Let's get started!  Do a simple drawing to note specifically what your area should
 look like, taking in to account whether this will be a buffet or table served setting.
 Paper is cheap, so play around with your designs for the setting area, with tables
 and chairs drawn in, serving carts for food dishes and drinks [or serving table for
 buffet], plant displays, lighting [for evening entertaining].  If done buffet style, keep
 the serving table away from the seating area, to eliminate people running into each
 other.

 Planning is the most essential part of entertaining, and by doing simple sketches 
 will allow you to picture the area, and also to continue to add things to your design
 that you may have initially forgotten.  Keep your final sketch at hand, to make notes
 when you think of ideas or changes.

 What is your function to be?  A luncheon [brunch] or dinner, and how many guests,
 whether 1 to 8 or 10, must be figured into your planning sketches.  You can start
 with a table of two for that very special get-together, or large round [or whatever
 shape] table for up to 8 to 10 guests.  For large gatherings, set round and square
 tables up in a pattern, for guests conviviality.

 Putting your plan into fruition.  Decide upon the table or tables to be used, and
 chairs.  This is where your garage or estate sale finds will come in handy.  If you've
 found an unusual and unique wooden table, you may want to paint it in your favorite
 color, then use placemats rather than tablecloths to accessorize with. 

 Coordinating tables, chairs, cloth or paper tablecloths and napkins, dishes and
 centerpieces and ambience. You do have to color co-ordinate, so put some  thought
 into what you want to achieve over-all, and select from what you have on-hand
 already, or from your finds from shopping.  These are your most important needs, so
 choose whimsical, specifically themed or more conservative.  Put your personality
 into this area of setting the scene that your guests will love.

 A note on coordinating dishes - you can mix or match 1 to 3 colors [as long as
 the colors go together] for plates as well as serving dishes.  You can mix and match
 solids, floral and designs.  But remember, this has to blend in with your tablecloth
 and napkins, you can take liberties in this area.

 Use your small glass containers, bottles or vases to hold fresh cut flowers from your
 garden for centerpieces.  Use coordinating colors, or create some wonderful center-
 pieces with cut flowers.  You can be quite creative in this area, and remember not
 make your arrangements so tall, that you cannot see your guests on the other side
 of the arrangement.  If you have a single spike of something would be okay as in
 Japanese type arrangements.  But you want to be able to see all of your guests!

© Copyright 1999 - 2008 by Sharon Atchley.  All rights reserved.  Updated:  01/02/2008