Even though I don't get to do it nearly as often as I’d like (I'm hoping to change that soon!), I loooove hosting a good brunch or dinner party. I'm always lurking in the dinnerware aisle dreaming up tablescapes where the drinks are flowing, and the food is scrumdiddlyumptious. I love that that's an actual word in the dictionary, btw. My best tip is to not be afraid to mix and match colors and patterns because that's where all the fun starts to happen! Hosting family and friends is also a great time to break out all that heirloom and wedding registry stuff that is still stashed in a box somewhere.
Plus I like that it doesn't have to be a formal affair. I’m all about jazzing up a simple "croissants and jam" breakfast. Just add a pitcher of mimosas and you've got yourself an event!
This garden-inspired tablescape features some affordable finds, like these awesome white Ikea plates that I usually use throughout the year. I think it's definitely worth investing in a white dinnerware set for everyday since it can transition from spring to fall and on through the holidays. And now that everything is in bloom here in San Antonio, I couldn’t help to wanna bring in an accent color that reminded me of garden flowers. I added this soft rose napkin and played around with the placement, but ultimately I didn’t wanna hide the salad plate print, so I tucked it underneath.
I know I'm not the only one that feels like all the brass/gold/rose gold trend is going to go out of style sometime soon- but nope. It’s still kicking! Lol. And now with the '80s swinging back around in fashion, I think it's more apropos than ever. I actually have this really nice Wallace silver hammered flatware set that my mother in law got us and we use every day, but I also wanted to brighten up the table and add a little more depth, so this modern gold flatware set from Tarjay did just the trick.
Styling-wise, there are two things that I’ve gotta have on a dining table. Fresh flowers, and lots of candles. I've been wanting to take a floral arrangement class at local flower shop for some time now, and one day I will. But for now, an assortment of Trader Joe's flowers works just fine. I always find myself gravitating towards their hydrangeas, pink roses, eucalyptus, and tulips when they're in season. I tend to avoid the bright colorful stuff. (I really don't know how to work with it, if I'm being honest). If you're up for a rabbit hole session, there are a bunch of videos on Youtube on how to make fancy floral arrangements from basic TJ's flower bunches.
And as far as the candles go, I'm not partial to any one type or another (love them all!), I just like to make sure that they're scent-free so that the yummy smell-goods of our dinner doesn’t get drowned out by say, the smell of Cottage Breeze. Is that a real scent? I dunno. I should have googled that. Anyway, if you're using a tapered candle holder, you may also want to try a dripless candle so that you don't get that funky stuff happening with the wax as it comes down all willy wonka and looks like a scene straight out of Tales from the Crypt. Been there!
A while back, I found these Vidrios San Miguel drinking glasses at a Home Goods. They may still actually stock these, but really I have found a bunch on eBay. I really love the ones I have, but I do wish I would have opted for the more slender drinking glass. Still, the color is so pretty, and I love that it says "100% recycled glass" right on... well, the glass. I use these for water glasses, and in the summertime, they hold plenty of drink and LOTS of ice- so they're nice for ice tea on the patio too. I really prefer cold drinks out of real glass. They just taste better to me! Also, these glass tumblers are much smaller, but still just as cute.
For our wine glasses, I bought a 12-count set of these little mini wine glasses from Crate & Barrell. I say mini cause they're so cute and small, but they actually hold a full glass of wine so don't be fooled! I absolutely love these. They are short and stocky, making them far less fragile than long-stemmed glasses. They do great in the dishwasher and get this - they stack! I'm really glad I have these little cuties. We don't each ice cream often enough, but I bet they'd be great for that, too. Mmmm… ice cream.
So don't be afraid to pair new with old, plain with patterned to create a sweet tablescape of your own. Bring on the ambiance music, the drinks, and the laughs! With the right setting, you can add a little wow into an everyday meal shared with the people you love the most.
So what about you? Do you have any hosting plans set up for this ? Let me know what your traditions look like in the comment section below!
