Can I Have The Linens The Same Colour As The Wedding Party? – Ask The Expert Answer

Question from Crystal:

I am having difficulty deciding on linens for my dinner tables.  The colors of my wedding are mango orange, aqua blue and deep purple.  We are having it in Minnesota during the fall-September 20th. 

I have been told a few times over not to have the linens the same colors as the wedding party which killed me because I wanted purple linens with a blue runner.  Now I am undecided how to go about picking the colors.  Other than the purple attendants, I will be having orange flowers, blue and orange lanterns, and the cake is orange and blue.  I would prefer it to be fall-colored. 

It will be outdoors under a white tent.  I also don’t want too much white, as that may wash out, or clash with the fall colors of the outdoors.  HELP!!!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Crystal, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  You have a number of options: 

1) You could have blue linens with a purple runner.  This would break up the purple a bit, and still let you have your colour scheme.

2) You could use orange linens with a purple or blue runner.  This too would break up the colour scheme somewhat and still allow you your colours.

3) You could use a white table cloth with a coloured square (instead of a runner) in one or more of your wedding colours.  If it was me, I would probably go with white table cloths and have your square in all three colours–one colour on each table.  White tablecloth and purple square.  White tablecloth with orange square, and white tablecloth with blue square strategically placed around the room…….OR

3) You can just forget what everyone is telling you and do what you like!  It is your wedding after all.

I always recommend approaching your caterer if you have doubts, and set a few tables in a variety of ways.  Ask one of your bridemaids to come in her purple dress and see how you like it.   That will answer any doubts you may have, and your caterer might even have a few ideas of their own to give you.

I hope I haven’t complicated things too much.  White will not clash with any of your colours, but it will create contrast which will make the table settings more dramatic.  Please feel free to email again, and let me know what you decide.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert