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

Olivia

Oliveaire Design Studio Showcase: Aqeel & Nawaz Event: Westin Lombard

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),

Olivia

Design Studio Showcase: Khan & Hussain Wedding: Intercontinental O'Hare

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now), 

Oliva

Pulling a Room Together: Enhance 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, What's Your Choice?

Hello lovely ladies,

Today Melanie Stancampiano will be sharing some tips and tricks about linen selection with all of us. Take it away...

Call me biased but I believe that linen has giant impact on the overall ambiance of a room. This is particularly important to consider when planning a wedding, gala or any other important event.

Think about linen like the paint on the walls of your home. The way that your furniture, artwork and personal touches appear in a room is greatly impacted by the color and texture of the walls. In the scope of your event, the flowers, china and stemware are comparable to the personal accents in your home. Surely you are working with a florist and/or décor professional to adorn your tables with lush flowers, sparkling candles or elegant crystals. The impact of these items is greatly affected by the linen on the table.


Reception venues typically offer some sort of linen with their wedding packages. To expand upon the “wall paint” analogy, this linen is the equivalent of a flat beige paint. The linen has to fit into a variety of events and provides the most neutral background. If you do not plan on renting linen my advice is to be sure to use the house linen purposefully. Find out if the table linen is white, ivory or some other color. Talk to your florist about how you can best coordinate centerpieces, and which color to select for a napkin.

If you prefer color or texture on your walls, then you will want to leave some room in your budget for linen rental (you will get high impact for low cost in linen rental, I promise!). I still recommend working hand in hand with your florist/decorator when making your final linen selections. You want to make sure they are aware of your selections, leave them a swatch if possible.


Now on to the fun part… making your selections! There are so many choices in color, textures and sizing when it comes to linen. First there is the cloth, which covers the table and is most often floor length. An overlay is typically a square of cloth used as an accent on a table. This can either be done in a coordinating color or in a sheer cloth to add to the overall feel of the room. Another option to add color is by using a runner (or two, which would be my strong recommendation). This is a strip of fabric that is run down the center of the table as an accent; the centerpiece would be placed on top of the runner. If you want to use two runners you can run them side by side, or like an X. Finally, the color, fabric and fold style of napkins must be chosen.

Think about the colors you are using throughout your wedding. Try to incorporate more than one color in your linen selections. Use a neutral cloth and add a pop of color in your napkin, or use a striking table cloth and add a neutral colored napkin, champagne works with just about anything. Think about fabric textures and how you can mix them to add depth to the setting.


My favorite tablecloths are those that have texture right in them, a “Twist” or “Pintuck” create such a striking look, and no overlay or runner is needed. I love to see tablecloths in deep rich colors are well, but then again if you looked around my house you’ll see the same on my walls. Like all aspects of your wedding, you will make the most striking impression if you make your linen selections reflect you, and your unique style.

Have fun, try a few different looks, and always feel free to contact us if you’re looking for suggestions!

~Melanie

Hope those tips helped you out.

BBFN, (Bridal Bliss for Now)
Olivia

Is Selecting Linen for Your Reception an Art?

Today's guest blogger is Melanie Stancampiano, Sr. Account Executive from Oliveaire. I am excited for her to share some tips with you on how to select your linen...

There will be a time during the planning of your wedding when the colors in your flowers and table linen will meet. Combining fashion forward colors can result in a beautiful Fairytale Wedding. Or something that goes terribly wrong, as far as the color palette is concerned. As more brides and grooms are choosing bold color schemes for their wedding, selecting linens has truly turned into an art.

If you are looking to “Glamorize” your wedding, a Linen Stylist can help play with color and texture. Satin Lamour can add elegance, while an organza overlay will add a romantic and whimsical effect. Fabrics with prints and sequins can add a designer aspect that will certainly bring a strong sense of style to your reception.

Start by thinking about the overall feeling you want at your wedding, and specifically your décor. Spend a few minutes talking to your designer to let them get a feeling for who you are as a couple. Are you looking for bright fun colors? A room full of romance? Is there a theme to your wedding? Don’t be afraid to talk about what you like, and just as importantly, what you don’t like.

When it comes to color think about more than one color you want to see at your reception and don’t forget to have your florist and linen designer coordinate their efforts. You may envision your best girlfriends all wearing a pale pink bridesmaid dress. Unless you are the Steel Magnolias “Blush and Bashful” (i.e. Pink and Pinker type), you will want to see other colors in your linen, and probably your flowers. You can easily pair pink with black, white or platinum and create different, but really beautiful, looks. An eggplant tablecloth can be a great rich background for a pop of fall color in flowers. Or, a black and white tablecloth can be a great focal point with red floral centerpieces.

Be honest about your budget. It does no good for a designer to put together a look that costs $100 per table if your budget is $25. A good designer will find the best option available within your price range.

Whatever colors you choose, whatever your budget, whatever your needs, linen is a very budget friendly was to personalize your event. It will make the reception space uniquely yours, and leave a lasting impression on your guests.

As you start selecting linens for your big day have fun. Take a sneak peak before you open the doors to your guests and enjoy your stunning vision come to life.

Stay tuned next week for how to enjoy your wedding day as much as possible.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),
Olivia