Ahhhhh - it’s the start of the fall and winter holiday entertaining season again - that time of year that makes me sooooo happy to be able to create beautiful celebrations for family and friends gathered around the table.

The visual look of the table is like the first impression of the party, and the one that sets the mood for the event.

I believe ardently in elegance. When it comes to entertaining, elegance is not at all about formality, it is more about the attention to detail that creates a welcoming and memorable occasion for your guests. And an elegant table is not complete without some sort of centerpiece.

BUT, is not necessary, or even desirable in many cases, to order a generic centerpiece from the florist.

There are so many creative options for a centerpiece arrangement to anchor the theme of the event, and you can “shop” for the ingredients right in your own home…

The centerpiece in the opening image was created from a mix of things found around the house and a quick trip to the grocery store. It includes a mix of fresh and faux flowers, fresh and faux greens, and some fruit and vegetables all arranged in an abandoned oval planter we had on hand.

Design a centerpiece that matches the theme or occasion of your event

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• an arrangement of teapots used as flower vases and teacups used as votive holders for an afternoon tea party

• children’s books and stuffed animals displayed on and around a child size chair for a baby shower

• a collection of nutcrackers arranged on and around a large drum for a Christmas celebration…

• pumpkins. gourds, branches, and found nature objects for a fall fête

• a collection of almost anything, artfully arranged, can be pressed into service as a centerpiece!

Plan the size of your centerpiece based on the type of party and use of the table

Of course, the table decoration should fit the occasion, but there are practical considerations as well.

Centerpieces for Seated Dining

If it is a party where everyone will be seated at the table (as opposed to a buffet) then height is a big consideration. There is nothing more stifling to easy conversation than having to play peek-a-boo around a tall, bulky centerpiece to talk to someone on the opposite side of the table!

Arrange a shallow container with a lower-than-eye-level centerpiece OR use slender tall vases or candlesticks where the bulk of the centerpiece is above seated eye level. You see this a lot at wedding receptions and benefit galas in public venues with high ballroom ceilings.

If you might need to remove the centerpiece to make way for serving dishes, arrange the whole thing on a tray to make it easily mobile.

Centerpieces for Buffet DIning

If you are decorating a buffet table, then the sky (or at least the ceiling) is the limit! If your buffet surface will be viewed and approached from all sides, be sure the centerpiece also looks good from all sides.

Use a variety of staggered heights for interest. Books, boxes, and pedestal dishes and urns can all be used to elevate different sections of the display.

Centerpieces are a mini table-scape, of sorts, and so the same design rules apply that we have talked about in earlier posts; a variety of heights and textures with unifying themes and elements all scaled appropriately for the size of the table and the room.

Don’t restrict your centerpiece to the CENTER of the table

Centerpieces, despite the name, should by no means be restricted to the center of the table! Let the elements of your centerpiece branch out and mingle with the food, furniture, and guests!

Trailing greens, vines, or ribbons can meander through the display and beyond.

Using Candles

Candles are the ultimate atmosphere enhancer but PLEASE don’t use perfume scented candles…these do NOT mix well with food - stick to unscented or something benign like vanilla if you must have scented candles.

We often scatter votive candle holders around the table for a festive atmosphere or sometimes place them at each guests place setting for a sit-down dinner party.

Other Centerpiece and Table Decor Ideas

Scatter small individual vases of flowers or foliage, potted plants - (flowers, herbs, mini topiaries) around the table trailing out from a center display where you have arranged something coordinating at varying heights.

Satellite mini floral bouquets can supplement and expand on a center bouquet. BEWARE of strongly scented flowers like lilies and narcissus - like scented candles, these often do not mix well with food aromas.

If space is at a premium, and you NEED the center of the table for serving dishes, decorating each place setting instead of a lavish center arrangement may make more sense.

If space permits, a both/and approach is fun. Decorate the center AND the place settings!

For dinner parties, creative place cards can add to the centerpiece decoration – for example; a central arrangement of gourds and autumn vegetables can be furthered with place cards attached to individual mini pumpkins at the place settings.

Anything, at individual place settings, can add to the décor and function as a lovely little gift for your guests to take home…

• single flower stems or miniature potted plants or herbs or topiaries,

• traditional Christmas crackers with prizes inside, small wrapped gifts,

• ornaments,

• nests filled with candy Easter eggs

…the ideas are only limited by your imagination!

Dining chairs are fair game to extend the decorative elements as well! May baskets or wreaths or swags of greenery, stockings, or beribboned pine cones tied to the chair backs all add an unexpected extra.

A beautiful centerpiece and table are all part of the fun of entertaining - maybe the best part! And there is no stress of last minute details like there might be with preparing food since it can all be done well ahead of the party. So relax, and enjoy the creative process!

Happy Entertaining!

For the others posts in this series, click the links below:

PART 1: The Key Ingredients

PART 2: Entertaining Essentials

PART 3: Mix-and-Match Dinnerware

PART 4: The Art of the Buffet