A Special Spring Table for Someone Special

A Table for Someone Special – For a Bridal Shower, or Mother’s Day, or a Birthday or a Gardening Club Lunch…

The above is a photo of a tablescape I made for a dear friend’s bridal shower on 2019, and I have been wanting to share it on my website since then (however, I didn’t have a website at that time, so this has been a long time coming). It was so exciting to cohost with Kirstyn’s mother, Karen, and Kirstyn’s bridesmaids on this event. My family has known Kirstyn, since she was about 11 years old and her brother Dillon and our son, played on the same select baseball team and then later in high school, they played against each other. Always, we would share a bleacher bench for the whole game when we were playing for the same team, but when the boys were playing against each other we still would share a bench for at least a part of the game. We enjoyed getting caught up on each other’s lives. What a joy it was to watch the kids grow up through all those years!

All of our kids grew up and competed in their sports beyond high school – Dillon was drafted and played for various MLB teams after high school and Kirstyn went on to play college softball at the University of Washington while our son played baseball at Pepperdine. During those college years, I had the privilege one weekend of seeing Kirstyn play in Seattle and had an opportunity to meet Nigel, who would become Kirstyn’s husband. So it was extra special to be one of the cohosts of the shower of this wonderful couple.

Planning the Tablescape

We decided to have the shower at our lake house, and I began to plan the tablescapes and serving tables early. Karen and the other cohosts began planning all the other details, food, shower decorations, games, etc.

I had purchased some vintage dishes I loved, that I thought would be perfect of the shower. They were the “American Atelier Hydrangea” dishes. I started planning the table, thinking at first that I would use only the salad plates from this beautiful set in the way shown below.

However, I then tried the place setting using both the dinner plate and the salad plate, and I loved that look even more.

The above shows the comparison of the next two place settings I tried. One with only the salad and dinner plates in the hydrangea pattern (on the left in the photo above) and the other with with a Bordallo Pinheiro charger, then the hydragea dinner plate and salad plate on top. (on the right in the photo) Which “look” do you like the best?

Adding Flowers for a “Garden Look”

You may have noticed the napkin rings in the above photos. They are all marked “Pia” and “Philippines”. I first started collecting these when my mother-in-law purchased a set for me, to match our wedding china. As I considered some of the napkin rings, I went back and forth over whether to use all of the same pattern and color at one table, but my friend Michelle who was kindly helping me plan and get ready for the party, recommended I vary the kind of flower at each plate. I went to my collection and picked ones I thought would go well with the colors in the hydrangea plates. These “Pia” napkin rings were often sold in the department stores in the 1980’s and 1990’s. I love their detail and variety and I loved having muliple kinds on the tables. Michelle also loaned me some of her serving trays, some hydrangea plates and some Bordallo Pinheiro chargers-it seems that some friends who think alike, also choose some of the same dish patterns, which worked out quite well.

The above shows some of the “Pia” napkin rings that I have collected over the past 32 years, often from eBay and Etsy. Surprisingly, I am still finding some online that I have never seen before.

Because the shower was to take place in July (in Texas) we didn’t really think long about having it outside – due to the heat at that time of year – but instead we tried to bring the garden look indoors in the air conditioning. Therefore I began planning some flower arrangements inside. The first ones I selected were artificial flower arrangements from Homegoods, that luckily were in the perfect colors.

By sheer luck the previous owners of our house had put in raised flower beds directly underneath the window, and we had recently converted them from evergreen shrubs to flowers. They helped bring the garden feel inside as well.

I decided we would use the silk flowers on the window sills, and real flowers on the tables, but the real flowers would come later.

Other Wedding Themed Decor

Aside from the dining table decor, another thing I worked on in the days before the shower were the “Wedding Bears”. I added my North American Bears to our wall unit top, this decor included a bride, groom, flower girl, photographer, and wedding guests.

The Night Before the Shower

The night before the shower Kirstyn and her mom came to spend the night along with some dear, long time friends of theirs. They brought the food, and the items for the mimosa bar, and many shower decorations and we spent the evening cooking, decorating and visiting. For those of you who have read my blog, you probably already know that I was not one of those cooking – as cooking is something I am not particularly good at. But I had offered to do the fondue dessert table, as I can heat things and cut things.

While most were cooking, my husband and I headed to Kroger with a hydrangea plate in tow, to pick some flowers for the tables. The person who helped us had recently retired from owning her own flower shop, so she was incredible at looking at the plates and helping us pick things that would look great with them. In many cases she adapted things they had or made new arrangements from scratch to coordinate with the color scheme of the shower. (it takes a village). I absolutely love real flowers and am excited whenever I can use them. However, I have since become aware of the toxicity of hydrangeas for dogs and cats. Since our new puppy is one who is likely to eat everything I plan to substitute silk hydrangeas on future tablescapes.

The Morning of the Shower

In the morning, we continued getting things ready. All of our overnight guests, and others had done an incredible job with food, games, etc. My friend Michelle, who helped me earlier, also volunteered to arrange the fondue table and to restock food throughout the shower. This was a wonderful blessing! We had always known that Michelle was incredible at cooking and entertaining, but we found out she has an additional super power of arranging fondue tables artfully!

Also in the morning, my friend who is also a photographer arrived to take the pictures of Kirstyn, Karen, other family members, bridesmaids, and guests. It was amazing to have someone take photographs for us! Mary is a fantastic photographer, and amazing at making people feel comfortable while being photographed. Having her there allowed the family and friends to focus on their time together.

The Guests Arrive

Soon the guests began to arrive. It was wonderful to see the excitement Kirstyn and her friends, as she had been out of the state and country often in the past few years due to work and college.

The Shower

Thanks for joining me, for a look back into Kirstyn’s shower in 2019. In the years since I have continued my tablescape designs, and am (as you know) writing a blog about tablescapes, holiday decorating, Lake Life, sunsets, puppies and many other things. I hope you can join me again!

I wanted to post the tablescapes (both the dining tables and serving tables) at this time of year, as I think the dining table would be a great tablescape for Mother’s Day. I also think it would be great for a spring luncheon! These hydrangea dishes can often be found on both eBay and Etsy by searching “American Atelier Hydrangea dishes” or a similar table can be made using the following current patterns – “Hydrangea Everlasting” and “Certified International Hydrangea Garden” both carried by Wayfair, and other retailers. Also, “Lenox – Butterfly Meadow” is another beautiful current pattern. A similar table could also be made by using any dishes with any kind of flowers and bright, spring colors. The Bordallo Pinheiro Lemon Leaf Chargers used on this table are vintage and only available at times on eBay or Etsy or vintage shops However, chargers with a similar look are the Bordallo Pinherio Geranium chargers and they are a current pattern.

Wishing You a Happy Spring !!!

Link Parties

I often participate in Tablescape Thursday, Please click on the link to see the website of one of my favorite bloggers, which is followed by photos and links for many other wonderful tablescapes. 

I also often participate in Inspire Me Tuesday, as well. Please click on the link to see the website of a another blogger who’s website I really enjoy, and it is followed by photos and links for many other ideas.

Recently I started following Katherinescorner.com. Today I have joined her TFT blog. The TFT blog contains links on many topics with lots of great ideas – click on the following link to see her post and blog hop this week – Katherine’s Corner TFT blog hop.

I recently started following SouthernSunflowers and their Link Party – to see their posts and links to other posts featured at their website, please click on the following link: Home Matters Link Party.

Recently I discovered the Imparting Grace blog, and I am really enjoying it. To get to this website click the preceding link and look for the “Grace At Home Blog party” which begins each week on Thursdays.

Very Recently I started following KarinsKottage.com, and I am loving her blog as well, and can’t wait to see her Italian Castle remodel! I often participate in her Linky Party on Wednesdays . 

Other Posts You May Enjoy.

If you liked the flowered dishes in this tablescape you may also enjoy the daisies, daffodils and other spring flowers in …

April Showers Bring May Flowers!! But Do They Also Bring Ducks with Umbrellas????

and the pansies in this one…

Frolicking Fitz and Floyd Bunnies Fill our Easter Tablescape with Fun and Flowers

and the vegetable garden and spring flowers in this …

Peter Rabbit Happily Hops into our Easter Tablescape

and the hibiscuses in this…

Hummingbird Tablescape for Fall and Spring

Other Posts I Hope You Enjoy…

I hope you have had a chance to check out my first sunset post, I am amazed and blessed by the sunsets each night. More sunset posts are coming soon.

The first one I shared was from April 2, 2023

Sunset on the Lake – April 2, 2023

I also think you may enjoy my most recent sunset post

A Glorious Sunset on the Lake – April 15, 2023

Also, this week is my puppy’s first birthday, so I decided to try a recipe for “pupcakes” and make a dog tablescape for the human friends and a smaller dog “tablescape” for Simba and his dog friends. I hope you get a chance to check out the pictures and post next week.

Two fun Tablescapes for My Puppy’s 1st Birthday – one for Our People Friends and One for Our Dog Friends!!

Table Details and Origins for the “A Special Spring Table for Someone Special“

Hydrangea Dishes – American Atelier pattern “Hydrangea” – eBay and Etsy

Bordallo Pinheiro “Lemon Leaf Charger” – discontinued – Occasionally available on Ebay or Etsy or you can substitute a different Bordallo Pinheiro charger from the Bordallo Pinheiro website or Amazon, Neiman Marcus or Horchow

Flower Napkin Rings – vintage- marked “Pia” and “Philippines” – originally sold at department stores – now available at eBay, Etsy, (search Pia Napkin Rings and Philippines napkin rings) also available at various vintage/antique shops 

Spring Silk Flowers in white basket – Homegoods (seasonal) 

Iced Beverage Dispensers – Homegoods 

Kate Spade Larabee Dot Pink Tablecloths, Table runner, and Napkins – Homegoods and eBay in 2019

Waterford  Iced Beverage Marquis Markham – Macy’s

Waterford flutes Marquis Markham – Macy’s

North American Vanderbear Bears  and friends– Cornelius, Alice, Fuzzy, Fluffy, Muffy, and Hoppy the rabbit, LuLu the dog (all are plush animals) – Available at most times from eBay or Etsy 

Outfits for North American Vanderbears, and friends in wedding “scene” 

Bridal Couple – outfits for Cornelius and Alice are from “A Wedding Collection – Remembearances”

Guests – Outfits for Cornelius, Alice, Fuzzy, Fluffy, Muffy are from “A Garden Party”

Flower girl Muffy – oufit is “Bells are Ringing- Heading to a Wedding” 

Photographer Hoppy – outfit is “Great Masterpieces – Artistes at work” and the camera is “Great Masterpieces- Artistes at Work” accessory  

Ring Bearer Lulu – outfit is “Bells are Ringing- Heading to a Wedding” ring bearer outfit 

Potted live hydrangea plants – Kroger 

Live Cut Flower arrangements – Kroger 

Fondue Fountain –  Sephra Classic Home Fondue Fountain, heated basin, 18”, Whisper Quiet Motor, 4-6 lb capacity  originally from Amazon, now out of stock from Amazon and Sephrausa.com but expected to be in stock in late May 2023 https://www.sephrausa.com/the-classic-18-home-fondue-fountain

Serving Dishes – origin unknown 

Flatware – “Community by Onieda – Marquette” pattern is currently available at Amazon.