How to Buy Wedding Table Linens

Buying table linens for your wedding is a very important purchase. The wedding table linens really stand out and are actually the staple items to build your wedding theme or decor from. Start your research many months before your big day and you'll be on your way to a having beautiful table linens at your wedding.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Create your wedding budget allowing for the total amount that can be spent on the wedding table linens. Take into consideration everywhere a table will be at the wedding ceremony and at the reception; guest book sign-in table, cake table, guest dining tables and even the DJ table. Determine the size table that will be used for each type of table and work out a budget of allowable costs for each table linen covering.
2. Check with your wedding coordinator or the catering service. The catering service plays a huge role in the appearance and set up of most of the tables at the wedding. Make an appointment to sit down with the coordinator for the catering service to view sample books of the actual fabrics and color selections available for purchase. Selections should be made and orders submitted many months in advance of your wedding to make sure that your order will arrive in ample time.
3. Make your own wedding table linens. Use your wedding budget and table chart to verify all the tables that you plan to cover with linens. Visit your local fabrics center to find the selections to buy. Make sure that you take into consideration the dimensions of the tables to cover as you compare those measurements to the width sizes of the fabric bolts as well as the cost of the linen cloth per yard. If you are using all square or rectangular tables, neatly cut fabric may be all you have to handle to have a finished table covering. There would be more planning and some quick seam stitching involved for circular tables and cloth napkins.
4. Purchase your wedding table linens at flea markets, antique and vintage stores. Often beautiful lace table coverings, hand made cloth napkins or truly unique pieces of table linens can be purchased from these type of locations. Keep in mind that you may not be able to purchase 10 or 15 identical linen table coverings this way. However, if you are going for a more eclectic, historical or a whimsical look, these would be great locations for these purchases.
5. Surf the Internet for online auctions for table linens to buy for your wedding. You may be lucky and find everything you need at one auction or you may have to combine several auction purchases to complete your wedding linens quota. Ask questions regarding these linens before you make a serious bid to make sure they are not soiled or torn.

Tips & Warnings

• Add up the total price for all tables you plan to cover with linens before you sign an order form and not just base your "ok" on an estimate given for one table.

Who Can Help:

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