I‘m thinking about having white linen tablecloths but if I do that, I will only have enough money in our budget for paper napkins, plastic forks, paper plates, and plastic cups. Would it look odd to have these nice tablecloths with paper and plastic for everything else?Any suggestions to make it look better?
What about asking your mom, his mom, aunts, cousins, etc., etc., to use their nice plates, silverware, glasses, etc? It doesn't have to match, as a matter of fact, I think it would add to the whole ambience if it didn't. I wouldn't even try to keep the same set on a table, I'd mix and match the whole thing up. Or, set each table with a setting of 8, and have a little note by the centerpiece that says the place settings belong to ________, who is the mother of the bride. Most married women have at least a matching service for 8 people.
What about asking your mom, his mom, aunts, cousins, etc., etc., to use their nice plates, silverware, glasses, etc? It doesn't have to match, as a matter of fact, I think it would add to the whole ambience if it didn't. I wouldn't even try to keep the same set on a table, I'd mix and match the whole thing up. Or, set each table with a setting of 8, and have a little note by the centerpiece that says the place settings belong to ________, who is the mother of the bride. Most married women have at least a matching service for 8 people.
I just did a wedding where the bride borrowed china from family and friends. It turned out really nice for her casual, garden theme wedding. Everybody has plates and silverware at home so call up folks and see what you can put together. If you are planning some Black Tie wedding you might as well knock it off because you don't have the budget for it. If guests are coming in formal attire or even semi-formal then their dinnerware needs to be washable. If you can't pull together using other's china then use real plates, cups, silverware and a lower end cloth, cheaper flowers, dress, SOMETHING. In some cases it's cheaper to do real silverware anyway. You can't use the cheapo disposables or you'll end up with meals in laps and have you ever tried to cut meat with a plastic knife?! We went to Walmart and for our silverware picked up those packs that are like 6 each for $1. The only time disposable dinnerware is really OK for a wedding is if you are doing a backyard BBQ type thing.
I think it would be alright if you have a buffet where they were up there with the plates. I've seen it done where they wrapped a fork and knife in a color coordinated napkin then tied a cute bow around it with a really thin matching ribbon. Then they used the same plastic plates from Sams. Thier nice looking and very sturdy.
I just did a wedding where the bride borrowed china from family and friends. It turned out really nice for her casual, garden theme wedding. Everybody has plates and silverware at home so call up folks and see what you can put together. If you are planning some Black Tie wedding you might as well knock it off because you don't have the budget for it. If guests are coming in formal attire or even semi-formal then their dinnerware needs to be washable. If you can't pull together using other's china then use real plates, cups, silverware and a lower end cloth, cheaper flowers, dress, SOMETHING. In some cases it's cheaper to do real silverware anyway. You can't use the cheapo disposables or you'll end up with meals in laps and have you ever tried to cut meat with a plastic knife?! We went to Walmart and for our silverware picked up those packs that are like 6 each for $1. The only time disposable dinnerware is really OK for a wedding is if you are doing a backyard BBQ type thing.
I think it would be alright if you have a buffet where they were up there with the plates. I've seen it done where they wrapped a fork and knife in a color coordinated napkin then tied a cute bow around it with a really thin matching ribbon. Then they used the same plastic plates from Sams. Thier nice looking and very sturdy.
