Sooner or later, the host of any formal dinner event has to make a decision about table napkins. For any wedding reception or dinner party, paper napkins or linen napkins are available – but which offers the best in terms of value, convenience, and aesthetics?
Cost of Linen vs. Paper Napkins – Napkin Pricing Information
According to a search performed on Shopzilla, the average cost for renting basic linen napkins from a party supply company ranges from $.45 to $.55 per piece. Of course, the bigger the order the better value customers will get for each napkin. Dimensions of each napkin, add-ons like embroidery, and quality of the napkins will also affect the price. Whether linen napkins are 100% linen, a cotton/linen blend, or polyester also affects the price.
Basic white paper napkins can cost less than $.07 per napkin, but with special extras like scalloped edges, embossing, or custom printing they can easily cost more than $.50 per napkin. They can be bought at any local big box store in packs of 25 or 50, but getting them wholesale in bulk shipments of 100 to 1000 is substantially cheaper.
Convenience of Linen Napkins and Paper Napkins
Linen napkins look great but are often a hassle to deal with. Some of the more elaborate folds actually require that the cloth napkins be individually pressed along each crease. After dinner the linens must all be washed, meaning that laundry facilities, soap, and bleach (for white linen napkins) must be available. Rented napkins may or may not need to be washed before returning, depending on the party rental store's policies.
Party or wedding paper napkins have a decided advantage over cloth napkins when it comes to convenience. Just throw them all away at the end of the night, and clean up is a cinch. However, if there are a lot of personalized or holiday paper napkins left over, it's hard to use them elsewhere but awfully wasteful to throw them in the trash.
Appearance of Cloth Napkins Versus Paper Napkins
Linen cocktail napkins really make the difference between a regular party and a formal affair. Since they are larger and heavier weight than paper napkins, they appear more luxurious and are easier to fold into elaborate shapes and designs. Even when they simply lie beside the plate, cloth napkins make guests feel as if they are attending a posh event.
Decorative paper napkins have their advantages too, as paper party napkins are commonly embossed or printed with a personalized message. Printed paper napkins are easier to read than monogrammed linen napkins and allow more versatility as to how much text can be printed. Seeing festive holiday prints or floral paper napkins is very common, too.
When planning a formal dinner party or holiday meal, giving thought to fancy napkins is one of those little touches that makes a big impact. Both linen and paper dinner napkins have distinct pros and cons, and it depends on the party planning budget as well as personal preference whether paper or cloth napkins are right for an event.
Brides considering personalized wedding reception napkins can see Custom Printed Wedding Napkins and Wedding Napkin Quotes and Verses to gather ideas.
Jenny Evans - Jenny Evans is a freelance writer and editor specializing in parenting and the family. She is also the Mormonism Topic Editor for ...
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