Post # 1
Member
40 posts
Newbee
Hello! I am planning an evening cocktail/appetizer reception (with a pasta station so that a meal is still included) and I had planned to just use paper napkins because it made more sense to me, but I just came across a great deal on cloth napkins and now am unsure.
I have never been to a reception of this kind before, so I am planning it based on what I’ve read, and what I would like to do.
I am planning to have tables set up with a seat for each guest (but no assigned seats), but guests will go to stations to get food and drink. In my mind, if I were to do cloth napkins at this event, I would have them already at the table setting, to encourage guests to try to stick to one napkin. I don’t know if this would happen, however. I think that, regardless, I will have cloth drink napkins for guests that they will get from the bar/drink station.
By The Way, here is a photo of my event space. It will be somewhat casual but still very classy, with sequin table runners, lots of candles, etc.
If you have been to/planned a cocktail reception and remember which you prefer or which works best, please educate me on your opinion and why!
Post # 2
Member
919 posts
Busy bee
If I were wandering around to different stations and didn’t have an assigned seat, I guarantee you I’d lose track of my cloth napkin in a matter of minutes. I think it’s more realistic to assume that people will go through a few paper napkins rather than be able to stick with one cloth napkin. However, if you like the look of a table setting with cloth napkins, you could always have both: cloth at the tables and paper at the stations.
Post # 3
Member
3324 posts
Sugar bee
Unless you have a shit ton of cloth ones (you could leave them by the stations) I’d do paper.
Post # 4
Member
6863 posts
Busy Beekeeper
cloth will look nice for photos. That’s it. So fairly pointless. But if you want them, I highly recommend you just do both – have the cloth ones at the seats and the paper ones at the stations for people to pick up as needed (remember spills and things tend to require napkins as well).
Post # 5
Member
40 posts
Newbee
I’m not especially set on it, I just found a great deal on ones that fit my color scheme, and have become “tempted” by it. It seems unrealistic to me as well.
Thank you for the input!
Post # 6
Member
1506 posts
Bumble bee
Cloth napkins set at the tables, square paper napkins for the bar/drinks only. Just a preference though. If it really is strictly appetizer, all paper is totally fine. Perhaps get that thick paper kind that almost feels like cloth?