Post # 1

Member
56 posts
Worker bee
I have found a great deal on linen tablecloths, and was planning on using plastic silverware and plates with a buffet. I found a great price on cloth napkins though.. Which we would place with a menu like the picture below. This would be in lieu of plates or chargers. Would you find it incredibly odd to have plastic silverware (will be silver toned) with cloth napkins?
Post # 2

Member
739 posts
Busy bee
This is just an idea but we’re going to use palmleaf dinnerware because it’s compostable and also still very pretty. I think it looks better with cloth linen than plastic personally, I’ve seen great wedding pics. Obviously it depends on your overall look if thatd work tho. Anyway besides that, I guess it wont look terrible though plastics can be hit or miss. Do they look more like china or obvious plastic? I’ve seen some from Macy’s that look pretty realistic.

Post # 3

Member
5408 posts
Bee Keeper
I don’t see a picture, but we did wooden utensils and pink and white striped paper napkins tied with gold and cream baker’s twine. I stamped ‘Just Married’ on the handles and everyone loved them. We rented gold and white china and linen tablecloths. We had an afternoon backyard cake and champagne reception (we also had salad and finger sandwiches for lunch) so it didn’t seem out of place 🙂 I think in your case the cloth napkins might be kind of odd with so much plastic BUT at least with linen tablecloths they won’t be the only non-disposible item. I think it depends on the overall feel of your reception, your menu, and your venue. I also suggest dinnerware made from palm leaves. I really wanted to do that, but it was just too expensive to ship them to Canada 🙁

Post # 4

Member
47430 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I would be happy to see a fabric napkin, rather than paper.
Post # 5

Member
2170 posts
Buzzing bee
I think it would be fine. There is some really nice looking plastic silverware out there as well so I think you would be ok doing this. Like julies1949 said, I also like fabric over paper in my napkins.
Post # 6

Member
56 posts
Worker bee

Sorry about the missing photo! This would act as place setting. We may not even have the cutlery on the table; the silverware and plates may be with the buffet line. It would be a heavy duty silver toned silverware, almost feeling real. Our venue does not have a kitchen, or really a seperate area where we could store dishes to be washed offsite. A simple laundry basket would be placed for used linens to be off the tables after dinner if people choose. Our venue is an industrial building, very low key, distillery-esqu.
Post # 7

Member
9144 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
lightpainter: I’m a savage, I don’t like cloth napkins. I deal with them at nice restaurants and fancy occasions though. But if it’s casual enough for plasticware, I would think it was really odd to have cloth napkins. Or conversely, if it was nice enough for cloth napkins, I’d think it was weird to have plasticware. It would probably be momentary and I’d get over it quickly.
Post # 8

Member
7887 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Having the cloth napkins at the table but the plastic cutlery at the buffet could be ok. I was envisioning wrapping the plasticware in the cloth napkins, and that didn’t match for me.
Post # 9

Member
739 posts
Busy bee
sugarpea: your stamped silverware is so cute, great idea!
Post # 11

Member
62 posts
Worker bee
sugarpea : where did you gt the napkins and utensils?
Post # 12

Member
152 posts
Blushing bee
No to plastic silverware. It’s so hard to use and tends to be on the tacky side. I just ordered all my forks and knives from here and they are dirt cheap:
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/
ps. We’re also using palm leaf plates and I love them! Looks so nice and perfectly matches our backyard cocktail party vibe.