How to Create a Beautiful Stay at Home Tablescape Using Only a Bouquet and Everyday Dinnerware
Welcome to my little corner of the world! I wasn’t originally planning on starting a blog for my business from day one, but here I am! Grandest Gatherings blossomed from a singular hope and mission—to provide a human-centered approach to designing and styling intimate celebrations. I believe just because some celebrations are small in guest count whether it be because of social distancing restrictions or because that’s what feels most like you, your gathering shouldn’t be small in design and detail.
But enough of the marketing-y stuff, right? I’m excited about this first post because it was the first time in a LONG time I’ve had the opportunity to be genuinely creative. I mean heck, this is the first time in a long time I’ve also written a blog post where the words are flowing freely and naturally vs. the struggle of writing blog posts for brands I had very little in common with in my previous life.
Ever since staying at home has become the new norm, I started to think about my new routine and how I could change things up while also infusing creativity into my day-to-day. Not being able to share meals with friends and family, to gather at others’ tables or pull up more chairs to my own, has been one of the toughest parts of the past few months for me. But I think it’s important the communal meal lives on. Whether it’s hosting a virtual dinner party or setting the table for a smaller group, gathering around a home-cooked meal is a vital anchor of our human connection.
That’s when I decided to kick off my new Stay At Home Tablescape series where I’m challenging myself to design and style different tablescapes using only things I already have at home. At first, I thought this would be easy given all of the pieces I’ve curated over time, but it turns out it’s actually kind of tough! So far after completing my first design, I’ve realized I am severely lacking in flatware options and fancy napkins. But that’s part of the fun, right?
For my first Stay at Home Tablescape that I’m sharing today, I was inspired by dusky blues and setting the table for Mother’s Day this past weekend. Also, being born and raised in New York along the banks of the Long Island Sound and spending the majority of my adult life in New England, I wanted to pay homage to the coastal vibes that are part of the fabric of my existence.
The first thing I started with was a mood board to help myself hone in on the design. I limited myself to using one “cheat item” that I didn’t already have on hand. Can you guess my cheat item of choice?
Florals. I was fortunate enough to snag a bouquet designed by Flowers by Semia as part of a special Mother’s Day collaboration with Boston General Store. Working with this gorgeous bouquet as the focal point, I went to work styling the table in the living room of my one bedroom apartment. Carpets were rolled up, furniture was moved, and magic was made!
Just because we’re spending more time at home, doesn’t mean we can’t get creative with our surroundings. I love this tablescape as a fun way to jazz up date night or celebrate an anniversary at home or think about how to style an intimate wedding at home—just throw some pillows on the ground, light the candles, and grab your favorite takeout. I had so much fun creating this first tablescape and can’t wait to get cranking on the next!
If you’re thinking about eloping or planning an intimate wedding and don’t know where to start, let’s chat! I offer free consultations to help steer couples in the right direction and would love to learn more about your story and help you tell it.
Danielle