Especially when you set a nice table every day of the week like I do, you have to make the table and decor for the holidays and those special occasions really pop. You already do such a nice job, how are you going to do that? - with themes!
You already know this, but perhaps you need to put just a little more pizazz into it. Sometimes the table setup and serving preparation takes so much focus and energy there is hardly anything left over for the extra touches.
All you need are the tools. I find it helpful to have a storage box for each holiday and occasion type with everything you need to decorate, so you have fewer decisions to make.
You may want to drop a typed sheet into the storage box detailing the settings, serveware, and serving style for the event. Again, even if you think you know it, there is mental energy involved in going through it all in your head and making sure you got it and did not forget anything.
Spare yourself the mental drain and just write it down. Another handy way to manage this is to put all of those meal planning, setting, and serving prep sheets into a binder with a tab for each holiday or event.
Using a Theme to Enhance a Meal Event, Not Distract or Clutter
This is the biggest challenge with themes - figuring when enough is enough and how to use decor so that it does not clutter or interfere. Whether you are setting up in your home, a restaurant, or a rented dining hall the principles are the same.
First you want to make an entrance. It’s like a first impression or an unboxing experience. Decorate the exterior entrance to set the tone and the anticipation. This can be as simple as a wreath on the door - maybe windows too. It could include lanterns lining the walkway up to the entrance and fairy lights.
A decorated topiary or plants with fairy lights strung high is a good way to maintain that feeling as guests enter. A small wreath or bow on the door of the coat closet invites guests to use it and continues the festive tone.
Greeting guests after the coat closet as they enter with a beverage in a festive glass is another small detail that whets the imagination and the appetite.
I remind you again that this could be family as well as outside guests. Treat everyone as special and let them feel the joy.
In the dining room, plants and decorated topiaries in the corners, on counters or in baskets from the ceiling continue the vibe without getting in the way. Stringing fairy lights or ribbons of cloth, mesh, or organza around the edges of the ceiling is another way to decorate and keep things out of the way.
A wreath or two in the dining room elevates the decor with the look of the occasion and again - out of the way.
You can see that what we have done is to decorate while we avoid cluttering the space or using precious room on the dining buffet, or side tables. That space is for food, guests and place settings with some- but minimal decor. Let the decor or these prime areas be in table linens, runners, napkins and napkin rings. The usual centerpiece, flowers, and candles are applied to tables, so you are not taking up more space than usual. Use different decor for these pieces in the colors and style that clearly speak the holiday or occasion. Remember too that you are not stuck with one look - you can switch it up a bit. Christmas can still look like Christmas with some variations in color.
Keep in mind too when planning that everything doesn’t have to be a dinner or a feast. You can have a dessert bar, a coffee bar, or an afternoon tea. Let’s take a look at how you can set up an event without the full-on feast.
Hosting Special Offerings Instead of Dinner or Feast
Different Celebratory Offerings
When you want to have family, friends, neighbors or other guests over, or even have a fun time with immediate family there are a few lovely ways to offer a delicious time aside from a full meal.
Dessert Bar or Dessert Table
A dessert bar is my favorite and you can create this with many variations. Choose desserts that are suitable for the season and the holiday or occasion. This is a wonderful way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, betrothals, graduation, and retirement. These occasions typically involve a special cake.
Decorate the area for your occasion and prepare a festive dessert table with the celebratory cake front and center highlighted on a cake server so it is the tallest thing on the table. Too often fine cakes are placed on the table surface whereas they need to be elevated - the star of the show.
Put out some other desserts so that the cake is not alone on the table - you are making a mouth-watering display. The celebratory cake is the star, so as not to compete with it, but decorate it by placing smaller desserts on the table with it.
Some examples are macarons, French mini fruit tarts, petit fours, small bite-sized napoleon squares, cornes de gazelle, and bite-sized bars. Placing all desserts on pretty servers adds to the overall festive look and provides a setting for the main cake.
Dessert table decor can include a tablecloth and runner or let the beautiful wood finish of your table shine. A beautiful vase of fresh flowers on the table and perhaps a couple of candlesticks completes the look.
You may choose to place dessert plates, serveware, and nice cloth napkins and silverware on the end of the dessert table. You may also place it on the end of the eating table (dining room or other room) or prepare place settings. The formality is up to you.
Depending on who the event is for and the time of day you may serve coffee or tea, or champagne, juice, cocktails, or cordials.
A dessert bar is also a wonderful way to celebrate various holidays throughout the year. A yule log take center stage for Christmas, a birds nest or wreath cake for easter, a ghoulish sheet cake for Halloween, and a spice cake or carrot cake for Thanksgiving.
Tea Time
A tea time, be it afternoon tea, mid morning, or evening, is a relaxed way to enjoy time with others. It is easy to decorate for tea, and serve a light offering of hors d'oeuvres, finger sandwiches, mini quiche, scones, and dessert. Tea time is so easy to adapt to different holidays and occasions. Combine tea time with a dessert bar or just offer a single plated dessert.
Coffee Bar-Hot Chocolate Bar
This is an excellent choice for cold weather months. By using a professional quality espresso machine, you can make a variety of different coffees sure to please everyone.
Decorate and serve desserts fitting the holiday or occasion. I find that in cold weather Irish coffee black or white Russians and Kahlua and Cream are fashionable dessert coffee beverages. Tiramisu is a perfect dessert choice to go along with these.
Hot cocoa is always welcome and marshmallows or whipped cream on top with shavings of chocolate makes it into a masterpiece.
Variety is the Spice for Special Tables
Distinctive decor for different occasions and doing something different like a dessert table or chocolate bar will make sure your special offerings and tables look and feel like something extraordinary. Enjoy creative festive tables and memorable events!
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