from. There are even places online that will ship your linens to you and provide boxes and labels to ship them back when you are done. Most places that rent linens launder them for you. Some will charge you extra for stains and especially spilled candle wax. Check the policies and make sure it is something you are aware of.

There are many styles of linens available. They range from basic polyester tablecloths to special fabrics in satin, organza and even suede. Many people choose to do a basic linen to cover the entire table to the ground and add a square linen in a coordinating specialty fabric as an overlay. You can also get fabric chair covers and sashes. You can tie the sashes around the back of the chair in a bow with or without a chair cover. You can also get matching napkins.

Do my linens need to go to the floor?
They don't have to go the floor. However, it looks so much better if they do. You want the ugly table legs to be covered. Floor length linens are appropriate regardless of if your event is outside or inside, casual or formal. Don't worry; your guests won't trip on them. For some reason this seems to be a concern that people have. Floor length linens do not drag on the ground, the usually just barely brush it. People won't be walking that close to the table, there are chairs around it. I recommend getting your linens to fit your table to the floor.

What size linens will fit my tables?
Check with your venue to find out the diameter of their tables. The most common size is a 60 inch round table. This table will seat eight guests. The linen size you will want for this table will be a 120 inch round linen. If you choose to have an overlay you will want it to be around 72 inches square. The tips will hang about three quarters of the way down.

If you are having a buffet you will probably have rectangle tables. You may also have a rectangular head table. A six foot table requires a 90 by 132 inch linen and an eight foot table requires a 90 by 156 inch linen. For buffets you can use skirting for the tables. This is where you put a small linen on the top and then clip Velcro clips around the edge of the table and attach a pleated skirt. This is not recommended for tables where people will be sitting at. You can get the same square overlays for the rectangle tables. You will just want to turn them on a diagonal so they form a diamond shape on the top. The tips will come to the floor in the front and back. Table runners are also available and range in sizes from wide to thin.

Cabaret tables are tall tables that are smaller in diameter. They are used as a place for guests to set their drinks and stand around to socialize. They are also very useful for a guest book table. Since they are counter height guests won't have to lean over to sign the book. Consider using them for a cake table as well. The added height will make a small or medium sized cake more dramatic. The linens you will use for these are generally 120 inch linens if the table is 36 inches in diameter and 42 inches tall. You can use a bigger linen (132 inches) and gather the linen in the center of the pole and tie it for a modern look.

If the linen you want doesn't come in the right size you can still use it. Think creatively about how to make it fit. If it is too big you can clip it up or knot the ends if it is square. If it is too small use it as an overlay with a basic linen underneath.

What about chairs?
Chair covers can either be tailored to fit a specific type of chair or big and loose and require a sash tied at the back to gather them in. Some brides choose chair covers to hide ugly chairs at a venue. Keep in mind that the covers can be more expensive than just renting prettier chairs. Covers have to be washed and hand pressed. You can also just tie sashes around your chairs without covers. Sashes can be tied in bows or just knotted. They come in different fabrics and colors. Plan on enough time to get them tied onto each chair before your wedding starts.

Have fun with color.
Don't settle for white. There are so many beautiful colors and textures and patterns out there. Mix them to create beautiful tables. Remember to check all your options and don't settle for what is provided at a venue.