Michelle Edgemont Shop: The Cocktail Napkins

We’ve talked about the Michelle Edgemont Shop backdrops and placemats. Now, the final piece in my first event decor collection: the cocktail napkins.

Foil printed cocktail napkins get a bad rap. On one hand, they are one of the quintessential personalized decor items you can buy for your wedding. It’s a special surprise when a waiter hands you a fun napkin along with the fourth bacon-wrapped date you’ve eaten or you get a pretty napkin with your jack and coke at the bar. On the other hand, fun cocktail napkins are often the very first decor detail that gets cut due to budget or gets ripped a new one in “things you don’t need for your wedding” posts.

I agree with both points. You don’t necessarily need a foil printed cocktail napkin under your uncle’s sixth specialty cocktail. Although when your grandmother gets handed a mini grilled cheese sandwich on top of a beautiful, navy blue napkin with a touch of gold foil, she feels that she is being taken care of. That you were extra thoughtful and intentional with your wedding decor details. That every point of your guest’s experience at your wedding was carefully decided upon. A slight exaggeration – but it’s like the difference between staying at the W Hotel or the Super 8 motel. Extra special touches make people happy.

Ten per guest. That’s the industry standard recommended amount of cocktail napkins to have on hand at your reception. Having 200 guests? That’s 2000 cocktail napkins. That many foil printed cocktail napkins will set you back $1,600. I AM NOT TELLING YOU TO BUY $1,600 WORTH OF COCKTAIL NAPKINS.

Every single appetizer and every single cocktail do not need a fancy, schmancy napkin. My advice is to purchase 3 foil printed napkins per guest and then have your caterer supply the rest in the same color.

The Michelle Edgemont way, three cool napkins per guest, will cost you $480 for a 200 person wedding. That’s a much lower number than $1,600! You’re welcome.


My first line of napkins is available in four designs:

FOREVER: Holographic foil stamped onto crisp, white napkins.

I’LL DRINK TO THAT: Gold foil stamped onto bright, navy napkins.

TWO OF A KIND: Holographic foil stamped onto saturated, black napkins.

TODAY IS MY FAVORITE: Shiny silver foil stamped onto a pretty, dove gray napkin.

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Michelle Edgemont Shop: Fabric Backdrops

Backdrops, much like a happy hour vodka soda, are an item that makes a bigger impact than the amount of money you spend on it. Fabric backdrops especially fall into this magical “affordable yet impactful” category of wedding decor. Solid fabric backdrops are easy and readily available for rent from most party rental companies. They are traditionally called Pipe and Drape, referring to the pipes you also need to rent to hang the drapes on.

Say you want more pizazz in your backdrop? Some trendy colors? A pattern, for example. Where do you turn? You could purchase fabric from a store and make your own. That sounds like a great DIY project, right? Um. Not until you hang the backdrop and stand 20′ away from it do you notice that the really cool pattern you chose is barely visible that far away. Because of the limits in pattern repeat size on rotary or screen printed fabrics, from a distance store bought fabrics often look muddy, blurry, and not as fun as they look close up. Oh, and don’t get me started on wrinkly backdrops. Do you want to be steaming a cotton DIY backdrop while getting your hair and make-up done? Didn’t think so.

This is why the backdrops I designed are A) engineered, oversized prints, that look great close up and far away, B) digitally printed to be able to achieve a large pattern size, and C) printed on wrinkle-resistant fabric.

“aaaaaahhhhhh, la, la, la. ahhhhhhhhhhhh, laaaaa, la, la, laaaaaa”

(Cue angels singing)
The Michelle Edgemont Shop backdrops come in two patterns, Joyful Geo and Ombre.

*54″ wide x 96″ tall

*wrinkle-resistant fabric with a beautiful drape

*2″ rod pocket on the top and the bottom. Meaning, either end can be the top. Pick your favorite.

*Joyful Geo and Ombre have matching placemats to give your whole event a cohesive look: Joyful Geo Placemats and Ombre Placemats.

*$225 each
The backdrops can be hung as your ceremony location, behind a dessert table, or as a photobooth backdrop. Buy two and place them side by side to cover a wider area.

The Ombre backdrop is soft, beautiful, and will blend into the surroundings while creating a colorful spot to say your I Dos. Both ends of the backdrop have a rod pocket – so you can put either the soft pink or the bright pink at the top. For the couple who wants to be on trend (ombre is IT right now), without in-your-face graphics (soft and pretty, please), and compliment their skin tones (looks great behind anyone, not only my lovely model above).

The Joyful Geo backdrop is simply that: JOYFUL. The design is inspired by a painted backdrop DIY project that went viral that I designed for A Practical Wedding. The pattern is designed to be large and impactful – for the couple that loves color, geometric lines, and crisp corners.

You are all, “These are great, but how on earth do I fit either pattern into my wedding design?”

Keep the rest of the decor and flowers simple and in matching hues. Like I did above with the white dahlias, pink ranunculus, and pink astible – the colors of the flowers stand out yet compliment the backdrop. When using a large, graphic, statement piece in your decor, everything else should take a supporting role. The key is complimentary flowers, not matchy-matchy.

I’m excited to see how you are going to use these backdrops in your decor!

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Michelle Edgemont Shop: Placemat Pads

When it comes to tablescapes, couples that hire me for full event design fall into one of three categories:

1. They have budgeted an adequate amount to rent incredible table linens for $70 – $100 each.

2. They are using barn tables, taking away the necessity for linens, although leaving a large, stark tabletop to decorate.

3. They prefer to use the standard linens, usually white, that come with their catering package but want their table to not look…so….white.

Clients in category 1 are set: We rent elaborate cloths (I lean towards a pattern or sequins), place them on the table, and..honestly…whatever else goes on the table is already elevated because of the linens.

The other 90% of couples getting married, who fall into category 2 or 3, have a bit of a challenge on their hands. Especially for couples who love clean, modern design, pops of color, and something unconventional – the choices to jazz up a barn table or a stark white 60″ round table are limited. Of course,  they could accomplish it with loads of flowers and candles, but I like thinking out of the box.

What if there was a product on the market that could equip those creative couples with the power to put together an impactful, interesting tablescape themselves? Or with the help of their florist or designer, infuse a contemporary edge in the place settings instead of in the centerpieces?

Say hello to the very first line of the Michelle Edgemont Shop Placemat Pads. These are the bread and butter of the shop. The one item that you’ll need to really add a pop to your tables. An affordable way to add personality to a stark white tabletop. Let’s get to know them…

The coolest part about these placemats is that they come in a pad. Simply tear out, place on the table, and you are done. No ironing. No starching. No folding. They are made of high quality paper with beautiful, saturated color. The placemat pads are sold in the shop for $40 for a pack of 30. Having a wedding of 150 guests? That’s only $200 to add a punch to your whole reception.

The first collection of Placemat Pads is comprised of four patterns: Criss Cross, Dash, Joyful Geo, and Ombre.

The Criss Cross pattern. A deeply saturated cobalt blue with lines in white and dove gray. It’s a bold statement for a bold couple who aren’t afraid of a brightly colored couch, a black accent wall in their living room, or a spontaneous weekend trip to Costa Rica.

The Dash Placemats. These have been our second best seller since the shop launched (scroll down to see our biggest seller). Classic black and white with a contemporary twist. Fun, whimsical, with an urban edge. For the couple who love their city life, the large loft space they are getting married in, and wearing head to toe black.

Joyful Geo. Look how joyful! Look how geometric! This is our signature pattern. Inspired by a past DIY project of mine, the Joyful Geo placemats feature gender-neutral colors of navy, yellow, gray, and magenta. Can you not get enough pattern in your life? Does your closet look like a rainbow? Do you only purchase brightly colored coats, shoes, and underwear? Then the Joyful Geo pattern is for you.

To extend this geometric look to your ceremony or photobooth, Joyful Geo also comes in a fabric backdrop (hint, hint).

The Ombre Placemats. BIGGEST SELLER ALERT. The most popular design since the shop launched BY FAR. Four colors beautifully blend into each other to create a soft, elegant, look under any place setting.

This Ombre pattern looks awesome as a fabric backdrop as well. Purchase both and your wedding is basically completely decorated.

Which placemat design is your favorite? Personally, my heart is drawn towards the Joyful Geo with Dash in a close second. See all the patterns right here in the Michelle Edgemont Shop.

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