Jul
25
2008
You may never set the table like this (you probably don’t have enough matching cutlery anyway) but should you happen to be invited to one of those really fancy restaurants where you are faced with a dazzling display of silverware and starched white linen as the maitre d’ pushes in your chair, at least you won’t make a fool of yourself when it comes to using said silverware to deliver delicate morsels to your mouth for mastication, swallowing and digestion and whatever follows that.
With formal 3-5 course meals, the dinner place-setting is used from the outside in. When you sit down at a formal table, the side plate on your left is yours. There will normally be a butter knife on top. You will use this knife to butter your bread or roll which you don’t cut, by the way, but break (gently, you’re not a caveman). Continue Reading »
Jul
02
2008
The most important aspect of a wedding reception is that it should be very enjoyable. Whether the meal is a formal seated affair or a buffet, everything should run calmly and smoothly and everybody should be very relaxed. This is why most people put the whole affair into the hands of outside caterers who will do all the worrying and wedding hard work for them. However, it is not impossible to organize a wedding reception yourself and still be a relaxed guest or member of the family party. Do get as much help as you can, however —wedding waiters, wine waiters and kitchen help are almost essential.
The first consideration when planning the wedding table layout is the colour scheme. The colour of wedding table decorations, the wedding cake and any wedding flowers on the cake must tone with the bride’s dress and bouquet and the bridesmaids’ dresses. Continue Reading »
Jul
02
2008
To celebrate a wedding anniversary in style it is a fun idea to take as the theme the symbol that represents the particular number of years a couple has been married. The first few are a bit of a joke but as the number of years of marriage increases so the anniversary symbol becomes more valuable and romantic. They are:
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Jul
01
2008
If a buffet celebration is preferred and you plan to invite .a large number of guests, you may need to hire large trestle tables and cover them with white cloths. Serving dishes and plates can be decorated with silver or gold paper doilies. As well as placing flower arrangements on the table decorate the edge of the table with garlands and ribbons. Use flowers of the appropriate colour and include silver or gold wedding bells, horseshoes or other decorations to suit the particular anniversary. Continue Reading »
Mar
28
2008
A wedding celebration is truly something special. Nothing is left to chance. For you as the bride and groom, and for your guests it should be beautiful and exciting, a truly unforgettable celebration, and — together with the wedding ceremony — the wedding breakfast is the most important part of a weddding celebration.
The menu or buffet is planned in detail with the restaurant or catering service. There should be something special for old and young, it should be light, so people feel like dancing afterwards, and the wine list should tempt even the connoisseurs.
However, the table setting is far too often the “poor relation” when it comes to the preparations. If you leave the table setting to the caterers, you will get a nicely set table, but one which is also, unfortunately, rather impersonal. Continue Reading »
