What Kind of Napkins Are Best for Weddings?

It's your big day, and you want everything to be perfect, from the décor down to your choice of napkins. So, what’s the best fabric for wedding napkins?

While linen is a favorite choice, cotton is also a perfect material for wedding napkins as it is absorbent, biodegradable, and less expensive. If you're conscious of the environment and cost, consider using 100% organic cotton napkins for your wedding reception. As for size, use dinner napkins measuring 19" for the wedding dinner, and small cocktail napkins when serving cakes and drinks.

We'll go over the standard napkin options in detail.

But why in the world should you care what kind of wedding napkin to use?

Wedding Napkins: A Minute but Highly Delicate Element

Photo Credit: AMANDA NIPPOLDT PHOTOGRAPHY

Everyone knows wedding napkins are for wiping food stains. But they do more than that. Wedding napkins can be the final piece that ties up your overall reception décor.

You'll see that when you look at your wedding reception photos weeks later, especially when you’re creative with your napkin folds.

There are different types of napkins, and not every type will fit into every stage of your ceremony. Using the correct type of wedding napkins shows you pay great attention to detail, and you'll have fewer guests complaining.

For weddings, there are generally three types of napkins based on size: dinner napkins, luncheon napkins, and cocktail napkins.

Dinner napkins are large-sized napkins big enough to wipe food stains over two or more courses. So, if you plan to serve a multiple-course meal, you want each guest to have a napkin that won’t be covered in oil just after the first course.

Luncheon napkins are mid-sized napkins measuring 14-16 inches, just large enough for one or two-course meals.

Measuring around 5" square, cocktail napkins are used to hold glasses during cocktail hour. They are also served with appetizers. Think cake time! Cocktail napkins are small, so you can use them once and discard. However, you may prefer using cloth cocktail napkins if you're eco-conscious.

Obviously, you need to be careful when choosing napkins for your big day. Typically, you'll want to go for wedding dinner napkins if you're serving several courses.

But that's not all.

Some napkins wipe stains better than others. And some are more exotic. Ideally, you want to choose your napkin fabric based on your event's overall mood and theme.

Best Materials for Wedding Napkins

Here are the best napkin fabrics to consider when shopping for wedding napkins:

Linen

Linen is the general consensus when it comes to the best napkin material for wedding reception. Reason is simple: linen exudes elegance. Luxury. Sophistication. And that's why it's the most expensive kind of napkins.

For formal events with many dignitaries, linen napkins can be the ideal choice.

Cotton

Cotton napkins are a timeless choice for any wedding reception. Known for their softness and absorbency, cotton dinner napkins offer premium comfort to your guests.

If you're creating an eco-conscious wedding theme, go for napkins made of organic cotton. This is the most eco-friendly option, even more sustainable than linen. Cotton is also more affordable than linen, making it an ideal napkin fabric for a budget wedding.

Check out these colorful cotton cloth napkins.

Polyester

Polyester napkins are also an affordable choice for your special day. They're pretty sleek but less luxurious than linen.

However, considering their environmental impact, you'll want to steer clear of polyester napkins. Polyester is made of plastic and hence is not biodegradable. In landfills, this material can release humongous amounts of toxic materials into the environment.

Satin

Satin is also a standard fabric for cloth napkins because of its glossy texture. When light hits it, the sheen can add refinedness to the table setting. It can also complement formal and black-tie weddings perfectly.

But satin can be quite a pain for your guests, as it keeps sliding off the thighs. It's also not the most absorbent of fabrics.

Paper

Wedding napkins made of paper are widely used because they’re cheap. But there's usually a debate between paper napkins vs cloth napkins, especially among eco-conscious consumers.

Paper has a higher environmental impact than cloth napkins. So, even though you're a regular guy, you'll want to consider the possibility that some of your guests will care a great deal about the environment.

Plus, paper napkins might not tie well into the overall elegance of your decor. So it’s usually best to use dinner cloth napkins for the wedding reception—preferably cotton or linen.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, wedding napkins are not something to be overlooked when planning your wedding decor. Cloth dinner napkins made of linen or cotton are the best for your wedding reception. Choosing cloth napkins not only adds a touch of elegance to your table setting but also keeps guest comfortable and helps reduce waste.

Where to Get Bulk Cloth Napkins for Weddings?

If you're looking for beautiful, eco-friendly napkins, check out Ichcha. We offer 100% organic, handwoven, block-printed cloth napkins in a range of colors and patterns. Each napkin is handwoven and crafted with natural dyes, ensuring every step of the process is done with the environment in mind.

It's the perfect way to add charm to your wedding table setting while staying kind to the Earth.

Shop now.

        

 

FAQs

Which Material is Best for Napkins?

While linen is considered the best material for napkins due to its elegance, organic cotton may be a better choice if you’re concerned about cost and your carbon footprint. Organic cotton is more eco-friendly than linen and is highly absorbent.

How Many Cloth Napkins Should I Order for a Wedding?

The best practice is one dinner napkin per wedding guest, 1-2 luncheon napkins per guest, and 3-4 cocktail napkins per guest. If you don’t intend to serve more than a two-course meal, you don’t need to buy both luncheon and dinner napkins. Make do with one type.

What is the Best Napkin Fold for a Wedding?

The square fold, pocket fold, and knotted napkin fold are some of the best napkin folds for weddings. Check out this blog to see more.

Is It Better to Use Paper Or Cloth Napkins?

Paper napkins can be pretty cheap for one-time use. But if you plan to care for and reuse the item, cloth napkins are more sustainable and cost-effective in the long run. Cloth napkins also add a touch of sophistication to your event in ways paper napkins cannot.

Where to Buy Cheap Cloth Napkins for Wedding?

Visit Ichcha to buy affordable cloth napkins for your wedding reception. Find wedding dinner napkins in bulk in various colors, patterns, and sizes.