Last Sunday we celebrated our first wedding anniversary in joyously simple fashion: We cooked dinner at home, using fresh, yet entirely decadent ingredients that we gathered together at markets in our Upper West Side neighborhood. It has been a week of reflection, actually a year, but this week I revisited the actual day with an eye on aesthetics. On the eve of a second year, I wanted to know if the decor, and for today’s article the table linens, would surpass the test of time. In other words, when you look at these pictures a few years from now will you slap an “oh, that’s so circa 200x’s” at the end of your sentence? I bet not!
Here are the factors I took into consideration, which you can use as your guide as you move forward in the planning process.
From the outset, work to undestand what visual function your table linens will play
Gather
First, look closely at your venue, gathering information about its location; size; architectural qualities (e.g. is it a tudor or contemporary?); interior color palette; furnishings; and lighting. Taking all these elements into consideration will give you the overall feel for the space.
Assess
Now assess the room(s) where your table linens will be. Is the room paneled in dark oak or is it a white, airy box? Are there any patterns on arm chairs or draperies that may compete against your desired linen color or pattern?
Our venue, Castle Hill a picturesque seaside estate in Ipswich, MA was a truly perfect location for our early fall wedding. It did however have its drawbacks when it came to decor, which I considered carefully when choosing table linens. In the Main Dining Room (below) and The Family Dining Room (above) there were two sets of draperies, each with unique color palettes and floral patterns! Ugh, an obstacle. . .
These are limiting factors, which when closely examined, should help achieve greater focus to the overall decor of your event.
Edit
Armed with visual clues and the venue layout, go back to the drawing board. I logged many hours online and at Table Toppers custom linen retailers prior to my first walk-through of Castle Hill. After the visit, however, my color and pattern options were greatly reduced, making the linen selection process much simpler. I tossed out the fire orange pintuck and the moss bengaline fabrics in favor of a crisper, more stately fabric that would let the whole venue, not just the tables shine: burgundy dupioni.
I did have my heart set on a luxury custom fabric called Paradise Rust. Initially, I wanted it on every table, but the drapes non only competed with the pattern but the floral motif would become dizzying on so many tables. Instead, I opted to take the bolder fabric outdoors to the cocktail rounds, saving the guests’ eyes from visual overkill (below).
Visualize
Now that you have narrowed your search, grab a book of your favorite swatches and think hard about how each color, pattern will relate to the surroundings. If the space is dark, consider fabrics that reflect light. If the space has little visual intrigue, consider making your linens a focal point. Bring dimension to the space by selecting a dupioni, which creates a dark-light effect when candlelight flickers over it. If the walls are a dull sallow color, find a warm, spunky fabric that pops.
Whether you opt to subordinate the linens to the background or to make them the center of attention, use the above tutorial to hone in on a consistent look that reflects you and honors the integrity of your venue.
I took a simple napkin and bordered it with an autumnal burgundy-red fabric called Spice Ellis Scroll. This lent an added element of interest while moving the guest’s eye to the plates and on to the floral arrangements
The harp back chairs mirror the curvilinear vines of the fabric; the small rose arrangement in the Julep cup does not overpower the linen’s bright, bold pattern
Rather than cover all cocktail rounds in Paradise Rust, it was more cohesive to tie some of the inside to the outside. To do this, simply bring the dining table linens outdoors like I did with this burgundy dupioni (on the high top in the background).
When you look back at your wedding decor does it still speak to you? If not, what might you have done differently? Come now, don’t be afraid to air your dirty… linens!
