Whether you’re going all-out with an eye-popping theme or elevating your event with just a few festive touches, set the tone for your next gathering and glow with pride at the head of a resplendent table with advice from Lovely Luxe Rentals’ Nicole Cecchi, whose business offers design as well as the tableware to entertain. “People are so excited to go all-out,” she says. “We’ve all missed being together. It’s a really fun time to design.”
Start With One Special Element
A fresh, outdoor event might start with the inclusion of greenery at each place setting, and a special brunch might build off of a certain thematic food or ingredient. For a holiday party, Cecchi likes to begin with vintage dinnerware, evoking vibes of family and tradition.
“I did an event around mandarin oranges,” Cecchi says, giving a concrete example. “Mimosas, Blue Moons, orange ranunculus and tulips—but included peach, yellow, white and pops of pink to complement the orange.”
Bold color combinations, slight variations in monochromatic looks and mixtures of textures and patterns are in, so don’t be afraid to mix dinnerware and drinkware from different collections. “I love adding marble or Lucite to a more rustic table,” Cecchi says. “I love nontraditional combinations.”
Décor Density
When plotting your place settings, consider a general dinner party rule: the more items on the table, the more formal your event. And whatever’s on the table, be it silverware or glasses, should be used at some point in the meal to avoid unnecessary clutter. “If you’re not serving coffee or tea,” Cecchi says, “leave out the teaspoon.” Conversely, if you’re serving wine, guests will also want water, so be sure to provide glasses for that.
Practicality aside, you can get creative in how these implements are arranged. Get on YouTube and learn some cute napkin origami, tuck a flower into each napkin fold or tie bundled flatware with a silk ribbon.
Centerpiece Suggestions
The design of a gorgeous dinner party doesn’t have to start with the centerpieces, but if you include them, there are a few rules to remember. Centerpieces can be wildly creative and outside the box, but you can never go wrong with the traditional fresh flowers and/or candles. Just be sure to choose unscented candles and flower varieties without a strong fragrance that will interfere with the meal.
Decorative bowls of fruit, pine cones or other cute items are a classic option, too. “Just be sure the height and size of centerpieces doesn’t disrupt guests’ ability to see and talk to each other,” Cecchi says.
Outdoor Elegance
With so many outdoor events necessitated by the pandemic, garden parties and luxury picnics have flourished. “I love the mix of being outdoors and casual/rustic but creating a tablescape that is elegant and upscale,” Cecchi says.
Guests expect an outdoor event to have the laid-back feel of a barbecue, but when they arrive and find fancy stemware, china and thoughtful décor set up outside, it really sets the event apart and signifies how special it is to spend time together.
That said, Cecchi urges us to always take weather into consideration. Whether you have heaters or fans at the ready or an indoor space as a plan B, be ready for wind or rain to shake things up.
Beyond the Table
Create a cohesive ambiance by considering what surrounds the dinner table. “I love a good bar cart,” says Cecchi. And if you don’t have one, Lovely Luxe has several in inventory. A signature cocktail can be a thing of beauty and a nod to some element in the theme or decoration, so consider showcasing a drink.
Sideboards or bar carts in the gathering area should be tastefully laden and not overcrowded with liquor bottles or all the tchotchkes that might ordinarily roost there. Leave some family photos by all means, but not the collection of souvenir shot glasses.
Temporary Tableware
Excited to celebrate with an elaborate banquet? Huzzah. But if you just want to punch up a casual brunch, small touches can go far. “A charger or presentation plate makes a table look really put together,” Cecchi says, and they can easily be coordinated with dinnerware you already own. Statement glassware like cute colored goblets effortlessly add a pop to each setting.
If the contents of your cabinets feel blah and you don’t want your storage space filling up with countless cups and tablecloths, a rental company like Lovely Luxe steps in to easily add as many extraordinary elements as you might want, then whisk them away again. Each party can have a fresh feel without a huge investment in unique décor. You’ll have guests’ jaws dropping in no time!
The Expert:
Nicole Cecchi
Lovely Luxe Rentals
