Charger Plates, Dinner Party, Guides

Centerpieces and Table Settings Create a Mood at Events

Plan Events around a Seasonal Theme – It Never Fails

Planning a Seasonal Event

The beauty of event planning is that every season – every month, actually – brings its own atmosphere and its own built-in theme. No longer are baby showers and bridal lunches reserved exclusively for spring, as these types of parties can be held all year long. While spring and summer allow for a blend of indoor and outdoor activity, fall and winter give off a cozy vibe that cannot be emulated at other times of the year. No matter what the season, a good event planner, working with a great caterer, should be able to plan a fresh and original seasonal menu, complete with an eye-catching, season-related table layout and décor. When the season itself becomes the theme, nature takes over and beauty abounds.

Let the Season Do the Work

While some people are comfortable planning their own events, party planners are counting on business coming from clients who either don’t have the time to organize their own party or those who admit that throwing a really fabulous event is not their thing. Thanks to all the non-creative, disorganized, and busy people in the world, party planning can be a lucrative business, especially when we’re talking about event planners who are trend-savvy. The innovative event manager should be in top form when it comes to coordinating season, décor, and menu – the trifecta of a great event.

Creating seasonal events is a sure way to impress your clients and their guests. Because the food is usually left to the caterer, and the season is dictated by, well, the time of year, event planners are left to focus on decorations and table settings, which can make a huge difference when it comes to the atmosphere of a party. It may surprise you, but when people host a dinner or an event, it can be stressful or intimidating to plan the table settings. They’re afraid to do it “wrong,” as if they will be judged by a properly set table. That’s where the event planner comes in.

Place settings at events

Table Settings and Centerpieces Are Important

A wonderful way to take an event’s decor to the next level is to pay particular attention to the way the tables are set, placing a lot of attention and focus on details. Play around with the layout. Experiment with different color combinations for your linen and centerpieces. When choosing linens, you can choose prints, but mostly when the event is casual; otherwise, a solid color is the best choice. Ivory always works, especially if you’re going for a soft and elegant look. Add some pizazz by using gold accessories, which can be a beautiful accent to white, ivory or even black dishware. Gold works all year ‘round.

Centerpieces are key – they can be a fun way to add a personal touch and to tie in the table décor with the general theme of the event. Seasonal flowers are always welcome, but non-floral centerpieces can make a statement that will leave a lasting impression. Regardless of the type of centerpiece you create for your client, it is important to keep it below eye level so guests can easily converse and see one another across the table. If you opt to put candles on the table, remember to keep them unscented, as many people are sensitive to smells. In addition, you don’t want them to interfere with the wonderful aroma of the food and wine being served.

Place Settings

While you can get inspiration for seasonal table decorations on the Internet, there’s not much to do about the cutlery itself. Putting everything in the right order is important any time of year so, as a general rule of thumb, start from the outside and work your way in. If an appetizer is being served, the cocktail or appetizer fork is placed first on the left (on the outside), followed by the salad fork, and then the dinner fork (“hugging” the dinner plate). To the right, goes the first-course knife and a dinner/steak knife and then, closer to the plate, you place all the spoons that your guests will need for the meal, whether for soup, dessert, or coffee.

Charge into the Season

For a little extra “wow” factor, adding a charger plate is a nice decorative touch and can help you infuse a more elegant feel into the setting. The appetizer and salad course can be placed directly on top of the charger; after salad service, both the dinner plate and salad plate are removed, leaving only the charger plate to serve as the base for the main course.

The great thing about charger plates is the range of colors, materials, and shapes they come in, allowing them to fit into any seasonal décor you have in mind. With a little ingenuity you should be able to take advantage of a wide variety of textures and hues to link the charger to the seasonal theme of the event in a way that will get people talking about you and your talents. (No matter what the season, always remember to check your charger plate diameter. They range from 11” to 13″, but using the larger options can affect how many guests are seated at a round table.)

Completing the place setting at events

Completing the Place Setting

There’s a lot of latitude when it comes to napkin design and placement, and many different folds can be used ranging from basic to intricate. You may not realize it, but decorative and fancy napkins can add style and a seasonal element to your table décor. Check out “Napkin Folding – Seasonal Ideas For Table Decoration” on the Family Holiday website for inspiring ideas to help you create truly beautiful table decor, which will impress everyone before they’ve taken a single bite of food.

Chargers: Even When the Event is Informal

If your menu is less formal, a charger plate at each seat may not be suitable. If, for instance, the menu is comprised of just appetizers and finger foods, chargers could be overkill, but you can still introduce seasonal flair and style by creating a centerpiece at each table using a charger plate. In this type of situation, you can use the charger as the base under a beautiful bouquet of seasonal flours: roses and tulips in the spring; irises and gladioli in the summer; sunflowers and marigolds in the fall; and amaryllis and carnations in the winter. Alternatively, you can rest a glass bowl on a charger full of decorative rocks, sea shells, artificial pearls and gems, candies, and candles – anything that will augment and underscore the party’s seasonal theme. The possibilities are endless, so let your imagination run wild.

Getting Ready

Each season offers inspiration for table décor and, with a little creativity you can turn to natures seasonal resources to create accents that will make an impact. As you prepare for your client’s upcoming celebration, consider the season and how you can work it into the ambiance and feel of the event. Coordinate with the caterer – who will also be using seasonal produce – to help tie it all together. Make use of the season’s bounty and predominant colors to accessorize a décor that is as gorgeous to the eye as the food is to the palate. The overall impression will make you the most popular event planner in town with your next party right around the corner.

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