Entertaining is a fabulous way to give back to those around you.  Whether you are hosting an intimate ceremony and dinner in your home, or planning a large affair, your wedding is an opportunity to express who you are through the environment that you create.  Designing a tablescape that is personal and allows your guests to connect with each other and on a more deeper level with you and your spouse takes a little bit of thought, but is well worth the effort. 

An Emotional Connection:

When I was a little girl, my dad made me a ring out of a dollar bill.  I remember wearing the ring proudly - and today when I put that ring on my finger it brings warm memories to mind.  

KING 5

Box a personal memory.

Search through your memory and find something to share with your guests, like this ring.  If you just want a whimsical way to create a place card this origami ring is the perfect concept.  Cover a plain white favor box in a colored paper that coordinates with the color palette of your wedding.  Place a white piece of cardstock cut to create a holder for your origami ring inside the favor box.  In the same colored paper, in a lighter stock fold your ring.  Print out your guests initial on a piece of white card stock and trim it to fit the top of the ring securing it with craft glue.  If you want to be fancy, trim the initial in glitter glue in a coordinating or matching color.  Place the ring in the box, and include your guest’s full name on the top of the box placing it on each place setting.  I chose to have an invitation designer (Chelsea Hixon from Suite 7 Creative: www.suite7creative.com ) create the favors that I featured in this issue of Seattle Bride Magazine ( www.seattlebridemag.com), however if you want to learn more about origami visit www.origami-instructions.com/money-origami-ring.html.

The contemporary table that I designed focuses on a very juicy palette of tangerine and saffron yellow.  I layered embroidered linen with a quilted overlay creates an interesting depth of texture.  The glassware and flatware are very simple and chic, and the chargers pop off of the table in bright saffron yellow and the yellow Glassybaby ( www.glassybaby.com) votive holders help to add a bit of romance and color to the table.  This table is also great for a bridesmaid luncheon or a bridal brunch. 

Of course, you can’t forget the flowers!  In Seattle Bride Magazine you will see a dramatic and colorful drum shade created by one of my favorite florists, Nisha Kelen from Fleurish ( www.fleurish.com).  The shade that she created to suspend above the table is sure to be a showstopper. 

Shopping list:

Orange taffeta “Madame Butterfly” disc linen from Aria Style (144 Western Ave. W.; 206.352.5778; ariafloral.com)

Lemon charger and salad plate from Select Linens and Event Rentals (206.604.1372; selectlinensandeventrentals.com)

Conversation flatware and Cosmopolitan glassware from Totally Tabletops (1758 Dexter Ave. N. #4; 206.817.8705; totallytabletops.com)

White linen napkin from AA Party Rentals (6404 216^th St. SW. Mountlake Terrace, 98043; 425.640.5547; aaparty.com)

Ring box place cards from Suite 7 Creative (1321 4^th Ave. W. #7; 206.669.1801; suite7creative.com)

Storybook Ending:

Weddings are so romantic and it is a chance to create a passionate, dramatic environment wrapped in warmth and love.  They can also be intimidating for some people, especially if you have a large wedding with a lot guests that do not know one another.  Creating a tablescape that engages guests around the table to talk with one another with ease is easy when you give them something to talk about. 

Select a picture of you and your sweetheart and be sure to select a different one for each guest’s place setting.  Have each photo color copied on photo quality paper to correspond with the number of guests around each table.  Write a short story, no more than a paragraph or two that describes the story behind the photo.  Be sure that the photo includes each of you so that guests have an opportunity to get to know you as a couple. 

Next spray paint two doilies in silver or gold (these should coordinate with your selected china), and glue one to each side of the 5 x 7 piece of card stock.  Glue a story to one side of the cardstock and the corresponding photo to the other side. Place each story card on each place setting and your guests will be sure to connect and become more familiar with your lives too. 

KING 5

Tell the story behind the photo to give the guests at the table something to talk about.

For an evening wedding, I lean towards gold as my accent because I love the warmth that it exudes under candlelight.  Layer each place setting with a gold charger and use matte gold flatware.  Mixing gold and silver is also a trend in design so I you feel like mixing it up, do it! 

Wrap those boring gold or silver ballroom chairs with luxurious double-faced wide satin ribbon.  Wrap the ribbon around once tying it at the top of the chair leaving a long strand hanging.  Then wrap the chair like a corset and tying again at the top.  Place each guests name on the back of the chair with Velcro or double stick tape, with each guests name printed on card stock and then glued to a doily that matches the story book cards on each plate.   

Shopping list:

Gold Chivari ballroom chairs, burnished mesh candleholders, gold-banded goblet, stemmed wine glasses, flute, Magnificence salad plate, Dynasty gold dinner plate and khaki linen napkin from AA Party Rentals (6404 216 ^th St. SW. Mountlake Terrace, 98043; 425.640.5547; aaparty.com)

Double-sided satin ribbon, place cards and story cards from Suite 7 Creative (1321 4^th Ave. W. #7; 206.669.1801; suite7creative.com)

Brushed gold-finished chargers from Select Linens and Event Rentals (206.604.1372; selectlinensandeventrentals.com)

Purple iridescent taffeta “Violetta” overlay linen from Aria Style (144 Western Ave. W.; 206.352.5778; ariafloral.com)

Passion for Sustainability:

If you are passionate about encouraging others to live a more sustainable life then this is the table for you.  Share some of what the environment has to offer with your friends and family by creating an elegant table with organic elements.

Organic does not have to exclude elegance. 

KING 5

Using recycled glass as a table accent sends a message of sustainability.

Uplight a centerpiece full of recycled glass in turquoise from one of my favorite resources, Bedrock Industries ( www.bedrockindustries.com). 

Layer the table with a white pebble runner or split them up to create placemats setting the scene for the perfect pacesetting. Rent an accent plate that appears as though you are looking through water from one of my favorite rental companies Totally Tabletops ( www.totallytabletops.com). 

If there is any glassware that you should purchase for this occasion it should be a champagne flute so your guests can toast you in style.  In this case I incorporated an inexpensive colored glass flute to treat my guests and add a pop of color to the glassware.  A deep aqua charger from Select Linens helps to ground the place setting. 

I always recommend giving your guests something to take home, and for this occasion I would recommend a succulent.  Succulents are easy to care for, and if you want to go an extra mile add a note card in that lovely aqua blue with a note on how each guest can live a more sustainable life.  You can also make a donation in your guests name to your favorite sustainable living charity and include a note within the succulent letting your guests know a donation has been made.  Nestle the succulent in a craft colored box with a color-coordinated ribbon and you’re all set!

Shopping list:

Rock runner placemat and Embroidered Chrysanthemum blue taffeta linens from Aria Style (144 Western Ave. W.; 206.352.5778; ariafloral.com)

Emperor dinner plates, Teardrop hammered flatware, Stemless wineglasses and taupe linen napkin from AA Party Rentals (6404 216th St. SW. Mountlake Terrace, 98043; 425.640.5547; aaparty.com)

Blue textured glass plate from Totally Tabletops (1758 Dexter Ave. N. #4; 206.817.8705; totallytabletops.com)

Aqua charger from Select Linens and Event Rentals (206.604.1372; selectlinensandeventrentals.com)

Kira stemless champagne flute from Crate and Barrel (555 Bellevue Square NE Bellevue, 98004; 425.646.8900; crateandbarrel.com)

Place cards from Suite 7 Creative (1321 4th Ave. W. #7; 206.669.1801; suite7creative.com)

Succulent from Swanson’s Nursery (9701 15th Ave. NW.; 206.782.2543; swansonsnursery.com)

Tumbled glass from Bedrock Industries (1401 W. Garfield St.; 206.283.7625; bedrockindustries.com)