How about coloured cellophane, like the kind that goes on gift baskets? They make it in lots of colours and patterns, and you could tie it with curly ribbon or even fancy tassels (I have seen them at the dollar store).

Carrie

How about gauze, not as rough and comes in a bunch of colors. It may be cheaper too.

How about getting 5 more tablecloths from the caterer in either the gold or burgundy and wrapping them around the pots with some coordinating ribbon?

I like the ideas above, but if none of them will work, just get a couple cans of spray paint (the kind that's made for painting plastic). Cover the soil with a piece of newspaper or cardboard so it doesn't get paint on it. Also buy a bag or two of bark mulch, moss, or crushed stone to add to the top of the soil. That will make them look neater.

Maybe consider some white christmas lights for the trees. No one will look at the pots if the trees are lit up nicely.

How about cheap fabric from walmart in a coordinating color with wide satin ribbon. or you can even just use black fabric with wide gold ribbon.
You can cut the fabric to length and wrap and tuck with string and cover with the ribbon and pitch when done. Not more than 3-4 bucks a yard.those tablecloths will be too big and frustrating to work with. Also the white lights are a good idea if possible.

Tulle, tulle and more tulle!!! It's inexpensive, looks pretty, comes in many different colors and you could tie it with ribbon, tassels, etc!

Or, call a local nursery that sells pottery and ask for a loan of 12 pots. Tell them that you will place a small sign near the trees, that says something like " Tree pots compliments of Evergreen Nursery". Any reputable nursery or container business should be willing to help, in exchange for some advertisement. My husband is also a banker and he just opened a new building yesterday. :)

I don't know if you have an Old Time Pottery store close to you but they practically give pots away, they're so cheap.

Cheapest "fabric" you can buy is bedsheets from Walmart. Horrible to sleep on, but waaaaaay cheap -- and they come in a variety of colors and patterns.

burlap and a calico or gingham bow

Ask the caterer to bring something to wrap the pots in. They often have yards and yards of coordinating fabric for doing chair decorations and tablescapes and wrapping pillars. It will match. Even if they charge a rental fee, it will be cheaper than buying and less hassle.

What great ideas!!! Snap a pic for us, Red, okay??

My goodness! A plethora of good ideas !

We actually opted to use the pot-borrowing idea from Newhomebuilder. And then, one of the bank officers used my burlap to fill in around the plant, since the bigger pot was a lot bigger. Don't know that they're going to use any ribbon at all now. Will see. I threw out ideas, then, got out of doing the trees entirely. Unfortunately, they tapped me to clean in the bathrooms and the refrigerator. I don't even want to know what I'll have to do tomorrow! And I will be 'working' the party, since there are only two of us left in this branch who have been there since the grand opening party in '98.

I also liked the idea of asking the caterers for help, wish I had seen that one earlier. Will try to get a photo or two if it turns out nice. Right now, I am already tired of the whole thing!

Thanks you guys!

Red

YUCK! I'd rather do the tree job, than clean bathrooms any day. Doesn't your bank have a cleaning service for that?

Glad you liked the idea of "borrowing" the containers. It's not too late to have the caterers fill in the pots with some Tulle.

The grand opening of my husbands bank will be November 13th -15th. I too will be 'working' the openings. lol