Food is just a good assembly point for bringing everyone to the table..
December is the month where many of our hosting skills are really put to the test, with holiday gatherings and dinner parties filling up our diaries. And while we’ll definitely be making the most of the festive moments; welcoming loved ones into our homes is what we’re all looking forward to the most.
So, to make sure we do it well, here’s our five-step guide we’re using to bring our table visions to life…
We start with key ingredients.
When we’re planning and designing our table, we always start with the main ingredient - the people. Mealtimes for us have always been an occasion, since a young age it’s always been very important that every meal was special, and this was only possible by making sure you had everyone at the table.
The dinner table is a place to share stories, preferably funny or pleasant. So, inviting everyone, plan in advance, make accurate lists and giving yourself plenty of time for each task to will minimise chaos and help you tackle the inevitable glitches that arise.
Send the invitations, or link to your event and let your guests know you’re planning something special for them. To add flare, match your invites to the aesthetic of your evening and the level of formality you wish to communicate.
Send the invitations as soon as possible — the more notice you give your guests, the more likely they’ll be able to come. Ask guests to R.S.V.P. and follow up to be sure they received the invitation. Your guests will most likely bring something, so recommend bringing what would actually be helpful.
Cue the Conversation..
Conversation is vital to a successful dinner party — almost as much as food. The first step towards ensuring that your night holds some fascinating repartee is by inviting people you know enjoy making conversation or have interesting stories and opinions to share.
If many of your guests don’t know each other, or even if they do, the best way to warm up the atmosphere is to introduce an element of fun to the evening.
Consider the size of your table.
Think of your tablescape as more than just serving accoutrements for food and drinks — it is, in fact, the scenery for the theater of dinner that you are crafting. Your table linens, plates, silverware, glasses and decorations are visual clues to your guests.
Bud vases are our first choice for a great tablescape. Although playing with height looks fabulous, it’s important that you can see your guests. If your table is long, use lots of individual arrangements running down the centre, but try to avoid uniformity.
Use your surroundings for design inspiration
When designing a table, it’s essential to draw upon nature and your surroundings, but even with a fairly neutral table setting add a hint of colour. Play with ribbons, use pressed linen napkins, beautiful crockery, crystal glassware, dried or fresh fruit slices and other cuttings to really lift a place setting. The final touches are key.
Candles are the finishing touch
Finally, add beautiful coloured candles. When dressing the table you can never have too many tealights and tapered candles. Varying heights add warmth and atmosphere, and everyone looks better by candlelight.
Events
What’s on..
Late Brunch w / The Table Project
The perfect opportunity to collaborate, encourage, and build together through intentional conversation & authentic listening — with the aim of increasing self confidence, building self-esteem and social skills within the community.
Limited Capacity
As with our previous events, there are a limited number of tickets available for purchase, please reserve a ticket early..
This event has now closed. Discover more of our events, projects and happenings here.
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