Previously in the post Tying the Knot: Reception Details, you saw our lovely centerpieces and details infused into our beautiful reception. However, there was one little detail regarding our reception that I wasn't yet ready to share...our dinner napkins. Hear me out on this one.
I'll be the first to admit it. I was one of those brides that obsessed over how the napkins would be folded at our wedding reception. I asked our venue coordinator if they could do a tuxedo fold so that we could stick our dinner menus inside the napkins {as posted about here}. When it came down to it, I couldn't justify spending $50+ on 150 dinner menus and I scratched the idea. I touched base again with our venue coordinator and told her that I just wanted a fun folded napkin on each of the guests plates. This is what I saw when we got a sneak peek into our reception just minutes before guests were seated: 
You guessed it, I went into shock. These napkins were far from being folded and laying on the plates of our guests!!! I suppose the overall effect wasn't horrible {below}, but it wasn't what I had envisioned. It was literally minutes before the doors to the ballroom would open to guests and I just knew that there wasn't enough time for the pointy cloth towers to be struck down and refolded into something else. It was one of those details that I just had to let go. After all, as Chris reminded me, "They are just napkins."
But they don't have to be "just napkins" to you on your special day. I came across this lovely little illustration/how-to on adorable and unique napkin folds. Pick one out and send it over to your venue/reception coordinator today!
Lesson learned #32: Don't drop the ball with your reception coordinator, even on the smallest of details, if you have a vision you are attempting to achieve. Pointy towers of cloth napkins aren't for everyone and could have been avoided with sending the coordinator a picture of an ideal napkin fold. Avoid the shock and heartbreak I endured by letting your DOC/friend in on how you want the reception area to look. She can do the damage control when she sees something isn't how you wanted it.
previously in the series, "
how i tied the knot":
getting ready,
our first look,
bouquets and boutonnieres,
socks and shoes,
bubbles and getting away,
the cake,
thank you cards,
blurb guest book,
outside the mansion,
the dress,
the invitations,
cocktail napkins,
the centerpiece vases,
the programs,
sexy little bride
11 comments:
Ok, so I have to tell you that I loved the napkins at your reception. Its one of the first things that I noticed and they were so different and sleek that I would have never have guessed that you hadn't planned that small detail meticulously as well.
Love this. Thanks for the info!
Thanks for the heads up! I just added napkin folding to my list of things to discuss with the venue coordinator!
Oh no! They really look great though, even if they wouldn't have been your first choice!
I loved our napkins..basically a wider version of the pocket fold...yes, i wanted it to look a certain way too..infact my Mom was like..."i would have never had thought about napkins!" times have changed mom :)
great post.
i'm totally saving those instructions for a later date. folding napkins could totally come in handy for 1. entertaining children at dinner 2. impressing a dinner date 3. impressing your boss at a conference. love it!
I'm saving these, too! Plus, I love the shot of your candle centerpiece, definitely something I was going for!
omg, just discovered your blog. love it! thanks for the link to keg design. i'll be sure to come back to "tying the knot" for some more great wedding reading! cheers, kelly
Your hubby is right, they're just napkins but I can understand where you're coming from too! :) Your wedding and all the details were gorgeous!
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