It’s been two months almost to the day since I posted last…I’ve missed you! We have been busy as bees around here with wedding festivities for our youngest son and preparations for our daughter’s baby soon to be born BUT you just have to see this!
Here in the South one of the nicest compliments you can give is, “I just had a fit over it!”. Recently dear friends of ours gave a seated dinner for ninety for our son and his fiance. I can tell you these ladies did all the work themselves and put endless hours of thought, preparation, and work into this event and I just about had a fit when we saw it….I think you will too!
I felt as if I had entered a photo shoot for Southern Living and Southern Lady combined. The majority of the tables were set in a woodland theme on long sweeping porches on two sides of the house. Napkins were held by mini flower pots and each guest was provided a fan tied with satin ribbon with the bride and groom’s name on it.
The theme was evident from the very beginning when the invitation arrived in what appeared to be a brown paper sack addressed in calligraphy (of course :). The invitation itself was a replica of a vintage seed packet. Each guest received a tiny seedling planted in the mini pots as a favor. As the sun set candles surrounded by parchment paper provided a romantic glow on the tables.
Long stretches of tables with tulips in galvanized bucket- like containers provided seating for every single guest.
Oh, and don’t overlook the moss-covered fauna on each table. This little bunny is sitting on a bed of polished stones. Each “placemat” was made of astro turf.
The brown tablecloths provided the “earthy” background. Our boys have hunted together since junior high school and the hostesses knew the groom would revel in the theme. His favorites were this duck and a huge wild turkey!
A mossy little fox graces this table. The Mason jars were filled with water and garnished with lemon before dinner.
A giant moss butterfly provided the appropriate whimsy for the bar tucked away in a corner! Soft lighting in the surrounding foliage was beautiful after dark. I half-expected woodland fairies to pop out!
Tables of appetizers filled the patio area before dinner. The white Adirondack chair was a gift to the bride and groom. Each guest signed it and it was later covered with a finish to preserve the memories of the night.
My personal favorite was the gazpacho served in shot glasses! And finally a feast was served buffet-style…..
A tuxedoed buck and veiled doe served as the centerpiece for the buffet table!!!!!
It was a magical night none of us will ever forget….well, you know….. I just had a fit over it :)!
I’m linking this to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and to Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for Saturday’s My Favorite Things. I hope you’ll visit these two ladies and tell ‘em I sent you :) I hope to post the nursery on Sunday and I think you’re gonna have a fit!!! It’s good to be back….:)!! Thanks for stopping by…leave me a note!
EDITED--In my absence, Laurie has decided to discontinue her Saturday meme, so I won't be linking BUT still hop over for a visit. You won't be sorry!
Love, Love, Love this! The theme is so my style and I would love to know where they found all those wonderful moss covered animal forms.
ReplyDeleteso pretty!
ReplyDeleteWOW...what a BEAUTIFUL party!!! I love all the detail...this should be in Southern Living :)
ReplyDeleteSusan, this is amazing! I would have been going around all evening oohing and ahhhing feeling like I had been transported to a woodland fairyland. I love everything about it! Love the mossy topiary forms...the doe and buck are sooo cute! Love all the creativity...they must have had so much fun putting this together. Thanks so much for sharing this magical event...it's wonderful in every way! This southern girl is definitely having a fit! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Count me in as having a fit also. :D I had to go back and take another look and saw things I did not see the first time. Everything is so pretty and your friends had some great ideas. Love it all.
ReplyDeleteSusan...all of this is just unbelievably gorgeous!! Your son and his fiancee must have been floored! I love all the detail! This should definitely be in a magazine!! Thanks for sharing your lovely pictures!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
Oh my, a labour of love indeed. What a fab setting. xx
ReplyDeleteWOW! I'm having a fit, too! What great ideas and what a great setting for it. Love the idea of the chair and the signatures.
ReplyDeleteBeckie in Brentwood, TN
What an absolutely PERFECT party~~~ all the thought that went into it certainly shows! I'd have a fit, too, with all that beauty!
ReplyDeleteBig TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
I did have a fit when I looked at this. This was an amazing dinner party they through for you. What a great idea to have a signed chair. They didn't leave any stone unturned. Joni
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely loved it!! I had a fit too. Yes I am from the South. So many great ideas to keep in mind for future entertaining.
ReplyDeleteMary L
WOW! What a fabulous evening! So many wonderful details~ I would have had a fit over it too! I love the idea of the signed chair!
ReplyDeleteOh my oh my oh my! Words fail me - Love for the happy couple is evident in all the special details. The chair signing will be a great keepsake. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful event!! Everything looks so charming - right down to every last detail and arrangement! Thanks for sharing and welcome back xo
ReplyDelete:D Lynda
Wow! It's obvious they put their heart into the reception! It's so personal, whimsical, beautiful, original and welcoming! I would have spent all night looking around and wondering if I'd missed anything! Love the idea of gazpacho on shot glasses!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely charming, such great detail! I came over from Naps on the Porch! The patio and grounds are stunning and perfect too!
ReplyDeleteHow gorgeous is this post!! Susan I loved all of it.
ReplyDeleteI would have had a fit, too! So many lovely details! You are so right, a lot of time and effort went into making this a very lovely affair! You must be special folks to have friends like that! Congrats!!
ReplyDeleteSoutherners do know how to throw a party now don't they. About three years ago my daughter was married and there were several beautiful parties given in their honor and since they were married on a plantation most of the parties had a plantation theme. This party given for your son and his bride t be was just gorgeous. I bet the food was amazing. I loved the topariaries especially the buck and doe. I have hunters in the family. Do you mind if I make copies of your pics for ideas for future parties I might want to give? I won't do so unless I hear from you. Thank you so much for sharing these amazing photos and I know it was a wonderful party. BTW, my daughter is expecting and her due date is tomorrow. We have a little something in common for sure.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn/A Southerners Notebook
Hi Miss Susan! Remember me? Your neighbor? OMG!!!! I'm having a fit over this! The whole thing is just beautiful! All the little details! I love the bride and groom deer! Congratulations on the upcoming nuptuals! and did I understand your daughter is going to have a baby? How wonderful! God Bless! Lauralu
ReplyDeleteWow! Wow! Wow! What an incredible party! You are so right - So. Living should have been there to photograph this. Every detail was so well thought out and so clever. I loved getting to see this. I'm so glad you shared it. laurie
ReplyDeleteSusan, I forgot to apologize for not hosting Favorite Things. Thank you so much for thinking of linking this beautiful party to it. laurie
ReplyDeleteOMG! This is the most beautiful table setting I have ever seen. You can tell the the bride and groom to be are very special to the hosts. Thanks for sharing this, Susan. I am so glad you did. It's truly incredible!..Christine
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! That looks fabulous. An amazing amount of work went into that party, it is very evident. Best wishes to the newly weds!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful party and what great friends!!! I had a fit over it and I don't even know them.
ReplyDeletewow perfect posting i love it . really beautiful all pictures and great your idea
ReplyDelete