Thursday, January 12, 2012

A Winter's Eve Dinner Party.......

A long while back we hosted a lovely dinner party for 8 on a VERY wintery snowy January evening. The entire world surrounding us was dark, cold, white, icy and gorgeous. We lit a blaze in the fireplace and waited for our friends to arrive.

We just love to have theme parties (well I do anyway haha.) My DH is always so supportive and helpful. He is a truly wonderful host. We do entertain often. One of my very favorite parties of the year is our annual Winter's Eve Dinner party every January. These are older pictures of one of our parties. I liked the lighting and how everything photographed so chose these older ones. The tablescape changes up a little from year to year but generally you get the basic idea of them from these photos, at least.



The chargers look gold in the close up pic, but that's because of the reflection from the Tuscan gold walls- they are distinctly silver in person. I found 12 of them on ebay several years ago. The simple crisp white dinner and salad plates are Pottery Barn and the bread plates are Crate & Barrel. The basic daily cutlery is PB too I think,  from years ago. It was before I had my vintage/antique collection for 8 now. You may have already seen the snowflake napkins I just mentioned last week here made and given to me by my wonderful friend Marcia. The silverplated napkin rings I've had for at least 10 years.

Here is a close up of the centerpiece. It is a simple bottomless glass cylinder covered by a silver metal "sleeve" and has glittery bits on it - really is nice when there is a candle in it, plays nice shadowy interest all about. I bought it at World Market about 10 years ago too. (Time flies, doesn't it?) I simple put a short white or silver pillar candle on a plate then put the cylinder on top of the plate.



I tossed a handful of vintage silver metal snowflake buttons all around the table. You may be able to see there is glittery white strings of snowflake garland and silver metallic star wire garland strewn about as well. I also used a half dozen silver and white painted wooden flat snowflake picture frames (found at Dollar Store probably.) In the picture area I placed a variety of pictures of snowflakes - they are just scattered about as well to keep up the theme. I made simple placecards out of heavy silver muted metallic card stock and placed a white enamel-painted snowflake scrapbook embellishment on it near the name, in keeping with the snowy theme.

As a favor each couple was given a wrapped gift - inside it was a crystal snowflake wine bottle stopper in a gift box. You know I sure wish I would have included us to have one as well, would be nice to have a photo of it. Sorry about that. You can see in this little collage various glistening winter wonderland decor we used. I wish the menu had shown up clearer.


Here is our silvery winter after-Christmas-before-Valentines-wreath we use when it is nice and snowy outside. Let's just say this weird warm weather we're having right now makes it look a little out-of-place! But I keep getting told to be very careful what I wish for, so I will stop wishing for snow now and just remember the pretty snowfall from a week ago that is gone, and try and remember fondly our beautiful snowfall from last year. If you have a moment please look  here  at my recent post about the beautiful first snowfall of last year that I captured in pictures. So far we haven't had anything that nice stick around yet this year. But there's time for all that snowy nonsense!





Thanks for stopping by!

Joining Susan over at BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday!
Joining Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday!

11 comments:

  1. Your tablescapes is lovely! Love your wreath! Great idea. I never know what to hang on the door after Christmas!
    Hugs
    LaDonna

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  2. I love theme parties as well! This is a great idea in the winter months. I live where we get lots of snow as well and I will need to plan something like this I love it. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Stunning tablescape, it makes me feel like I could feel the crisp air of winter in the air. I adore this colorscape and plan to do one soon!

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  4. Hi, Michele! Very, very pretty table to ring in winter's cold! It LOOKS like a very January table! :-) Silver and white together is an unstoppable duo! The snowy effect is beautiful on your table. We got dumped on a little last night, and the snow is NOT pretty outside with everyone slipping and sliding around! It doesn't seem like World Market has been around that long, but when I think back to some of the things I have that came from there, I guess that makes sense. Wow...time really DOES fly! Your friend did a marvelous job with the napkins, too! Have a warm, wonderful weekend!

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  5. Gorgeous tablescape for winter! Everything in silver is just so elegant and evokes winter to perfection. The whites dishes are great and all your elements to the napkins. The wreath is stunning! Thank you for sharing at Tablescape Thurs. Have a nice weekend.
    FABBY

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  6. What a pretty, sparkly tablescape! I know your guests felt very special dining in such a beautiful setting.

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  7. It is a beautiful winter tablescape and I am sure your guests enjoyed being pampered!

    Take care,
    Carolyn

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  8. Great winter tablescape, from door to table! Love the silver wreath on the dark door, so inviting and elegant. Silver is great for winter dinners, elegant and refined, calming and without the glitz and glitter that tends to overwhelm us during Christmas. Thanks for sharing your inspiration. If you have time this weekend, stop by www.inandoutmynest.blogspot.com. I've just started a weekly blog party called R & R Weekend for sharing ideas about Rest and Rejuvenating our creative spirits. Anything from writing, reading, tablescaping, sewing, singing, crafting or traveling. I love to read/see what other people do to recharge! Hope you can stop by! Happy blogging. ~CJ

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  9. What a pretty winter tablescape. Your silver wreath looks so sparkley too. Looks like a beautiful winter at you house.

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  10. Beautiful table...captures the best of winter! Sounds like a wonderful party/ What a great thing to do when the holidays are over and there is not much else going on!

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  11. That tablescape is gorgeous! You did a fabulous job! Also, I want to thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a sweet comment for my doily paper napkins:) I will see you around blog land:D

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Thank you, friend, for taking the time to comment! I read each and every one of them. Your thoughts are appreciated!