Whether you are organizing an elaborate banquet or a casual dinner with friends, you should decorate your table with style and finesse. Along with the proper flatware, dinnerware, and linens, your centerpiece is an important statement of your personal style and it sets the tone for your event. Here are some tips on how to create the perfect centerpiece along with a few of our favorite table centerpiece ideas…
The centerpiece is the decorative element that sits in the middle of your table. A well-planned centerpiece will dramatically change your table and can be “the icing on the cake.” There are no fixed rules regarding the choice of centerpiece, except that you should be certain it does not interfere with the food or your guests’ conversation. Candles and flowers are the most common table centerpieces. If this is your choice, it is best to avoid strong scents and to make sure the proportions don’t overwhelm your table setting. (see our example) A centerpiece is a great place to show off your creativity--you can mix and match thematic elements or choose seasonal items. A delicate hand made porcelain centerpiece can add a touch of originality and elegance to your table.
One of our favorite centerpiece ideas is using fresh ivy together with wrought-iron candlesticks, like in this example. The delicate leaves gently counterbalance the strong lines of the wrought iron for this formal meal. Candles complete this centerpiece with the added bonus of providing a dramatic source of lighting.
If you are trying to decorate a buffet table, you have the space to experiment building more elaborate decorations. For a buffet table, the more conspicuous the centerpiece is the better. Edible compositions evoking luxurious and abundant Renaissance banquets are always a success. One of the most dramatic and unforgettable centerpieces we remember seeing was a tower of shrimps and lobsters displayed on a wedding banquet table in Italy. If your party, event, or meal has a theme, it is fun to improvise upon that theme. For instance, if your banquet is based around various soups, as in this example, you can successfully display most of the decorative ingredients. Even the soup bowls can be arranged on the buffet table as a decorative effect. If your banquet is based on fish you could something similar to this.
For the holidays, it is a pleasure for both you and your guests to develop unique, untraditional table settings from any combination of thematic decorations, candles, and flowers. Truly, the only limitation for centerpiece design in your own imagination. Enjoy this moment to express your creativity so that you can be sure your guests will recall your special event with fondness.
