Tablescape Tuesday: A Bright Luncheon

Did you see Kim's tablescape that was recently featured in Southern Living? Talk about a gorgeous spread of bright, fun colors!

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Inspired by the hues of peonies, daffodils, hyacinths and ranunculus, Kim created a palette of pink, yellow, blue and orange, punctuated by lush centerpieces and new tablecloths made of ikat fabrics. 

"Even with a big group, you always want it to feel intimate and personal," says Kim. To dress the tables, Kim combined three different place settings of family china and her own monogrammed napkins and flatware. The result was a cheerful luncheon focused on friends and family!

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Anchoring each arrangement is a handcrafted blue pottery bowl bursting with pink peonies. A random mix of colorful vases filled with daffodils, ranunculus and hyacinths surrounds the bowls. She placed each kind of flower in a separate vase instead of creating mixed bouquets. "My other sister, Krystal, and I raided everyone's cupboards looking for vases," says Kim, laughing. Getting each centerpiece grouping right was a matter of trial and error. "We kept moving the vases from table to table until we had just the right combinations," says Kim.

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Personalized patterned lipstick cases stand in as place cards. The Left Handed Calligrapher, Nicole Black, helped Kim with these cases, but you can do it yourself using a paint pen from a crafts or hobby store. "I love the handwritten casualness and the addition of more color and pattern to each place setting," Kim says. "The lipstick cases double as favors to take home to remember the day."

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Having similar looks on all three tables creates a festive setting that's sophisticated and cohesive. Key elements stay the same, but the colors and specifics are varied. Floor-length tablecloths made of a graphic Ceylon et Cie ikat fabric in three colorways form the base. 

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For the place settings, Kim repeated the following elements: china dinner plate, monogrammed napkin, and casual flatware.

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"This approach allowed us to mix and match our family pieces," Kim says. Rented rattan chargers and folding chairs offer a consistent thread from table to table and balance the strong colors.

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So fun!

Picking the Perfect Wedding Dress

My wedding gown laid out and ready to be steamed and put on!  I remember the excitement I felt when I walked into this room and saw it waiting for me!  I love seeing the reflection of one of my bridesmaids in the mirror!  I wish I knew which one it was!

My sister, Kari, is about to head out to her first bridal fitting after selecting her dress.  I am so honored that she asked me to come with her and I can't wait to see her in the gown!  It got me thinking about what a big deal it is to select that one dress that you dream about for years and years!  For some, it is simple.  They have had a vision of what their gown will be like since they were in the second grade.  For others, that vision is not as clear and selecting just one can be terrifying!  It is an important decision and one that you will reflect on for years to come.  Here are my tips for choosing the perfect wedding gown:

- After you are engaged, start browsing through the bridal magazines and tearing out images of dresses that you like.  You might notice a pattern in the styles, designers, and cuts that you are pulling.

- Be sure to try on all of the different shapes and cuts that the professionals at the bridal boutiques suggest.  Even though you may think a trumpet style will not work on your body shape, the pros are experienced and their knowledge and ideas might surprise you!  Be open minded and make it fun!

-Gowns can take anywhere from four to ten months to deliver and you might need to leave time in there for fittings and alterations as well.  Be sure to shop early and explain your deadlines to your boutique sales team.

-Make an appointment.  Most Bridal Boutiques work by appointment only so set aside some time and book  an hour or so at a few different places.

- Set a budget before you shop!  Ask the shops for the price range of the dresses they sell when you call to make an appointment.

- Take your trusted tastemakers with you but believe in your own reactions too.  Invite your mom, sisters, bridesmaids, or friends to go with you when you first try things on but don't let them talk you into something that just isn't you.

-Take shoes that are similar to the heel height you plan on wearing on your big day.  They really do make a difference!  After you select your dress and purchase your wedding day shoes, take them with you to your fittings so that the length can be measured appropriately.

- Take photographs!  Ask your mom or bridesmaid to take photographs of you in the dresses that you are considering.  They will help you look back and remember the little details that made one dress stand out from the others.

- Don't buy on your first visit.  Think about the dresses that are your top choices and sleep on it.  Go back and try them on a second time before you place your order.

- Keep the dress style appropriate to the time, season, style and location of your wedding.  A ball gown is not going to look right at the beach!

For more of my bridal tips, you can order my Wedding Workbook: A Time Saving Guide for the Busy Bride. 

Beautiful Bridesmaids

Picking the perfect bridesmaid dress is not an easy task.  There are not a lot of styles that suit everyone and chances are, not all of your bridesmaids have the same body type or coloring.  Here are few tips to help you make the right selection:

-Start with the color.  Pick a color that will complement the season and time of day of your wedding.  If you are getting married in the morning or afternoon, a lighter color is appropriate.  If you are getting married after dark, a darker and more dramatic shade will look great!  

Here are some seasonal favorites:

Winter - Silvers, blues, holiday reds and greens.

Spring - light pastels

Summer - vibrant hues like bold oranges and lemon yellows

Fall - browns and rusts, red and black

-Select style and length. The big trend now is to dress your bridesmaids in cute short dresses.  I love that look for an informal wedding but I also love a long gown for a black tie wedding.  Ask yourself what the style of your wedding gown will be and make sure the same word could describe your bridesmaid dress selection.  Is it traditional, formal, informal, edgy, trendy, classic, preppy, sexy, beachy, or fun.

-Uniformity is key. Uniformity is important but that doesn't mean that all of your bridesmaids need to be in the same dress.  You could do the same color and let each bridesmaid select her own style.  You could also do the same style in a variety of different shades.  You should also ask yourself if you want them all in the same shoes, same jewels, and same accessories.  

-Organize the purchase. Send each of your bridesmaids a letter telling them how excited you are. Include as many details about the wedding as possible.  Send them hotel information, schedule details and a sentence or two about each one to introduce them to each other.  You should also include a list of everyone's names, addresses, emails and telephone numbers so that they can connect before the big day.  Also send them a sheet with the details of the dress and the information for ordering it.  Remember to include some specific deadlines for them so that they remember to get it done!

-Don't worry about them wearing it again! They never will.  That is why I love www.ruffleswap.com  It is so clever!  Two sisters got together and started it so that bridesmaids could sell their like-new gowns to other gals who would not remember it as a bridesmaid dress!