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From: ninifav
Date: 08-27-2006, 02:58 PM (1 of 15)
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Okay, Dear Sewing Friends, I need simple (and inexpensive) ideas...My youngest little darling son is getting married in six weeks (hurricanes permitting..) This is her second marriage, DS's first; they have a six month old son together and a precious 3 1/2 year old from her first marriage...It is going to be a traditional Catholic, southern wedding...reception is at the home (outside) of good friends who have a civil war era home on the River Road...It is very charming...Probably max of 100 people.. Okay enough backgroud...Dh and I are hosting the wedding...I am renting 10-12 six foot metal-fold tables...and some tents...I have purchased from JoAnn's and Hancock's white material using my 40% off coupon...Going to serge edges...Now...tell me what else to do...Keep in mind southern rainstorms and possible some wind, etc...And NOTHING that is going to take me forever...What about tulle over it?? How do I secure the fabric... Can we brain storm??? Any crazy ideas are welcome...sometimes that spins off other ideas...thanks....Paula |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 08-27-2006, 05:39 PM (2 of 15)
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Check out all the Goodwill type stores in your area plus family and friends who have artifical flowers and candles that you can put into simple arangements on the tables. They will hold up better in heat and rain. For the table covers can you attach either some elastic or ties on the under side to help anchor it to the table? What about a wide ribbon the length of the table (attached either by sewings or pinning) in the wedding colors. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 08-27-2006, 10:00 PM (3 of 15)
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I'd use some of that new tape by 3M.(you can hang pics on the wall and then pull the tape off ,NO marks.) To keep the cloths hanging, use weights (disguise in flowers or ribbons) I'd nix the tulle idea, unless you wind some ('carelessly') down the table middle, using the ~~~ waving indents to put things in, and make sure some tulle is UNDERNEATH whatever you use, to hold it down too. Get some garden greenery from a friend, family member or someone you can talk into pruning their plants. ( I used to ASK nurseries to borrow plants and as long as I brought them back ALIVE, I could take as many as I needed.) ( I used to have a business planning parties and such.)(make sure the plants have NO BUGS...wash and dry outside and bring inside keep in plastic bags to keep moist).(if you ask the nursery people if they will help you, they may help get the bugs off, IF you go that route.) Get some cheap LARGE candles in the bridal colors. (or just white/beige/whatever) Put them on some large leaves...(real or fake....) Ribbon is cheap these days....buy the wedding colors and whatever you think will match. Use a little or a lot. Make bows, or dont...just lay it around whatever you have on the tables. (winding it around the candles...around the tulle) They have cheap 'glass' and polished rocks these days...you might use those on the tables... You can buy cheap wooden initials...paint in wedding colors and put them on the tables...they also have wooden shapes, stars, rounds, squares..paint them and use them as 'scatters' or set them on the table. (or in the tulle....use glitter or not..) If you use tulle. I'd nix the small tea lights...if you light them, even in the small containers, they might melt the tulle or start a fire. (they're pretty inside and in a covered area..but not out in the open where the wind might kick up). They also have 'throws/scatters' that look like sequins. You can usually find those real cheap and they have LOTS of colors and shapes. Buy some fruit...sugar some grapes, lay them on the tables (use a plate, mirror, leaves...put them in bowls.) Go cheap and ask if your local supermarket (or wally world) can get you some daisies dyed the colors you want/need. (or buy the bunches of fakes and use them or cut them apart...) Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 08-28-2006, 05:59 PM (4 of 15)
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The first thing I would do is this.. Go buy those clips that clip onto the edge of the table to hold the cloth in place.. I would buy a pack for every table.. (usually come 4 in a pack).. Then , paint them white and they will never be noticed, but you will not have to worry about the wind blowing the cloths off.. I keep mine in the container that holds all my picnic items for use when we eat outdoors. Oh, check the dollar stores for these first..You could even attach little floral bouqhets to each clamp which would probably hide the clamps ..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: Sewhappie
Date: 08-28-2006, 06:25 PM (5 of 15)
Leapfrog Libby's idea would be BEAUTIFUL with flowers and lots of ribbon tails curled and hanging at different lengths!!!! 
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User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: Patty22
Date: 08-28-2006, 06:36 PM (6 of 15)
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Since the home is a Civil War Era.......hmmmmmmmm.......... I would go with Kath's idea of fruit. My idea for each table would be getting a small plastic cake stand pedestal style. Each table would get a small cake - enough to feed the table (so we're talking one box of cake mix in a Wilton round double layer cake pan - height is double so it just takes a little longer to cook, like a bundt cake). Around the pedestal fruit would cover it and extend down the table long with flowers tucked in. Do you have grapevines down south? Maybe some kind of native plant could be used to build the design up a bit? I worked at a historical home - this would be the time period - and they would have used similar decorations as well as a few candles. I would almost forget the candles if there are going to be small children attending. Why worry about someone getting burned unless you could protect them with hurricane shades. Definitely talk to your grocer about getting some flowers. You can get them 1/2 the price of a florist. Go SIMPLE. Believe it or not, when you have something really gorgeous, all it takes is a little pow. The best wedding I ever went to was held in the back yard of a friend's home. It was so simple, even down to the bride's dress (a simple wool crepe aline with a bouquet of flowers from the grocer.) What made the wedding was the family was so gracious to everyone that attended and made them feel so special for being there, that that is all that I can remember. The back yard was planted with flowers and topiaries filled in some empty spots, but everything was simple. Definitely check out some of the dollar stores. We have a Real Deals in town and they buy lot ends of goods. Once they had florist ribbon for a dollar a roll (there were 500 feet on a roll  ) I'd send you the double faced orange, but I don't think that would work for your wedding 
Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: lizzybugsmommy
Date: 08-28-2006, 06:55 PM (7 of 15)
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I saw a wedding with a simple glass bowl on the tables with candles in them floating. Then a beta fish in each one. At the end of the wedding they gave a fish to each child with a small bag of fish food and a bowl. They were beautiful.
Catherine
http://www.photoworks.com/share/shareSignin.jsp?shareCode=A0E42A2C202&cp=ems_shr_a lb_pml&cb=PW Husbands gone fishing..... I've gone fabric shopping |
User: lizzybugsmommy
Member since: 05-20-2006 Total posts: 207 |
From: moon
Date: 08-28-2006, 10:30 PM (8 of 15)
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Do you have magnolia leaves and flowers? You could use them as centerpieces on the tables.Maybe add some tulle and ribbons to the arrangements. |
User: moon
Member since: 07-10-2006 Total posts: 16 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 08-29-2006, 01:07 AM (9 of 15)
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Magnolias aren't in bloom this time of yr...but the leaves are on the trees.. (they're like leather and can kill you...  ) 
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: ninifav
Date: 08-29-2006, 09:29 PM (10 of 15)
| Thanks for all the replies...Sewhappie, I love the idea of wide ribbon...maybe I can be off to the Dollar Store like Patty suggested and find ribbon and the clips that Libby mentioned...And yes Moon, I have a huge Magnolia tree in my yard...the leaves are strong and nicely green...and Chrys...want a job for a weekend??? you would just have to put up with all the crazy family and ten little grandkids...Oh, I forgot, the kids are easy...it's those darn parents that I raised that are going to be ready to pa...arrr...ty...Paula |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 08-29-2006, 11:07 PM (11 of 15)
Sure...I'd love a decorating job for the wkend...I'll bring duct tape and rope (and you supply all the closets) for all the kids and unruly adults. (I don't deal with unruly or kids very well...  ) I like to do a job and get out..
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: ninifav
Date: 08-30-2006, 10:21 PM (12 of 15)
| Oh, well, you'd better just send me your ideas...It will be a circus here for four days....I'll make sure to stock up on some merlot... |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 08-30-2006, 11:16 PM (13 of 15)
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Okie...you don't say what the colors are, but here goes... Instead of tulle...I'd get cheap lining fabic, something shiny (looks expensive but it's not and unlike tulle, may be used again for something else.) I'd get 2 yrd's each table. Just put it on the table, turn the ends under and 'artfully' fluff, dip, swirl. I'd get some large candles. (not the 3 wick...just 6"-8" tall...just wide and round.)...pick some of your magnolia leaves (clean and dry..no bugs) Put the UNDER the candles. (3 to a candle fanned out <^> pointing towards the guests, or out towards the edge...I'd make the fan closer together, you can't do the shape on a computer, making sure the candles are on the table in the dips/swirl indents)...). I'd get some cheap glass 'rocks'/scatters, shells, whatever and scatter them around the candles. On the fabric I'd get/borrow/steal some(footed NOT very tall) PLAIN glass cake plates. I'd put some more leaves down, fruit (real or not...sugared) and some flowers tucked in, here and there. (cake plates just for the center of the table.) To fill out the ends..I'd just do a smaller version of the middle, on plain glass plates. Do things in 3's...just like decorating your house. (3 pink candles, 3 white candles, 3 plain plates...etc....don't make it look even...odd numbers look better...) Add ribbon AFTER you have all the stuff on the table...(same fluff, dip, swirl) Use more scatters or not...lay flowers down or not, all on the fabric..(no stems sticking out...cut the heads off the flowers) I wouldn't use clips on the tables UNLESS you can disguise them well. I'd use tape. (it's easier to disguise...) (you can even skimp on the cake plates...use plastic if you have to....they have some at Bed,Bath and Beyond) No one is gonna know but you...(unless they LIKE to go around clinking things...) Usually the wedding cake table is seperate...I'd dress it like the reception table, only I'd lay the fabric DOWN under the cake, let it drape down the sides. Get some more of those leaves, scatters, ribbon, flowers and put them on the table...not ANYWHERE near the cake. Just around the edges. (bride and groom have to have room to cut the cake and then the cake cutter has to have room to cut the rest of the cake for the guests. If thats what you're doing.) Remember the 3 rule....for the cake table too...(ya want them to match.) You can make it look like you spent a million bucks if you don't make it look CONTRIVED and PLANNED...even if it is... I'm not Colin Cowie ( of hollywood/Oprah fame) But I can make/do anything he does....and I do...in my own home and those of my friends. Not that I'm bragging mind you...but I do always tell the truth...
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 08-30-2006, 11:28 PM (14 of 15)
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Then after the wedding...if the fabric you use on the table middles is still Ok, no stains that can't be washed out or whatever...then I'd take the fabric, add to it and make them a hanging or quilt or pillow, something for their first anniversary...Make a shadowbox (to hang on the wall or a small table made like one) and use the 'scatters', flowers, ribbon, fabric, their wedding invitation, wedding photos, candid shots, poems, special things they've said to each other...make sure the kids are included. That way they have a terrific wedding and will remember it long after....because you made them something extra special... You don't say where you live...if you really don't live far from me...I'd be happy to help you, for FREE...Just as a friend...truly. (I wouldn't really gag and tie people up.....well not many of them I'm sure... :bg  I miss decorating....::heavy sigh::
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: Sewhappie
Date: 08-31-2006, 01:24 PM (15 of 15)
I wish I had known sooner that you where doing tables for a wedding, I just donated 12 glass bowls to the Goodwill that I would have sent to you!!!!!  I used them as center pieces on the tables with floating candles inside and ribbons tied on the outside in the colors for Graduation and Wedding, then put those glitter sprinkles all over the tables with paper streamers from one end to the other. They where quick and easy for graduation parts and looked very nice.
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User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
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