Pulling a Room Together: Enhancing Your Event With Linens!

The feeling of glitz, glamour, luxuriousness and elegance can all be brought to life with the use of linens on your wedding day.   From the wide selection of fabrics, colors, and patterns to choose from, there will be something that matches the tone you are trying to set.  There are many different ways linens can be used to enhance your venue in a whimsical and romantic way.  Here are some helpful tips of advice on what linens would be a perfect match and how to incorporate them on your wedding day. 

Finding Your Perfect Linen
1. Research: When searching for inspiration for your lavish linens, be sure to research everything from colors to the material. Every aspect is important and everything will determine the look and feel of your venue space. Always consider what you have envisioned and get advice from the experts and from your family and friends. Both will help you come up with what would be perfect for the atmosphere you are trying to portray. 

2. Color Considerations:Even though bright colors are trending this year, the use of ivories and whites for table clothes and chair covers are more popular than ever. Here are a few reasons as to why you should consider ivory or white for your linen choices.
· Plain and simple, white and ivory are the easiest to decorate with because it matches just about everything.  It is very good against splashes of colors from your table napkins and your centerpieces.
· White and Ivory also look absolutely breathtaking with up lighting because it will somewhat turn the color of your room without blending into the backdrop. Either of these two colors shimmers against the lighting.
· If you are looking to save money and you are lucky enough to have this, most venues can only provide white or ivory linens when it is a part of their wedding package.

Even though there are many different benefits to having white and ivory linens, the use of colored linens can also look just as magnificent. It may be a little more tough to mix and match and get the lighting right, but we have seen some exquisite venue spaces with colored linens before. Be creative and follow your heart on what you believe fits your personality and your vision.

3. Other Ways to Use Fabric Besides a Table Cover
Chair Covers: The use of fabric to cover a chair can turn a fabulous chair into a spectacular piece of art that flows with the scenery. Sure we have seen couples choose to use the venues chairs without a cover or order specialty chairs that match the décor, but the use of a cover and possibly a wrap around of another color, really pulls the whole room together.
Backdrop: A very unique way of incorporating fabrics into your wedding day is by using a backdrop made of all linen. Although this might be an expensive way to incorporate linens because of all the yards it will require, you could use this backdrop at both the ceremony and the reception. The below picture shows a backdrop that we did in the past that incorporates two different colors and if you look close enough you will see that it has elements of crystal curtains throughout.
Aisle: Flowing fabric aisles definitely gives off a romantic and flowing feel to a ceremony space. Although it may be tough to keep everyone off of it before you walk down the aisle, it will be well worth it. We have seen some beautiful aisles that are made of linen and are topped with flower pedals going all the way down to the alter or the Mandap. Below is a picture from one of the weddings we did the décor for that has a breathtaking fabric aisle with floral elements. 

Mandap and Stage: At Oliveaire we specialize in South Asian weddings. With the above picture, you can see a gorgeous fabric Mandap made out of all linens with a hint of floral elements. The stage is also covered with a beautiful soft white fabric. This luxurious way of decorating a Mandap looks absolutely romantic and the lighting brings out the beautiful pink color.

4. Steps You Should Take
1. Research information and size of tables, chairs and other measurements where you might be incorporating linens. This information includes if your venue space provides linens or areas close to you that can provide you the linens you want.
2. Find out Costs. Call around to many different places and compare costs on the amount of fabric you will need and their services to deliver and possibly set up.
3. Consider the costs and envision the best possible outcomes that stay within your budget.
4. Before ordering, make sure this fabric brings to life the look and feel you have been dreaming about.
5. Once you are sure, make an order with the company and make sure before your big day that they will be ready on time and that they have everything you ordered.

Linen simply adds pure elegance and pulls your dream décor all together.   When choosing your extraordinary linens, make sure to gain as much knowledge as possible, brainstorm and get advice from your close family and friends.  Having all of this information can only help and it will make choosing a lot easier and a lot more fun.  Follow your vision and nothing can go wrong!   

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),

Olivia

Linen Logistics

Many of you have never given a thought to table linen prior to preparing for your wedding. It is one of the many decisions you need to make when putting together the vision of your big day. Your planner, florist or linen stylist can help you make the right color and texture choices to complete your look. Today, I want to share some facts with you that will help you in planning your linen order.

Beware the price that is too good to be true. The costs add up quickly when planning a wedding, and it pays to shop around and make sure you are getting a fair price. However, remember the old adage, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. Google “Wedding Linen Rental” and a plethora of linen companies will come up. Many of these companies are “online” companies, some of them perfectly reputable, some of them not so much. Before you sign on the dotted line be sure that you see a sample of your selection, in your hand, not just on the computer screen. A better option may be to work with a local company, who can get you samples quickly and easily. Be sure to compare the complete cost of your linen. This means you will have to speak to your reception venue to see when the linen can be dropped off, when it needs to be picked up and if you will have to pay additional fees to the reception venue or linen company to have them set it up.


Know your fabrics: A poly-blend/classic linen will be the less expensive option for dressing your tables. It is often available in a variety of colors, depending on the company you chose. Satin Lamour is the most used fabric for weddings. It has an elegant shine, and is available in many many colors, especially from companies that primarily serve wedding customers. There are many other options, that are striking, Bichons have an elegant crinkle to the fabric, a Pintuck gives the look of clean lines and a Twist adds amazing depth to a table.


Specialty tables: Of course you want to make sure that you have table linen, napkins, chair covers and ties for each of your guest dining tables. Do not forget about all of the other tables in the room. This list includes your head table, the cake, placecard, gift, cocktail, highboy and favor tables. Are you serving your food on a buffet? You will want to give thought to dressing those tables.


Sizing: You will want to ask the manager at the venue you are working with what size tables your guests will be seated at. They will typically answer a 60”, 66” or 72” round table. This will require a 120” (for the 60” table) or 132” (for the 66” or 72” table) round tablecloth. If you are using any rectangular tables you will need a specially sized cloth for those tables. If you are looking to have square dining tables for your guests, know that there are not tablecloths that fit those tables easily so you will need to order two 132” round cloths for each square table.

Any reputable linen company you order from should be able to help you pick the right sizes for your tables, and make sure you have all of your tables covered. Linen professionals will also help you work with your venues to tie all of the pieces together. Your linen selections will tie together the look of your day, so spend some time making sure you've got it just the way you want it.

Happy Planning!