For something fragrant on the table, and not to mention fairly inexpensive and really easy: grab a bunch of pretty herbs, wrap them in ribbon or twine, thread a piece of paper with a name on it, and lay on a plate for an herb bouquet (I have no idea how they got this one to stand up – further proof of Martha’s magic powers).
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This would go with most color combinations, and depending on the herbs could be more or less casual. Plus, did I mention easy?!
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Martha suggests tiny potted orchids as party favors, and I think they would be lovely as placecard holders as well. If you find small potted plants on sale – they certainly don’t have to be expensive orchids – it would be such a nice way to welcome guests to a ladies dinner! (It’s my experience that guys don’t really like carrying flowers home, and for couples it still just feels a little effeminate of a table to me. But that’s just me, to each their own.)
Martha used butterfly-shaped paper perched on wire holders, which looks wonderful, of course. But if you don’t feel like going to all that trouble and buying all those special little items, just throw a piece of paper around the stem with a name on it and be done with it – it will look wonderful regardless.
Here’s another one from Martha that also looks gorgeous, and more simple.
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It’s so beautiful against the white! You all know I’m such a sucker for for a clean white table with just a little bit of greenery.
Easiest of the easy – just buy a pretty box of truffles and some labels, put the label on the box, and write your guest’s name in a pretty way. DONE with placecards, DONE with dessert!
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Now, if you want to spend a little more time, you could make the truffles yourself. Like this so yummy and easy sounding recipe for Balsamic Truffles from Giada, which I’ve been wanting to try for quite a while. If you find pretty boxes – I love pretty boxes – this would be a great way to use them.
This one will take a bit of work, but how cute would monogrammed cookies be for a party at which the guests’ names all start with a different letter?
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You could cut the cookies in letter shapes if you have enough cookie cutters, or pipe the letters onto each cookie individually. Wrap them in a pretty cellophane bag, attach a name card to the bag, and let your guests have fun finding their cookie on the table…and obviously you’re done with dessert this way too!
Dessert is difficult for a girl who really likes to serve appetizers. Guests fill up on the apps and on dinner and by the time dessert rolls around, no one wants any more to eat. I told my mom about this dilemma once and she said “You probably shouldn’t serve appetizers then.”
Which literally had had not ever occurred to me. Not serve appetizers?! That wouldn’t be a dinner party! That would just be dinner.
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So I have to serve appetizers, even if its just some warm nuts and olives. I also have some sort of trigger in me that requires a finish to the meal; something sweet to mark the end. So I’m leaning towards starting to do small tidbits, petit fours style. Maybe meringues, or small brownies with a homemade sauce. Cookies are an obvious choice, or cupcakes. If the meal hasn’t been too cheese-heavy, an assortment of cheeses with fruit and a nice port would go over well. Or, if I really have to make a pie or a cake, I’ll tone down the heaviness of the meal…or just warn everyone before that they’d better come ready for true gluttony.
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Martha Stewart the Goddess has a lovely idea for caramel apples to take home – both a dessert and a party favor! I love this idea because I feel like I’m giving guests something to end the meal, but they can enjoy it when they like. AND, I could use them as placecard holders!! Just tie on a little slip of paper with a name on it, and you’re done. I love love love this idea. Especially because caramel apples are so easy to make and inexpensive, and have a great sense of childlike fun about them. Oh, Martha: so genius….
I’m going to post a series of placecard holder/favor ideas from Martha over the next few days, because they’re so lovely and I’m always looking for innovative placecards.
This is such a good way to easily and inexpensively transform your vases: simply wrap them in wrapping paper or fabric and affix with tape (so you can remove the wrapping later), and voila, in place of clear glass you have have another colorful design element on your table. Since they’re going to be covered anyway, containers other than vases can be adapted to hold flowers. Anything in which you can put a little water dish, such as a votive candle holder, would work: pencil holders, tin cans, tall cardboard boxes (like wine bottle boxes) and even your own water glasses.
At most paper stores or specialty home stores you can find gorgeous wrapping paper in single sheets, which would be perfect for mixing and matching different patterns. Rolled wrapping paper would be a very inexpensive way to create a monochromatic theme. You could also choose fabric and use fabric glue to adhere it together. Choosing a highly textured fabric would add a lot of richness to the table and would set off very simple flowers beautifully.
There are countless pattern and color combination possibilities with this idea – using the same wrapping paper as on the table for a very strong statement, putting a bright color on the vases with flowers and tablecloth in a softer color, or mixing it all up so it doesn’t feel so matchy-matchy. I’m so excited to try it out sometime soon!
Votive candles are inexpensive and make a table and (obviously most importantly) you and your guests look gorgeous. Combine them with simple flowers either in bud vases or in clusters of the same flower, and you will have spent under $50 for table decor that you can throw together in a few minutes. Love it!
