This year has featured a heavy dose of micro-holiday gatherings which has opened up a new realm of party prep to me – the classic dinner party table. I’m slowly learning the proper (and most-stylish-yet-practical) ways to set a table for a multi-course meal, and am accruing shelves of themed plates, napkins, and glassware.
This table was set for a mini celebration of a traditional Polish seven-course meal. Usually, there are 40 place settings to throw together with hodge dodge tableware, so this was a nice change of pace to intentionally set and decorate for 4 people.
The Must Haves:
- Festive plates
- Drinking glasses – all tables should have a plethora of water, cocktail, and wine glasses
- Cloth napkins & rings
- Candles – these pillar candles have gotten so much milage this year
- Opportunities for twinkle – votive holders, metallic tapers, etc.
The Finishing Touches:
A simple long garland snaking down the table serves as a nice anchor and reminder of the festive season. It adds a pop of much needed color on the neutral tabletop, and provides a forgiving foundation to hide candlestick holders, wires from clip-on berries, and wooden bases. Votive holders, metallic tapers, pillar candles, crystal goblets, and a clear view of the Christmas tree bring a little pop of class to the table setting.
A strand of rustic bells from an antique shop and mini trees bring homey texture to the table. And no holiday table is complete without cloth napkins reminiscent of my Catholic school kilt.
Happy Winter Dining!
The Frequent Fête 