Expensive table setting ideas

It's interesting:
"It is said that a Fall wedding is a very special one, because at a time when so much of the life around us is changing colors and dying, we gather together for a celebration of life and a brand new beginning. Indeed, today we are very privileged to welcome a new married couple into the world. I hope that every time you celebrate your anniversary, you will always think back to this wonderful Autumn day and remember all the love and warmth that you feel in this room right now."

A beautifully set table creates a mood for you and your guests. It is a pleasure to look at, inviting and makes eating the meal there all the more enjoyable. Just because a table is set with expensive, high-quality wares does not mean it can't be set simply. It's up to you and the type of meal being served.

Does this Spark an idea?

1. Table Linens

   • Gorgeous fabrics, stunning weaves and textures, a touch of metallic thread along a scalloped edge---tablecloths quickly make a table come to life. Choose one that rests on the tops of your guest's legs or one that falls elegantly to the floor for a more dramatic look. Layer fabrics, textures, shapes. Set a contrasting runner on top of a tablecloth. If your cloth is busily patterned, choose simple china so that it doesn't have to compete with what it is set upon. Patterned china is shown off beautifully against a solid tablecloth. If you wish to highlight your table---if it is unusually shaped or made of beautiful wood---you may not want to cover it with a tablecloth. Consider using a runner down the center of the table instead to add color and texture. Place mats are also an option, though less formal. Or skip it altogether and set the place settings on the bare tabletop. Don't forget cloth napkins, which can be folded into various forms and placed on the center of each plate. They can also be folded under the silverware to the right of the plate. An easy way to add height to a table setting is to neatly stuff the water glass with the napkin and fan it out in folds.

   China

   • Set a charger under the dinner plate for added depth. This helps define the setting and, because a charger can be made of metal, glass, bamboo, etc., it can also give an unexpected boost of color or shine. Choose high-quality china like traditional Wedgewood or the more modern Vera Wang. If starting the meal with a soup, set the bowl on top of the dinner plate (which is on top of the charger)- if starting with a salad, set the salad plate atop the dinner plate. Bread plates sit alone to the left of the fork. Make the place settings as complicated or as simple as you'd like. Play with complementary but contrasting colors and patterns, or choose to use only white.

   Glassware

   • Crystal and hand-blown glassware are essential. Make certain they are free of fingerprints and smudges. Choose uncolored glass so that the diners can appreciate the color of whatever they are holding (wine). For a formal event, use glasses with gold rims. Always place them to the right of the dinner plate, starting with the largest glass (water) and ending with the smallest (dessert wine) if you're using more than one glass.

   Centerpiece

   • The ideal centerpiece can be admired by everyone at the table but does not get in the way either physically or visually. A flower arrangement is a popular (and potentially expensive) centerpiece. If your table is long, consider making a "runner" of flowers---perhaps a line of low, small arrangements set close together all the way down the table. Don't forget to consider what is holding the flowers. This is the perfect excuse to buy a beautiful vase. Candles are another popular item on a table's center, and with the variety of holders and candelabras now available in metal, crystal and other materials, the cost of a candle-lit centerpiece can quickly add up.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: dinner plate, table setting, Expensive table, Expensive table setting, place settings, setting ideas