Choosing: Table Runners or Table Overlays

When we first started thinking about our wedding reception, we'd envisioned a U of rectangular tables surrounding the dance floor. I'd struggled over whether we should order floor length, lap length, or a combination of length tablecloths.

As you know we were told that wouldn't work with a buffet setup or the number of guests we have. Now I'm really glad all of our tablecloths are floor length. If we'd gone with a hybrid approach we would have had to purchase additional linen - something not built into our budget.

The change in table number, table shapes, and layout affects more than the length of tablecloths. It affects the plan for table runners and overlays. I purchased amazing fabric years ago to use as backdrops for portraits. Two of the fabrics - a dusty pink polyester Duponi and navy sheer with glitter and beads - matched our wedding colors (this was unintentional, just fortuitous). In the initial layout we only had rectangular tables and we had exactly enough material for all the table runners. Not so any more.

Of course we have a third fabric - a gorgeous black satin - we can use. But here's the dilemma. We chose black linen napkins to go with cream tablecloths assuming the only other color on the table would be the dusty pink or navy.

Option 2: 17" width with finished hem (1" inch seam allowance) in 6.5' or 7.5' (for 60" round tables) and 9' lengths (for 8' rectangular tables). We're two tables short. One 8' rectangular table and one 60" round table need to be covered with black satin runner.

Option 3: 12.5" width with finished hem (1" inch seam allowance) in 6.5' or 7.5' (for 60" round tables) and 9' lengths (for 8' rectangular tables). The runners are narrower, but all tables will have either a pink duponi or navy sheer with glitter runner. We'd also have 4 extra runners that could be used for the bar, guestbook area, etc.

What width should we chose? Wider - 17" to cover slightly more than a 1/3 of the table top. Or narrower, 12.5" which is approximately 1/3 of the table top.

Photography Credit: Don & David Style Photography via The Hostess with the Mostess

How should we finish the ends? Square them off or bring to a point?

Photography Credit: Table Runner with Squared End;
Wendy Helton Photography via Hive Member Kaybee of WeddingBee

Photography Credit: Table Runner with Pointed End;
Amanda Bevington Modern Photography via Inspirations & Creations - Elizabeth Anne Designs

Table Runner with Pointed End; TheKnot via Miss Socks of WeddingBee

Should tables regardless of shape all have table runners or should we mix it up? 60" rounds with overlays and 8' banquets with runners?

Photography Credit: Mix of table overlays with different drop lengths;
Dana Grant Photography via Celebrations at Home

Is there another option we should be considering? We have 380 inches of the pink duponi, 208 inches of the navy sheer with glitter, and 2 bolts each of 154 inches of the black satin. All blots of fabric are 58 inches wide.

Did you find yourself over-thinking table linens?

Boxes, boxes, and more boxes

One of the fun things about DIT projects is the waiting for your materials to arrive (we've ordered with plenty of time so that we can have everything shipped via ground) and the unwrapping.

The downside of the DIT projects... getting over 100 pounds of materials home.

In a later post, we'll show where these materials have ended up in our apartment. Hint: our living room now doubles as a storage room.

Where are you putting your materials and completed DIY projects? Do you have a closet or room or are they everywhere you look?

Wedding Linens: Rent vs Buy?

In the end, we like many other budget savvy brides decided to buy rather than rent our linens. Yesterday we hit the Buy Now button and ordered 10 - Ivory 120" Round Tablecloths (the Black were out of stock with no estimated restock date); 10 - Ivory Rectangular Tablecloths; and 132 - Black 17" x 17" Cocktail Napkins versus the 21" x 21" Dinner Napkins. (We were originally going to get Black tablecloths and Ivory napkins but what was in stock swayed our decision.) So... by this time next week, we will have 76 pounds (yes you read that right 76 almost 80 pounds) of ivory and black linen arriving at our doorstep. NOTE to budget savvy brides, be sure to buy when a Free Shipping coupon is available - linen weighs a lot and can make buying more expensive than renting.

We had one main criteria in the buy versus rent debate: Cost. First we looked into how much it would cost to rent linens. We ignored for a moment that we'd have to pick up the linens ourselves if we wanted to avoid a surcharge for a Sunday rental or a special delivery fee for a Sunday as well as the additional fee for the 22 steps between the door of the venue and the reception hall (there's no elevator at our venue). To rent floor length linens, would run about $400 ($397.50 to be exact). Sticker shock. Okay what if we went with less formal linens, those that only come to your lap? To rent linens with a 15" (or 12") drop, it's slightly less expensive at about $300 ($307.50 to be exact). Maybe linens are really expensive - kinda like eco-friendly invitations and that's why the rental cost seems high?

Google Search immediately came to our rescue offering up a couple of online stores that sold linens in bulk (in order of cost): TablesclothFactory.com, LinenTablecloth.com, and CustomLinenService.com. NOTE: We ruled out eBay almost immediately - shipping was cost prohibitive and we weren't sure the Ivory colors we found would match. After looking at each online store, we were originally going to purchase a mix of floor length and lap length tablecloths. Thanks to a coupon via Twitter, we were able to get all floor length tablecloths (a length that's easier to share/resell as well).

Here's the cost breakdown across the three stores:

• TablesclothFactory.com was about the same price as renting. With a flat $6.95 shipping free, the cost with 9.75% tax for linens with uniform 15" drop was $300.58 (almost $7 less expensive than renting!).
• LinenTablecloth.com had two specials - free shipping in the US on orders $50 or more and a Twitter follower coupon good for 20% off the total order - a savings of almost $77. With the specials, we were able to get floor length tablecloths and 132 - 17" x 17" Cocktail Napkins for ... drum roll please... $311.09 - only $3.59 more expensive than renting a mix of 15" and 12" lap length linens and only $10.51 more expensive than purchasing a uniform 15" lap length linens from TablesclothFactory.com.
• CustomLinenService.com was a little more expensive (but not much) than renting. Without shipping, the cost with 8.25% tax for linens with uniform 15" drop was $359.53.

After our wedding we'll wash the linens and post for sale on Craigslist (at 76 pounds it seems like something someone might want to pick up locally rather than have shipped), BrideShare, or WeddingBee. Reselling or sharing our linens will further reduce the cost of our linens.

Into the Dark or Towards the Light?

Here's today's wedding question - ivory or black table linens? We got the fabric swatches in the mail yesterday and confirmed that the ivory is a light ivory and not the darker yellowish versions. Whichever color we choose, we're going to be listing the linens on BrideShare.net so that they can be used by another couple.

So that you can weigh in - ivory or black, here are some photos. They represent light tablecloth with two options - accent napkin or dark napkin - and dark tablecloth with two options - accent napkin or dark napkin. Our table setting will be pretty simple - from left to right, fork, napkin with wedding favor placed on top, knife, and spoon, with cake fork at the top of the setting and water glass to the upper right.

What do you like? Ivory tablecloths with black napkins? Black tablecloths with ivory napkins?

Photography credits:

1. Kirk Mastin via Polka Dot Bride, March 17, 2010
2. Either Erica Lyn Photography or &Unlimited via WeddingBee March 9, 2010
3. Jim Kennedy via Project Wedding, March 16, 2010
4. Sarah Dicicco via A Designer's Diary, March 17, 2010