Our Honest take on upgrading Table Linens

October 22nd, 2026

Long story short, we love a unique table linen, it makes our hearts flutter. But that doesn’t mean every wedding aesthetic requires an upgrade. We’ve seen plenty of weddings where design outcomes weren’t compromised with standard white linens and in fact, design elements popped better. But we’ve also seen weddings where things felt off, a clients vision fell slightly short simply because they were missing some serious pattern, texture, and color. Let’s dive into whether upgrading your linens is right for you…

Be aware of your inspiration photos

In the beginning stages of connecting with a client, I always ask for some inspiration photos to make sure I am not missing the mark. At times, I have received inspiration galleries where every table centerpiece was placed on a unique linen. In my consult, I try to make the couple aware of that fact and let them know the florals they love may look very different on a plain white linen.

What kind of linen would you use on your own dining table?

For my husband and I, we love the old homes of New England and we strive for our home to have a colonial cottage feel. We’re not afraid of wallpaper, we love natural wood and rich colors, and I have never placed a white or ivory linen on my dining room table. So when we toured our venue and they showed us their house linens (white) my husband already knew we’d be upgrading. We ended up choosing what you see in the three photos above, a cottage inspired table linen, deep wood chargers, and a green velvet napkin. This felt like home to us and this felt more comfortable than a white linen.

So look at the home that you’ve created with your partner. What is your style? What colors and patterns do you gravitate towards? These are all great questions to ask before investing in an upgrade for your own wedding.

Let’s talk costs…

how much do rental linens cost?

Like everything in the wedding world, costs can vary. If you want a black classic polyester tablecloth, that’s going to cost a lot less than a something that has a unique pattern, a raised texture, or luxury type of fabric. The size and amounts of tablecloths you need can also sway your total costs.

A standard table linen starts at about $20.00 and luxury table linens can start at about $80.00 per table. Napkins can also range from $1.00 to $10.00 each.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO MIX AND MATCH

Mixing and matching is an option and it can help with rental costs while still providing the aesthetic your looking for. We’ve seen this in all shapes and forms. Couples have…

• Upgraded their napkins but used standard house table linens.

• Used standard house linens on half their tables and the other half they’ve upgraded.

• Selected an upgraded linen on just their head table and cocktail tables.

• Used the house linens and upgraded other elements like water goblets, stationary, or chargers.

House linens aren’t bad

The wedding shown above looks stunning with standard house linens. If this couple went with a pattern or texture, the space would become very busy. This client was looking for a formal wedding with garden style florals and they loved gold accents. By using the white linens and white napkins, the gold chairs and accents stood out and it created the formal feel they were looking for.

Overwhelmed? Ask for help

Do not underestimate the value of a planner and designer, this is their area of expertise and they can help guide you in making the right decisions for you. Planners also work very closely with your florist so those table inspiration photos you love can come to complete fruition.

If you don’t hire a planner, ask your florist. We love being part of these conversations because we play a part in the overall table design. Florists are experts in color theory, they understand aesthetics, and they have an eye for texture and feel.