RE-ceiving guests: Blue Tables

My normal hosting set up: 3 round tables of 10 on my porch.

When I offer to host showers and luncheons, I usually tell the honoree that I can host up to 30 guests.  I use this number because I know I can comfortably fit three round tables of 10 on my covered porch.  Where I live in South Texas, rain is rare and cold is even rarer.  However, even when I am unsure of the weather, I know I can seat 30 inside my home as my backup plan so I never stress if the weather turns bad unexpectedly. 

Above is a picture of a bridal shower table setting I have used, but this time with pink and blue toile tablecloths found on sale at Williams Sonoma outlet. I bought these at the same time as the pink and green toile tablecloths in this table setting entry. 

Having a fixed plan to host 30, allows me to take advantage of sales. I try to buy 3 round table cloths for an outdoor party, plus 2 rectangular tablecloths in case the party moves inside. I rent the white round tables and chairs for the porch, but if I host a party inside, I use my own dining tables. For this shower, I used blue and white ceramic pots for centerpieces that I found probably 15 years ago. They are great for multiple settings and I have used them over and over again. The Spode Blue Room china on the above table was first collected by my sister, Eldarose, for her everyday china and then I started buying it also.   Since we both collect it, I can borrow extra dishes from her if I host a larger party which I did later this same day. The cobalt blue glasses are from Pier One. The white linen napkins are wrapped with blue satin ribbon. This party's favor was a favor bag from Michael's craft store filled with M&Ms stamped with the bride & groom's name.Personalized M&Ms can be ordered online HERE.  

Pictures from a different shower.  You can see that I like this setting of Spode Blue Room china on the blue and pink tablecloths a lot. In the above setting, I used pink roses with greenery instead of the red and hot pink combination I used for the other shower setting above.

Different angle, same party.

TWO PARTIES IN ONE DAY? BIG MISTAKE!

This bridal shower from the first picture was from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  My guests and I had a great time, but as soon as they left, I had to begin preparing for another party that evening.  


In hindsight, it wasn't a great plan, but on that same day, I had planned on hosting 60 people for dinner at my house for another couple getting married.  I used the same Spode Blue Italian china, cobalt blue glasses, and centerpieces thus saving money on flowers and rented chairs and tables. To individualize the parties,  I decided to rent blue buffalo-checked tablecloths and I bought blue and white checked napkins from J.C. Penney's online. I found invitations with a blue and white checked fabric square at invitationbox.com.  The party favor was again M & Ms with the names of the bride and groom. For this tablescape, I used blue chargers I ordered from Horchow.   I did save money by hosting back-to-back parties, but I was certainly tired the next day.  Immediately after the earlier party, I started preparing for the evening party.  I cooked for the earlier party on Friday but I still had tables to set on Saturday morning.  After the bridal brunch, I set up tables for the evening party out in the yard.  I hired a caterer and waiters for the evening party but I was still responsible for desserts.  So after setting the tables in the yard, I had heart-shaped lemon squares and brownies to prepare.  After the guests left that evening, we did clean up until 3 a.m. so I don't recommend 2 parties in one day even with the help of caterers and wait staff it is a LOT to do in one day.

Blue & white Buffalo check tablecloths add an enjoyable country feel for an outdoor setting.

The yellow roses pop against the blue & white backdrop.

My mother seated with my sister, Elsa, and my mother's closest friends standing behind her.

I don't have pictures to upload right now of the table settings for that evening shower, but when I again hosted about 60 people for  dinner on my mother's 75th birthday, I used the same Spode Blue Room China with rented blue & white buffalo-checked tablecloths setting. The only notable change is I used yellow roses and blue hydrangeas for the centerpieces for my mother's birthday party and white linen napkins wrapped with a blue satin ribbon instead of the blue and white checked napkins from JC Penny's I had used at the couple's shower.  

This night was memorable because my mother's tight knit extended family members and her closest friends were able to join us.  As a special gift to my mother who insisted on no gifts, my siblings and I came up with a funny Top 10 list.  To take it easy, we had a catered dinner with wait staff and we hired a photographer to take pictures of the family.  The menu was Italian.  We served appetizers, lasagne, salad, bread and dessert.  The photos above are my own photos from that evening I took before we all sat down for dinner.

WRITTEN BY REBA

Another Blue and White table setting can be seen HERE

Reba's Red and white Toile Table can be seen HERE

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See more Tablescapes HERE

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