It’s tea party time! Gather up your friends and throw in some summer charm with a table full of delicious food, cool drinks, and beautiful table linens. You can plan a casual, relaxing afternoon with a few friends or a more formal dining event. Here are some fabulous tips for dressing your tabletop.
The Tablecloth
After selecting the perfect location for your tea party, setting the mood for your party can begin with selecting the ideal tablecloth. If you are planning to have a simple, yet intimate get together, select a more casual tablecloth, such as Matouk’s easy care” Savannah Gardens” table linens. Available in an array of fun pastel colors, the easy care qualities makes preparation and clean up a breeze!
Springtime weather is always inviting to bring about outdoor gatherings. When planning your garden party, select a colorful and vibrant cotton print tablecloth by French designers such as, Yves Delorme and Couleur Nature. The beautiful floral prints will be sure to accentuate your garden’s flowers that are in bloom.
When the occasion is more formal, be sure to use an Italian linen, heirloom quality tablecloth, such as the “Classico” linens by Sferra. Available in white and ecru, each cloth is detailed with a hand-drawn hemstitch border. Alencon French lace tablecloths are also another elegant and sophisticated way to dress up a table. When finished with you tea party, use your lace tablecloth for future bridal showers and cake tables at weddings.
Don’t forget to layer your tablecloth with a table runner. Whether it is intricately beaded or made of 100% linen, a table runner allows a place for your delicious food and fancy china to be on display.
Place Settings
When designing your place setting, it is always important to use a charger. Chargers work great as the base for you table set¬ting. They add decoration to the table and bring attention to your china. Think of the charger as a picture frame to show off your china. A glass charger, such as the Tesoro Charger by Italica, is especially great for a more traditional design. Adding layers to your place setting, such as placing a cotton placemat beneath a glass charger, will allow for a more polished look and will always make your guests feel important.
Napkins and Napkin Rings
When choosing a napkin, make sure to coordinate your napkin with your tablecloth. Choose anything from a classic linen napkin with hemstitch border to a colorful cotton print. Silk napkins from designers such as Ann Gish and Kim Seybert allow for a more sophisticated table accessory. Some designers like to layer two napkins of different colors together and put them through a trendy napkin ring. This is not only beautiful on the eyes, but practical as well. While one napkin can remain on you guest’s lap, the other can be used to wipe away food.
Finishing your place setting with a fun napkin ring is like accessorizing your outfit with a bracelet or another piece of jewelry. Kim Seybert offers intricately beaded and floral napkins rings, while designers such as L’Objet offer napkin rings adorned with Swarovski crystals. There is always a napkin ring available for any place setting or occasion.
Centerpieces
Centerpieces add a distinguished focal point to any table. Whether it is a beautiful bouquet of fresh cut summer flowers or a delicious arrangement of colorful fruit, centerpieces need to catch the attention of your guests. If you always remember to be fun, bold and creative, you will be sure to make your next event an unforgettable memory!
