Often when entertaining alfresco, we use melamine or *gasp* paper products since backyards appear more casual than dining rooms. But here are some reasons to change that way of thinking:
1. Don’t you just HATE it when the paper plates and napkins fly away (especially dirty ones!) if there isn’t something holding them down?
2. Let’s be honest, most paper and plastic plates are just not cute.
3. Most importantly, you already have invested in beautiful formal dinnerware! Why not surprise your guests and give them a party to remember by dusting off that fine china and giving it new life with bright colors and garden touches?
Again I worked with Deborah of Table + Dine to shoot this fun and whimsical table, to show you how to style Lenox’ British Colonial pattern, or any other china pattern (!) with colorful and bright pieces you have in your yard (or your fridge!).
Deb made some FABULOUS pineapple centerpieces by cutting out the core, placing a glass in the hollow and arranging the flowers within the glass. The bright and tropical colors played off of the verdant green and cool blue of the dinnerware, and the gold flatware added a nice flash of glam. My favorite detail is the layered leaves on each plate, which I played around with in several ways. In the end, I love how picking something from your tree can add such a warm touch to each setting!
Lenox’ British Colonial pattern has been an enduring style for years, partly for how fun it is for summer gatherings and dinners alfresco. I mean, how cute are those tiny pineapple dessert plates? However, it would be easy to recreate this look with other china patterns, as the bright colors work with anything blue, gold, pink, silver and of course, white!
What do you think of our table setting? Head over to Table+Dine to shop all of these pieces, including the full collection of British Colonial dinnerware. Also, find gold Imperial Caviar flatware, and French Perle bowls and dinnerware which completed the shoot!
