Let Your Table Tell a Story: Personal Collections & Tablescapes

While each party is different and unique in its own way, every time you entertain is a reflection of you and your style—and the tabletop is a wonderful showcase for your talents. I love everything about entertaining, but staging the tabletop has to be one of my favorite aspects of planning a party.

I love using unexpected things from around my home to create the tablescape. It not only makes for a display that comments on my personal style, it’s also a great way to spark conversation among my guests. One of my collections saved the day when an event was unexpectedly moved to my house, leaving me with two days to plan!

I have been collecting teapots for 25 years. As a child, my Irish nanny and I shared tea every afternoon. I started the collection after she passed away, in part as a way to remember her and keep her close at heart. Today, I have about 100 teapots.

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in Palm Beach is part of a formula for a fund-raising event I created more than 10 years ago to benefit the Armory Art Center. The ceramics artists at the center created teapots for our silent auction and they helped us with tabletop decorations. Many of the teapots in my collection are from the auction, some are thrift shop finds, and several are found treasures from our travels

When I became the last-minute hostess of a gathering for the donors and supporters of this annual event, I loved putting favorite teapots from my collection on the table and repurposing them as flowerpots. The teacups hanging from the pergola were found at a thrift shop and each guest went home with a cellophane-wrapped cupcake in a teacup (those I purchased at an odd-lot store). The colorfully “mad” hats placed high above highlight the whimsical and varied collection of teapots, and guests were given equally fanciful hats to wear. The whole arrangement was as entertaining and engaging as Alice’s trip to Wonderland.

Here’s my best advice to keep in mind when planning your next party’s tabletop:

• From the menu to the mood, the décor of your table should be cohesive with the rest of the event. Use flowers, intricate objects, and collections that correspond with your event’s theme.
• Give every guest something lovely to look at. I like to place small items around the table, whether it’s votive candles, single stems in petite vessels, or baskets of candy, so everyone can enjoy the tableau.
• Height is an often forgotten yet important element to consider when creating a tablescape. Keep flowers, candles, and other decorative elements below eye level or be sure they are thin and don’t block your guests view. You want your guests to be able to see across the table and converse freely.
• If you are using a big centerpiece, make sure that there are other opportunities to visually involve your guests, like detailed place cards, napkin rings, or intricate chargers.
• Always remember, unless you’re having Emily Post over, it doesn’t have to be perfect. The tabletop is just another way to channel your creativity, it can be as simple or complex as you’d like.