Our wedding is just a few months away (July). The wedding will take place at our church and the reception at a hotel about 15 mins from the church! My dilemma is, we have spent a lot of money to date and I'm finding we cannot afford to rent the tablecloths, chair covers & sashes I had decided on for the reception! Of course, the hotel will provide linens for us but you are probably aware hotel linen is not very attractive! Since this is a summer affair and I chose red for our reception color I'm concerned things will not look as elegant as I had hoped. We will have 160 guests, 10 per table (round). I found bell hurricanes at Pier One for our centerpieces but now that I'm stuck with hotel linen and those ugly chairs (the seat & chairbacks are green) I don't know what to do!! The hotel has red tablecloths but the shade seems a bit dark for use in the summer! They also have black and they have brown cloths. I need HELP!!! Do I change my color choice??? Will one hurricane per table look tacky?? I'm in such a panic!! It's very depressing! How can I possibly make this work without it looking cheap???
One option is instead of renting linen, which you have already decided is not going to happen, go to a fabric store. Research how much it would cost to buy red fabric and drape is over the tables. You could use a sheer fabric, is more of an overlay, or a solid one. Of course, you will need to know the measurements of the tables.
Either 60" or 72" rounds are used to hold 10 guests. Using the same type of idea, you could also buy enough fabric simply to criss cross over each table and still add some elegance. If available, use a white linen table cloth from the hotel as your base should you choose to go with a sheerer fabric.
As for the hurricane glasses, they aren't tacky. To add pizzaz, use tall pillar candles that are also red. Since most hotels provide the mirror on which the hurricane glass and candle will rest, you could add some white votive candles, as well as spread silk flower petals. The petals can be found online or at your local crafts store.
As for the chairs, again, check out the craft stores for organza ribbon. This is similar to what a lot of the wedding linen rental companies use. Because craft stores also create wreaths, and this type of fabric is often used, you may be able to find it reasonable enough where you can buy and spruce up all the chairs.
Or, in the alternative, buy silk flowers, wedding ornaments, etc. and pin one to the back of each chair.
Don't despair. You have so many wonderful things that you can do that are inexpensive and still beautiful. You are just experiencing a little bit of 'wedding decorating block' right now.
Cheers! Rhonda Allen, Bridal Consultant New Beginnings Weddings
Hi...relax. I know the chair covers and all are a big deal right now but don't let that get you all depressed. When the room is full of happy celebrating guests NO ONE will be commenting on the lack of chair covers!!!!!!
So often all the Brides will see of the ballroom before the wedding is the big empty boring room with a lot of nothing in it.
Now imagine it full of people with tables set with stemwear and plates and full of happy people. It is a different story alltogether!!!!
One way I like to dress up a pretty plain table is with lots of votive candles and red rose petals...See what that will do for the look of the tables.
You might want to rent or purchase red napkins only and tie them with ribbon or a special fold and put them on the plates or in the wine glasses. Just that touch of color can make a big difference. How about that on the black....I think that could look amazing!
One more thing you might want to consider is maybe the addition of a bit of pink or salmon in petals or some little accent. Why you might ask? Just to eliminate any chance of a christmas correlation with the green chairs. More to consider.
"red" reception
Hi...relax. I know the chair covers and all are a big deal right now but don't let that get you all depressed. When the room is full of happy celebrating guests NO ONE will be commenting on the lack of chair covers!!!!!! 