Linen rental advice, any experts?

[SL6827]

The venue that we booked for my daughter's small wedding reception in January has chairs that are 36" x 36" square. This is OK as I am planning on putting two rows of them down to seat 40 of 50 guest right below the head table. (ten tables in each row) Now I did my calculations correct in regards to the linen rentals because I checked with a vendor we might use. (L x W x D)= 360" x 132", which would come out to me using four rectangle tablecloths at 90" x 132". But the vendor suggested I use five instead of four. Wonder why? Money grab or legitimate knowledge of what we would need?

 

[starry_solo]

no idea re weddings but haven’t you ever noticed that most venues use two tablecloths per table.

 

[SL6827]

no idea re weddings but haven’t you ever noticed that most venues use two tablecloths per table.

I don't know really?

 

[starry_solo]

I don't know really?

Yup. Every fancy dinner meeting I've been to at hotels, banquet halls, etc., two table cloths. One long, one short.

 

[SL6827]

Yup. Every fancy dinner meeting I've been to at hotels, banquet halls, etc., two table cloths. One long, one short.

Interesting.

 

[TCRAIG]

I think what you’re talking about are called table toppers or overlays - they’re usually a different color - as far as # of tablecloths - don’t forget about the drop on each end and also allowing for a bit of overlap - personally, I would trust the vendor

 

[SL6827]

I think what you’re talking about are called table toppers or overlays - they’re usually a different color - as far as # of tablecloths - don’t forget about the drop on each end and also allowing for a bit of overlap - personally, I would trust the vendor

I think you are right about the topper, overlays. I did add in the drop on both sides. A 30" inch one. Comes to a perfect set of four tablecloths, so that is what caught me off guard. But I am now realizing that I can buy these tablecloths online for half of what I would rent them for. So I may look into doing that.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

The venue that we booked for my daughter's small wedding reception in January has chairs that are 36" x 36" square.

Those are really big chairs!

 

[SL6827]

Those are really big chairs!

I meant tables, lol!!!

 

[LizzyDragon]

I think you are right about the topper, overlays. I did add in the drop on both sides. A 30" inch one. Comes to a perfect set of four tablecloths, so that is what caught me off guard. But I am now realizing that I can buy these tablecloths online for half of what I would rent them for. So I may look into doing that.

The math here is puzzling me. If I understand your first post, you have a long rectangular table of 360" L x 132" wide, made up of 36" square tables. The tablecloths you're looking at are 90"x132". I don't see where the drop is included in your numbers.

Also, I suspect the vendor recommended adding a 5th cloth so you can overlap the tablecloths by a couple inches. Otherwise, you'll likely end up with a gap where the tablecloths meet up.

As for using multiple tablecloths- it'll depend on the condition of the tables being used and the color of the cloths. If the table surfaces have a lot of dents/dings/splinters or have a generally rough surface, you'll want to use two cloths, with the first acting as a pad to smooth the surface out. If you're using a white or light-colored cloth, you'll want to use two, as the table color can often be seen through a light cloth.