Buying tablecloth in Paris for wedding gift?
 

Hikrguy's best friend recently got married and Hikrguy was thinking he'd like to bring a tablecloth from Paris as a gift. We have Patricia Wells' book "The Food Lover's Guide to Paris" and she gives some suggestions for kitchen and tableware shops -- Siecle Paris and Fleux were the two that I saw that seem most likely to have something but looking online I'm just not sure it's right.

Paris residents/experts -- can you give suggestion a shop where we might find something nice as a wedding gift? Tablecloth or something for the table? Maybe serving spoons or salad spoon/fork? That seems easy enough to bring home. We're willing to spend 100 euros at most. They are very casual people -- they're registered at Bed Bath and Beyond here in the U.S.

thanks for any suggestions!

I like to buy linens at the department store BHV, although all the department stores probably have a good selection.

La Maison Ivre, 38 Rue Jacob.

Do you know what colors/patterns they like? For informal, I'd opt for a Provençal tablecloth in bright colors--or placemats and napkins. Flat linens are easy to take back home.

Linvosges, 33 rue St Placide

http://www.linvosges.com/fr/la-table/nappes/

Oliviers & Co has several boutiques in Paris and some nice salad fork/spoon sets made from olive wood. Also other nice gifts - condiment sets, olive oils, all reasonably priced.
http://oliviers-co.com/en/boutiques

My favorite store in all of Paris! And the setting is so charming. Just love it.

La Tuile a' Loup

http://www.latuilealoup.com/

Tablecloths are great! Just be sure of size, unless it is for picnics. Provençal patterns would be lovely for that. Get one that is doubled, different pattern on each side, and napkins, extras because they wear more than the cloths.

bookmarking

<i> ... and napkins, extras because they wear more than the cloths.</i>

We use cloth tablecloths and napkins day in and day out, and I find just the opposite. The reason is that we usually get six napkins with the tablecloths, but at most meals we use only two of them. I have a drawer full of napkins whose tablecloth long ago bit the dust. I've wondered if I could make something out of the old napkins.

AND in figuring out size, before you leave, convert the desired size in inches to centimeters so you KNOW what you are looking for! It would be a crisis if you brought back a round table cloth that was too small, for example! Or, a rectangular one that is too long for their normal length table.

We've bought table cloths and napkins every time we have been to France and enjoyed those so much over the years.

Sure you want to do this? I would only do it if I knew the couple's dining table measurements, their dining room decor, and their taste. Many Provencal tableclothes are screamingly loud.

Since couples now do us all the favor of having a wedding registry, removing the element of surprise, maybe one way to ensure success would be to give them the links here, and ask the couple to pick out which tablecloth they would like, or at least what type.

Are you sure the couple will even use a tablecloth? They very well might, but you say, the couple is very casual.

We haven't put a tablecloth on our table since...well, I can't remember ever doing it. A runner, yes, but only during the holidays. My mother gave me her the lace tablecloth her great aunt made. I keep it because it's part of the family and I admire the skill that went into making it, but we've never used it.

A couple of good brands are Le Jacquard Français and Beauvillé.

If they are outdoor people both have tablecloths and placemats that are coated. Much nicer than you might think. You can find them and several other brands in all the major department stores, I love BHV but was a little disappointed in their selection last time I was there.

Le Jacquard Français also has a store on rue Bonaparte in the 6th arr.

For anyone headed to Alsace, Beauville has an outlet store in Ribeauville, about 30 minutes south of Strasbourg. Prices are very good, as much as 50% off.

I love Beauvillé linens but did not think that the outlet store had very good bargains; still nice to visit, however.

I agree with frencharmoire, this is an odd gift unless you really know this couples uses that type of thing, the size of their table and style. I presume you know the latter, but you'd be surprised. I think Provencal stuff is rather gimmicky for example, and not the kind of thing that most people would want in their home, nor does it go with most decors. I have a few items like that in my kitchen, but my kitchen is of French country style/colors and even then it is only a potholder, wall hanging.

I admit I don't know anyone who uses a tablecloth except for a few special occasions a year. It's interesting your husband thought of this idea, though, as I can't imagine any man coming up with that idea--hey, let's buy a tablecloth as the perfect wedding gift!

But you really need to know the size they need.

I use my deep blue/rust/gold Provençal tablecloth at Thanksgiving. Perfect colors.

thank you all for your advice. I've not been online because of the Jewish holiday.

Yes, we know what size tablecloth in metric would be good for their table (they have a tablecloth on their BBB wedding registry and we converted the measurements). Hikrguy is checking if this is something they would like -- and if they're interested in traditional Provencal designs (which I don't think they will like) -- and if not, we're going to go with the serving spoon/fork.

I too was surprised that Hikrguy thought of a tablecloth. Not usually a guy thing! But he too is a world traveler and likes to have interesting stuff around, so maybe that's the reason.

In any case we are shocked to realize that we're leaving next Friday and we're nowhere near ready. Really can't wait to go!

I'd wonder if you can get a great quality tablecloth made in Europe for your budget. Even is you can, unless you know that the couple are fond of tablecloths and you know their color choice, I would look for something else.

Try Dehillerrin, get a small copper saucepan or omelette pan, or mixing bowl, or go to the flea market for some vintage hotel-type silver if their taste runs that way.

http://eshop.e-dehillerin.fr/en/

http://eshop.e-dehillerin.fr/en/copper-xsl-387_243.html


I have an entire shelf filled with exquisite linen tablecloths that my parents brought back from Europe decades ago. None of them have seen any use in my home. A shame, really.