Sequin Linens for Glam Events: Sizes, Styles and When to Use

Sequins catch candlelight and uplighting in a way no other fabric does. That is why they are popular for New Year's Eve parties, black-tie galas, quinceaneras and glam weddings in Chicago ballrooms. They are also heavy, costly to clean and easy to overdo. Here is how to use them with good judgment.

Ways to use sequin

Full sequin cloth

A statement for a small number of tables. Use it on the head table, the cake table or the sweetheart table, and let the guest tables stay quiet. Because it hangs to the floor, it hides the table and the legs, and it sparkles when guests walk past.

Sequin overlay

A square or round overlay over a plain base cloth is the most flexible option. The base protects the table and gives the sequins a clean backdrop. A 72 to 90-inch square overlay on a diagonal fits a 60-inch round table with a 120-inch base. See overlays and layered linens.

Sequin runner

A narrow strip of sparkle down the center. It catches candle light without taking over the room, and it is the best choice for long banquet and farm tables. See table runner sizes and styles.

Sequin napkins

Small, easy to add, and low commitment. A sequin napkin on a charger gives each guest a bit of sparkle.

What pairs with sequin

Sequin is a strong texture, so the rest of the table should stay calm. Clear ghost chairs let the linen show through. Gold infinity chairs work with sequin in silver, champagne or black, but not in the same gold, which flattens both.

Lighting and photos

Sequins are lit by light. In a dim ballroom, a few warm candles can make a sequin runner glow. In bright daylight, sequins look flat and can throw glare into photographs. Use warm, low light for the best effect, and ask your photographer whether flash will bounce off the fabric. If you use uplighting, test the color on the linen: some colors make sequins look gray or muddy.

Practical notes

• Weight. Sequin cloth is heavier than regular linen. Check that your tables can handle it and that setup staff know how to carry it.
• Snags. Sequins catch on rough table edges, rings and jewelry. Ask the rental company about the cloth's backing and edge finish.
• Shedding. Some sequin cloths drop loose sequins, which can end up on the floor and in food. Ask how the supplier checks them.
• Care. Sequin linens usually need special cleaning. Read the damage terms in linen stain and damage policies.
• Seating comfort. Guests lean on tables. A scratchy sequin edge can bother arms, so a base cloth with a smooth overlay is gentler.

Where sequin shows up in Chicago

Sequin linens suit holiday and New Year's parties, black-tie fundraisers, quinceaneras, sweet 16s and winter weddings, when darker rooms and early dusk give sparkle room to work. For ideas on winter seating, see winter wedding seating. For quinceanera planning, see parties and celebrations guides.

Sizing sequin pieces

Sequin linens are sold by the piece, so size matters more than with ordinary cloth. For a round table, a full sequin cloth should match the same size you would choose for a plain cloth, such as 120 inches for a 60-inch round at floor length. Overlays, runners and napkins follow the sizes in our linen guides. Because sequin is heavier and stiffer, it hangs a little straighter and puddles less, but it also does not tuck or gather as easily. If you plan to tie a sequin cloth on a cocktail table, ask the supplier whether it is meant for that, since heavy fabric can sag.

How much sparkle is enough

A quick test is to imagine a photo of the room from the doorway. If every table sparkles, nothing stands out. If three or four tables sparkle, such as the head table, the cake table and the bar, the eye follows them. Many glam rooms use plain linens for guest tables and sequin only at the focal points. That also keeps cost and cleaning risk down, and it makes quantity limits easier to meet.

Get sparkle priced with the rest

Book a free 15-minute seating call and we will help you plan linens and chairs for a glam event, or request a quote.