My two daughters’ weddings are just four months apart. Their engagements were three months apart.
God bless you and your sanity @toledo !!! 
I know if they ask for help, you will be a great planner.
I don’t know why I haven’t thought about renting linens - duh! I’ll have to look into that. This may sound dumb, but if you rent linens do you launder them before returning? I’m just thinking about food/drink stains that are likely with a group.
@abasket, I don’t believe you have to launder before returning. You just put them back in the duffel bag or box that they arrive in and ship back after the event.
No need to launder before returning.
I just rented linens last weekend for an event I was hosting, and they were given to me on hangers, covered in plastic bags. When I returned them (all crumpled up in a plastic bag), I asked them if they wanted the hangers bag, since otherwise I would throw them away. They were very grateful for me to offer that and to have saved them and brought them with me when I returned the linens! I guess most people don’t do that.
My DD & her fiance finally got the “Save the Date” announcements printed and mailed – I just received mine, 5 months ahead of the date. They ran into issues with the printer so they ended up running about a month beyond schedule. Not much else happening on my end …like other parents whose with a large geographical separation, I’m pretty much out of the loop for planning.
abasket,
Do you have contacts with a local private school?
I have a friend who was Hospitality chair at her son’s HS and let me borrow the table linens I needed for a summer reception. (The school was out of session and wouldn’t be needing them that weekend. I did launder before returning.)
Hmmm not really @mominva - my D went to private school but I don’t have a relationship especially now that she is out. S works for a public school system but I don’t think they would have linens. I’m sure I’ll come up with something!
Churches often have linens, too.
Yeah, churches have linens that people are constantly “borrowing” and not returning or “taking home to launder” and not returning. Or using and NOT taking home to launder so that when one is setting up for an event one discovers that there aren’t enough clean ones.
Have mercy, please!
Linens are not expensive to rent. And you aren’t responsible for stains and laundering. It’s built into the price. There are also places online to buy them really cheaply.
@abasket, not sure exactly what you are looking for but I have heard of this company before–I would maybe order one as a sample to see…but the price is right…and the reviews appear positive. Lots of options…
for this price, I’d buy and toss or donate…
@gosmom, Ahh!! That’s the site I’ve seen before. I think I might just go with these. Our spot is not “fancy” so while I want it nice I don’t need the linens to look too classy! Now to just decide if I want the tablecloths to hang over the sides or to go to the floor on all sides - opinions? We have 8 foot rectangular tables. The chairs will just be padded folding chairs - we will be doing a tablerunner of some sorts on the tables and other decor.
Wedding of son this June – less than three months away! EEK!
Tasting this week, I am “filling in” for the bride as she is in her last semester of professional school five hours away.
Wedding invites done and to be mailed; rehearsal dinner invites done and will follow.
Got my dress, thank goodness, thanks to the suggestion of an excellent boutique from a well-dressed friend. Dress shopping is generally stressful for me, but this actually was OK, perhaps even pleasant.
Flowers, lighting, program, table cards, and other details need to be finalized.
Son and I have narrowed our list of mother/groom dance songs to two, and will explore some dance lessons.
Nice to be mother of groom – get to be involved but do not feel most of the pressure. H and I are making some contributions (photography, flowers) but decisions are all made by bride, etc. Son cares about little except the honeymoon, which is lined up.
I like table cloths to go all the way to the floor in that situation, or at least within a couple of inches. (I assume you are talking standard folding tables.) If the tables are wooden–given the location, something like a picnic or other rustic table?–then it can be nice to have the legs showing.
Are you sure you want white with BBQ?
Yeah, if you have the typical folding tables with the ugly metal legs it is much, much nicer to have full length table cloths (what the rental industry calls “table drapes”) but they are way more expensive – up to twice as much.
If you are having a buffet or any other display-type tables, you definitely need full length table cloths for those.
For a BBQ I like white clothes with a burlap runner down the center.
World Market sells a rectangle cotton tablecloth that is nice and not super expensive. I might be the odd one out but I hate the look and feel of a poly cloth.
The World Market tablecloths online are $25+/each - I’m not spending that much on linens for bbq in a rustic setting!
I was looking at a burlap runner (looking at burlap rolls on Amazon) for the tables. I thought white with the burlap and them navy, blush and gold accents (her colors) would look nice.
I like the burlap runner idea. It’s difficult for me to imagine that color scheme, though. What would you be using as accents? Flowers?
This table is awfully pretty:
https://www.■■■■■■■■/listing/154659323/burlap-table-runner-rustic-natural?ref=listing-shop-header-2
The flowers will likely have the blush/white in them. I have purchased some navy accessories (tea light holders, etc.) in navy. I am going to do something like this and use gold and navy napkins, etc. in it (see first two examples - without the salt and pepper on the outside!) http://blovelyevents.com/2013/06/19/creative-napkins-for-a-lovely-bbq/
I’m not opposed to navy tablecloths but I think they will be too dark in the venue - since it is surrounded by trees and a wooded area (but with full walls of windows) it’s quite shaded).
I think I actually have that table setting pinned on my pinterest board Consolation!
JEM,
If you can fit it in, you’ll only need one or two dance lessons with the chosen song.
Made all the difference for me.
I hate the spotlight and DS was the first grandchild to get married so we’d had limited opportunities to dance together.