You’re Invited

You’re Invited. Two little words that spark a thrill to my core!

And when you walk up to a door like this, you know it is going to be a real treat.

We were invited for dinner at the Cloutier’s on December 1st to mark the beginning of the holiday season and oh what fun we had!

Our hostess, Vonda, is an absolutely amazing decorator with so much creativity and vision.  Everywhere I turned there were charming vignettes of holiday goodness to enjoy.

Vonda allowed me to photograph her Christmas decorations and I am pleased to report that I will be sharing all the cuteness with you next year. There will be lots of tips and stories and plenty of time to inspire you in your own homes.

For this post, I am focusing on the table that laid the foundation for a lovely evening of food, wine and fabulous company.  Many of you are preparing to set your holiday tables now, so it’s the perfect time to share this creative table with you.

Red and gold glass ornaments, hung from the low light fixture, centered on the table, set a festive tone.  The table itself is a treasure to the family; it was hand made by a well known McKinney craftsman that passed away several years ago so PLEASE use a coaster!

The adorable place settings began with a gold glass charger as the base.  The next two layers, a coveted set of toile Christmas dishes in the most perfect shade of bordeaux.  The salad plate is topped with a berry wreath making the ideal resting place for a special goodie.  The enormous chocolate bon bon name tags are sure to awaken the child in each of Vonda’s guests for the season.  When I got home with mine, I tore into it with reckless abandon!

I simply adore the poetry napkins at the place settings.  Each one has a different quote and gives guests lots to talk about as hosts put the final touches on plates to be served. The napkins can be found in McKinney at Ettiene Market.

Many of the items to create the centerpiece were things collected to decorate her oldest daughters winter themed wedding last year. Repurposing these sentimental objects is such a special touch.  To make your own, gather an assortment of sugared greenery, pinecones and mercury glass. Arrange them casually in the center of the table to craft an elongated arrangement.

Vonda loves to add tall sugar cones to her decoration.  Her mother used these in their Christmas decorations when she was a child and it reminds her of home.

I love that the table sets a fantastic tone for an evening with friends.  Just enough to let you know its going to be a great evening but not too much to keep you from relaxing.

This is a picture of Vonda and I going to a birthday party recently. One of the the things I love about our time together is that we are totally in the moment, the downside, photos are often skipped or forgotten. The first on my New Year’s resolution list…take MORE photos in 2018!

I hope you enjoyed being invited to the Cloutiers table today! I would love to hear your top tips for setting a beautiful table for your friends and family!