315EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING
ESSENTIALS & EXTRAS
FOR HOME AND TABLE
to set just the tone for
your gathering
STYLE POINTS
ink about the way you listen for certain notes or instruments in
a bit of music, or how you notice brushstrokes when standing close
to a painting. We’re drawn to the details and ourishes that make a
composition unique. Our home and table are no dierent. e place
settings, centerpiece, lighting, colors, textures, and nishing touches
are the distinct elements that come together to make a one-of-a-kind
experience to be shared with guests.
Here you’ll nd what I consider to be “entertaining essentials,”
those items I think are good to have on hand when envisioning an
evening with family and friends. And because variety is the spice of
the entertaining life, I’ve also included some “extras” to further ensure
your gathering is, with apologies to Mary Poppins, practically perfect
in every way. Remember, when entertaining eortlessly, perfect doesn’t
mean perfection, it simply means just right for you and your guests!
“Let’s start at the very
beginning, a very good
place to start. When you
read you begin with
A-B-C, when you sing you
begin with Do-Re-Mi…”
OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
The Sound of Music
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STYLE POINTS
IN THIS SECTION:
Seing the Table
• Dinnerware
• Service Plates / Chargers
• Flatware
• Glassware
• Serveware
• Table Linens
• Placemats
• Centerpieces
• Candles and Votives
• Place Cards, Coasters, and Napkin Rings
Seing Up the Bar
• Bar Glassware
• Pitchers and Carafes
• Ice Bucket
• Bar Tools
Other Spaces
e Extra Mile
style points
317EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
Dinnerware
ESSENTIALS:
If we’re going to start at the very beginning, let’s start with the basics:
round, white dinner plates. I think of them as the entertaining
equivalent to the little black dress.
White dinner plates . . .
• are versatile, timeless, always in style.
• are easy to dress up or down.
• can be used with a variety of table linens and other table
accessories.
• come in many attractive yet inexpensive options.
• are readily available in everyday or ne china.
When choosing white dinner plates, whether everyday or ne china
(ideally, both!), go for an open pattern – one with pieces available for
individual sale. By avoiding prepackaged sets of place settings, you
won’t end up with unnecessary pieces.
You may want to add white dessert/salad plates and dessert/soup
bowls. Having said this, I also think this is a good place to add color
or pattern. Begin with something simple in style so, like your white
dinner plates, it will be versatile.
EXTRAS
As crazy as I am about white plates when entertaining, I also
love to jazz things up with a few other choices. When it comes
to adding variety to your dinnerware collection, consider the
style of your home and what you enjoy. We use lovely plates
that our good friend JR bought for me in Italy, right from the
restaurant, just because I admired them. Simple in style, with
a beautiful wheat design, they can be used for a very casual
dinner or dressed up for a more formal occasion.
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STYLE POINTS
I also have heavier plates I bought years ago from Williams
Sonoma. ese are my favorite plates for hearty menus. I’ve
probably had them for twenty years, and I still use them all the
time. More recently, I’ve admired casual, glazed dinnerware by
Juliska. e nishes and colors are beautiful, and they’re oven safe.
Adding soup cups, dessert plates, and bowls that mix and match
with what we already have is another way to add style, color,
and function beyond the basics.
Many of you may also have ne china – my advice is use it! We
use ours often, and I don’t make guests dress up just because
china plates are on the table. Yes, some of our ne china must
be hand washed, but it’s worth it, and it’s a great way to vary
your table settings. If you’re worried about your ne things
being broken, consider my mother’s wise words when we
broke something: “It’s just a material thing. As long as you’re
not broken, we’re ne.” Our beautiful things are meant to be
enjoyed, not archived!
319EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
Service Plates / Chargers
ESSENTIALS:
You may not think of service plates as an essential, but they have
become that for me. ey add a nice layer of interest to the table
setting.
Service plates and chargers . . .
• add texture and style.
• come in many choices for design, color, and material, such as
acrylic, glass, woven, wood, metal, and china.
• can be used instead of placemats, especially for cozy table
settings.
Gold or silver acrylic chargers and simple, white, gold-rim china plate
chargers are widely available and aordable – great to have as staples
in your collection.
EXTRAS:
Service plates / chargers, are a great way to style up place settings.
For casual evenings, I use woven or wood chargers. I also like
to dress up the table with glass chargers from Vietri. And, if I
want to create an even more special place setting, I opt for ne
china. One of my very favorites is our set of custom service
plates from Sasha Nicholas. Rather than using a monogram, a
designer with Sasha Nicholas helped us create plates with the
Dalrymple crest.
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STYLE POINTS
Flatware
ESSENTIALS:
A simple, yet elegant, pattern in stainless steel, silver plate, or sterling
will serve any occasion and last a lifetime. While more ornate patterns
in sterling may be reserved for formal occasions, a simple sterling
pattern can be used for even the most casual supper. is is why I
include sterling in our essentials.
• Choose 18/10 or 18/8 composition in stainless.*
• Add serveware: spoons, forks, butter knife, and gravy ladle.
• As with plates, avoid prepackaged sets of place settings so you
don’t end up with unnecessary pieces.
Many of you keep your sterling atware hidden away and locked up.
You know who you are! My advice is to keep your silver in an easily
accessible place. We use ours every day and, at the risk of heresy, I put
all of it in the dishwasher. Yes, even the knives. ere, I’ve confessed!
I feel better now, and my knives are no worse for the wear. Although
“ou shalt not put silver in the dishwasher” may have been the
eleventh commandment for our grandmothers, it is now a commonly
accepted practice. at said, don’t let food sit on your sterling, and
separate your sterling from other metals in the dishwasher.
*18/10 and 18/8 refer to the
composition of the metal.
Choosing 18/10 and 18/8 ensure
your stainless will be resistant to
rust and have a silver-like shine.
321EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
EXTRAS:
Adding style with atware is easier and often less expensive
than you think. I love my bamboo-style atware from Pier 1.
I purchased it during a tabletop sale and added forty-eight
pieces for a little over $100. While I don’t know if it meets my
18/10 or 18/8 composition recommendation, I think it’s great
looking and fun to use for casual dinners.
Of course, there are more expensive options for styling up your
table, such as the wood-handled, forged Laguiole steak knives
we bought in France. However, Laguiole also makes a readily
available, less expensive version of their atware with plastic-
handled knives and stainless forks. While not quite as ne as
the others, they are fun and create a stylish look for the table.
I like pairing the Laguiole with my chunky Williams Sonoma
plates when serving rib eyes o the grill.
Given the expense of sterling, silver plate is an excellent option
if you want the look and feel of sterling without the cost.
I recently added a set of silver plate that I found in a consignment
store. We use this in our mountain home for a little step up
from the stainless we also have there.
Glassware
ESSENTIALS:
Choose glasses that are simple and rened, and you’ll build a collection
of glassware that outlasts trendy styles and works for every occasion.
• Choose crystal for the highest quality.
• Choose glasses without a rolled rim.
• You’ll want to have the following glasses stocked:
• water
• white wine
• red wine
• champagne
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STYLE POINTS
At one time, crystal was made with lead, but now there are other
metals used to make ne crystal. You can also nd high-quality glass
that feels very much like crystal, yet is sturdier and dishwasher safe.
Even when choosing something simple in style, the range of what is
available is extensive. Personal preference will be your best guide as to
what works for your home and entertaining style.
You may choose a universal wineglass in place of separate white and
red. And a word about champagne glasses: even though a champagne
glass is an essential for me, it may not be for you. Some will tell you
that champagne or sparkling wine should actually be served in a
white-wine glass, so we should all feel perfectly comfortable forgoing
champagne glasses. If you prefer a champagne glass, though, as I do,
a simple stemmed ute style is the go-to. It’s more timeless than the
older coupe style and much easier to wash than the longer-throated
toasting utes.
323EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
EXTRAS:
Although my rule of thumb for the essentials is to choose simple,
elegant crystal with no rolled rim, when we are adding a few fun
choices, these rules need not apply.
Consider adding color. I have some stemless, short water
glasses in dierent colors that I bought years ago from World
Market. ough they’ve been discontinued, I’ve seen a similar
glass oered by Anthropologie and noticed that Blair Farris,
publisher and editor of Peachy the Magazine, featured these
glasses in one of her recent posts.
Antique, vintage, or just plain old – think style! In the
mountains, where we are almost always casual, I use very old
Imperial Glass water goblets from my mother-in-law that are
chunky and heavy. We also have beautiful, antique, low-stem
crystal champagne glasses. ey are so elegant that sipping
champagne from one of these glasses feels special.
Seek out artisan glassware. Once, in Annapolis, I admired
beautiful gold-ecked champagne glasses. Lucky me – my
family surprised me with those glasses for Christmas!
Cocktail glasses are another good place to raise the fun factor
with color and shape.
Don’t give up on some of the old glasses from your grandmother
or great aunt Agnes. One of my clients thought her vintage
cobalt-blue goblets were dated until we set a table, pairing these
beautiful glasses with more current dinnerware and linens.
You, too, may have some hidden gems!
Add non-traditional shapes. e French Wine Glass from Crate
and Barrel is perfectly shaped for wine or water. It’s crystal,
thin-rimmed, short-stemmed, great looking, and an incredible
value. It adds style to any table or bar.
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STYLE POINTS
325EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
Serveware
ESSENTIALS:
For platters, bowls, and oven-to-table pieces, I recommend a few
essentials in white for all the same reasons I recommend white dinner
plates. Glass could also be considered.
• 2–4 platters – consider oval and round
• 2 serving bowls
• 2 oven-to-table casseroles
Beyond these selections in white, I recommend:
• large salad bowl in wood
• cake plate
As I’ve said in previous sections, when entertaining casually, I love
to serve from the stove. For this, I recommend Le Creuset products.
Choose a round or oval Dutch oven in a color you love, and you’ll be
amazed at how quickly it becomes a favorite.
EXTRAS:
Let your personal style be your best guide. If you like a lot of
color, go for it! If you prefer neutrals, choose warmer tones.
Make your choices based on whether you entertain casually
or more formally. Because I know how we like to entertain,
and I know what I like using most, I can quickly tell whether
something will work for us.
I also like to nd serveware that has meaning to me. I’m
particularly fond of North Carolina pottery. We’re surrounded
by talented artists whose work sits on our mantels and on our
tables. I also use a lot of wood, especially in the mountains.
A new line that was introduced to me by one of my favorite
local gift shops, John Dabbs, Ltd., is Mary Jurek Designs. It’s
stainless steel, beautifully crafted, and oven and dishwasher safe.
ese pieces add style and function, and many are choosing this
serveware in place of traditional sterling.
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STYLE POINTS
Table Linens
ESSENTIALS:
While paper may be ne for a picnic or a casual lunch, linens will
always be a nicer choice. And while I love synthetic fabrics for sports,
they are a tricky choice for the table. Synthetic table linens are either
rough or slippery, and napkins slide o laps and don’t absorb. How
many times have you been given one of these napkins at a restaurant,
only to spend half your meal trying to retrieve it o the oor? Cotton
and linen are your best bets for any type of table linen and, even then,
there are variations in the quality and texture.
For napkins and tablecloths, I think white damask is the gold standard
and the nest essential. We have been fortunate enough to inherit
my mother-in-law’s beautiful damask tablecloths and napkins that
still look and feel gorgeous after many years and much use. Investing
in this option will give you a lifetime of enjoyment for formal and
casual occasions. ey will also be a treasure to share with the next
generation.
My next recommendation for a table linen essential would be linen
hemstitch in any neutral color: white, ecru, gray. Similar to the white
damask, it is timeless, versatile, and will last. is option is widely
available and aordable. I use both damask and linen hemstitch for
casual and more formal occasions.
“Good quality linen
can never be termed an
extravagance. If one has
the means, it is always
economy to buy the best.
ough the initial outlay
is bigger, the extra cost is
an investment that pays
dividends in appearance
and wearing qualities.”
– The Universal Home
Guide, 1932
327EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
EXTRAS:
If you love this stu as much as I do, the world is our table
linen oyster – with some exceptions. While I do recommend
the damask or linen hemstitch as the nest essentials, we have
so many options beyond those. My main criteria are that we
stick with cotton or linen and stay away from synthetics. Yet
not all table linens that meet these criteria are equal. We must
identify sources we can trust, as quality, texture, and durability
can vary.
While we may need to iron cotton or linen tablecloths and
napkins, I have also found that the more I use my well-made
linens, the less care they require. In the mountains, I use a lot
of Pomegranate and Couleur Nature table linens. e more I
use them, the softer they get, and I never iron them. e quality
is so good that they withstand a lot of use and washings. I also
have a stash of very casual Pier 1 napkins that I bought fteen
years ago that never need ironing. I pull them out for breakfast
and lunch in the mountains all the time. It’s not that we don’t
ever use paper, but I have found that it really is just as easy to
use cloth. And because we use white plates so much, I can easily
change the look of my table settings with dierent table linens.
Placemats
ESSENTIALS:
Although you may choose linen placemats as recommended above,
there are a number of additional options. While I don’t recommend
synthetic fabrics for placemats either, I do think the solid-surface,
woven, or other textured options are great. ey’re stylish, durable,
and especially easy to store and clean. No washing or ironing, just
wipe o and stack!
328
STYLE POINTS
EXTRAS:
As with everything, choices abound for placemats: from simple
to extravagant, trendy to traditional, aordable to expensive.
One can nd numerous selections in fabric, solids, woven,
and many other materials, as noted in Essentials. Again, your
personal style must be your guide. I personally skip anything
too trendy and go for the more timeless and versatile.
ere are many great designers and companies, such as
Pomegranate, Couleur Nature, Kim Seybert, Holly Stuart
Designs, and more. Eortless Entertaining members can expect
the conversation to continue, as I provide ongoing resources
and tips in both the printed newsletter and on our website.
329EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
Centerpieces
ESSENTIALS:
e best, and certainly the most aordable, centerpieces begin with
an assortment of glass containers and vases.
I recommend you have at least one or more of the following:
• 4" to 6" square glass containers
• 6" to 8" cylinder glass vases
For the simplest ower arrangements:
• Repeat the same ower in each container.
• Bunch dierent colors of the same ower.
• Bunch dierent owers in the same color.
• Place one or two larger arrangements in the center of the
table and add smaller ones or single-ower vases at each end.
Just remember a few of the key points mentioned in Step Seven:
12 inches or lower for height, and mind the scent for table
arrangements. If you want to forgo owers, choose an attractive china,
ceramic, or pottery centerpiece, or a sculpture for your table. Give the
people something to talk about!
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STYLE POINTS
EXTRAS:
is is an area where we can add a lot of style and air.
Choose interesting containers and add a variety of owers.
Call on friends and pros to help. My very talented friend
Nan Williams is always delighted to express her creativity.
I buy the owers, she arranges, and we are both happy!
Use containers other than glass, including silver, pottery, wood,
and metal. Even vessels that don’t hold water can have a smaller
glass container tucked inside them.
Use containers other than vases, such as pitchers, mint julep
cups, bottles, and jars.
ink outside the ower box: small potted plants, herbs,
succulents, and candles. If only using candles, this is a place
where “more is more.” A lot of candles can make a fabulous
centerpiece – just make sure they’re unscented.
Make dessert the centerpiece. For my niece’s bridesmaids’
luncheon, our centerpieces were fabulous orchid cakes that we
served for dessert.
Consider a theme. For a Ladies’ Member-Guest golf tournament
in the mountains, the theme was all about “birdies.” e dinner
centerpieces were moss-and-twig birdhouses and dahlias.
Each guest was invited to take a birdhouse home as a gift for
participating in the tournament. Clever and gracious!
331EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
Candles and Votives
ESSENTIALS:
Once again, my go-to essentials are simple and elegant: glass
candlesticks and votive holders. ere are so many attractive and
aordable options, making the addition of this to any table setting
easy for casual and more formal entertaining. And if you’re looking
for something very special, crystal and silver are timeless choices. ey
will never disappoint!
On our dining room table, I keep sterling and glass candlesticks
and votives, which I use almost always, even for a casual dinner.
It’s as if they are part of the furniture. Sometimes I add other lighting,
but for me, keeping these things as part of my table setting makes
entertaining easy. You may want to do the same. Find a few pieces
that you absolutely love and make them your table go-tos.
EXTRAS:
It’s no surprise that when I add lighting, I begin by recommending
glass. By now you’re catching on that I like to begin with the
basics, making sure we have things on hand that are versatile.
I know what you’re probably thinking: I bet she has a lot of white
shirts in her closet.
If you want to explore other ideas for candleholders, choices
abound. Consider stylish ceramics, wood, bark, twig, and the
list goes on. Small tabletop lanterns are also a great way to add
lighting. Remember that the 12-inch rule for owers should
apply to lighting as well, unless candlesticks are tall and narrow.
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STYLE POINTS
Place Cards, Coasters, and Napkin Rings
ESSENTIALS:
Place cards may seem like extras, or even afterthoughts, but I believe
they are essentials. As I mentioned in Step Six, our guests appreciate
place cards. ey are little signposts on what might otherwise be an
awkward road of not knowing where to sit. And when entertaining a
group of ten or more, place cards make your job easier, too.
I rarely use a tablecloth on wood dining tables, so for water glasses, I
must use coasters. I keep a selection of linen, hard surface, and paper
on hand.
EXTRAS:
Earlier, I recommended keeping plain ecru and white place
cards on hand with a black Sharpie. Beyond that, place cards
are a great place to have some fun!
Stationers oer a wonderful assortment of beautiful place
cards, and for special occasions, you may want to consider a
calligrapher’s help. Beyond that, if you are a DIYer, you can
create a place card out of anything. Our friend Donna Lawhon
used magnolia leaves and gold ink. For casual wine dinners, I
have used wine corks, which is the extent of my DIY prowess.
Mary Beaver has had a bakery make cookie place cards for
our annual gingerbread dinner and acorn place cards for their
anksgiving dinner. at’s my idea of creative and eortless!
Menu cards are also a beautiful way to style up your table for a
special occasion, whether casual or formal.
333EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
Napkin rings are an easy way to add style to your table. We have
very ornate sterling napkin rings, but we also have handsome,
simple wood napkin rings that I love just as much. And designers
oer a wide variety of attractive choices.
Simple objects can serve as stylish napkin holders: I use sterling
snowake ornaments and ribbon to make napkin rings for
our Christmas Eve dinner. I may have once upon a time made
napkin rings out of rosemary. I am not an arts and crafts girl;
I’m not even sure where my glue gun is. But if you are a DIYer,
you can make napkin rings out of almost anything. I have seen
napkin rings made with jewelry, shells, bells, and more.
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STYLE POINTS
Seing Up the Bar
ESSENTIALS
Bar Glassware
My guidelines for table glassware also apply to bar glassware. For
your essentials, choose simple, unadorned crystal for great style
and versatility. e following is a list of bar glasses, but I’m not
recommending that you need all of these. Your best guideline will
be how you entertain – determine what essentials are best for you.
I also nd that one doesn’t need the specied glass for every drink. We
don’t own margarita, pilsner, or pint glasses. I prefer a margarita in an
old-fashioned glass, and we typically serve beer in a highball glass or
a chilled mug.
• stemless and stemmed wine
• champagne
• highball
• old-fashioned
• collins
• cocktail/martini
• margarita
• dessert wine/port
• brandy
• pilsner
• pint
You’ll see I’ve added a stemless wineglasses to the list. We have found
that this type of glass works especially well for cocktails, while we
typically use stems at the table. Very nice stemless glasses can be found
in crystal or high-quality glass without a rolled rim, and they are much
easier to load in the dishwasher.
335EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
Pitchers and Carafes
Bar essentials include three or four glass pitchers or carafes for water
or fruit juice mixers. Carbonated beverages are best left in the bottles,
but a glass pitcher or carafe is a nicer touch than a carton of Tropicana
grapefruit juice. Carafes are a nice, space-ecient choice.
Ice Bucket
Choices abound, but a good essential is Lucite, which is stylish,
timeless, and durable. Other good options are stainless steel and
woven. We also have a lovely silver ice bucket. As with every essential,
I recommend simple styling that works best with your décor.
Bar Tools
• corkscrew
• shot glass or jigger
• stirrers
• Hawthorne strainer
• mesh sieve
• zester
• muddler
e choices in corkscrews range from a twist corkscrew to the fancier
electric options. Our go-to is the “bunny ear,” which clamps onto the
bottle and opens with a single down-up motion.
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STYLE POINTS
EXTRAS:
It can be great fun to dress up and get creative with the bar.
Consider silver and silver plate. Years ago, Ed and I came upon
a silver-plated, grape-adorned, footed bowl in an antique store.
It was not expensive and has been such a great piece to set
on the bar for white wine or champagne. We also have silver
champagne buckets and silver pitchers that dress up the bar.
Once again, silver plate is a less expensive option than sterling. I
recently found a silver-plated water pitcher in an antique market
for $22. Using our silver does not necessarily mean the occasion
is formal. I have used silver pitchers on a Bloody Mary bar with
frosted ex cups for brunch, and everyone was in jeans.
Consider ice buckets and bowls in other materials: copper,
stainless steel, and leather.
Oer condiments and garnishes in attractive bowls, dishes, and
cups. Leave a few items, such as lemons and limes, whole.
Serve beverages in artisan pitchers made of pottery or colored
glass. Majolica pitchers or Majolica look-alikes are especially
fun on a bar, with their colors and designs. ese pitchers are
often more slender, which makes them perfect for the bar.
Add trays for glasses, pitchers, condiments, and garnishes.
Oer linen cocktail napkins.
A welcome drink sets the tone for a special evening. For a more
formal occasion, consider champagne, prosecco, or Kir Royale
in champagne utes on a silver tray. For Peel-and-Eat Shrimp,
you might want to serve Fireies in mason jars.
Commemorate your event with imprinted cups, koozies, or
napkins. For special occasions, imprinted frosted ex cups may
be a nice addition.
337EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
Other Spaces
ESSENTIALS:
As I mentioned in the Ten Steps, I like to consider where my guests
might be and whether there is something I want to do in that space
to say “welcome.”
Keeping vases, candles, and votives on hand makes it easy to enhance
any area: the entrance, powder room, kitchen, living room, porch,
etc. One beautiful ower in a vase is an easy and lovely touch.
Or, you may use multiples of the same ower in a group of vases, as
seen here in Hester Hodde’s arrangement of camellias. While this may
look complicated, what she has done is actually quite simple. She has
arranged blooms in an assortment of glass vases, placed them on a
tray at the end of her kitchen island, and illuminated the arrangement
with small glass votives. Perfect and eortless! Candles or votives are
also nice additions in the powder room. For the front door or porch,
you may want to consider lanterns, which warm any space. With
lanterns, consider the scale of the space – don’t go too small.
EXTRAS:
We can certainly go from the essentials to the extras in other
areas of our home. We can choose to do this with owers,
lanterns, votives, string lights, etc. We can spend a little or a lot,
either adding a special touch or totally transforming an entrance
or an entire room. Sometimes a simple ower in a bud vase is
just the thing for a powder room. For a special occasion, a more
signicant arrangement might be more tting. e same thing
is true for the foyer. When we hosted a wedding brunch for the
son of our good friends the Monahans, they sent a gorgeous
arrangement for our foyer. What a lovely way for our guests to
be welcomed and celebrated.
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STYLE POINTS
e Extra Mile
FROM SIMPLE TO SPECTACULAR
“More is More!” As much as I like to keep things simple, some
occasions call for the spectacular. No one does spectacular
better than our good friend Leslie Richardson. For JR’s special
birthday, she moved out all the furniture in their living areas
and totally transformed the space. Leslie is one of those friends
for whom “more is more” works every time, and we can’t help
but feel that the evening is going to be special when we walk
into one of her spectacular settings.
Create a concept or theme, and you just might create a tradition.
Every Christmas for the past twenty-eight years, our family has
attended the Gingerbread Party at the Beavers’ with the Hoovers
and Mealys. We begin with champagne and hors d’oeuvres while
each family decorates a gingerbread house. Mary has everything
perfectly set up with a lot of icing and candy – not all of it
ends up on the houses. e children, now ranging in age from
sixteen to thirty-one, enjoy a raucous gift exchange. We share
a fabulous dinner around Mary’s beautifully set tables. And
then, we all dance – always beginning with the same song. is
evening has become so meaningful for our families that even
now, with grown children and spouses living in other cities,
everyone jumps through hoops to get back for Gingerbread.
Mary makes it spectacular with her gorgeous tables, an elaborate
setup for decorating the houses, and champagne on silver trays.
e evening is also spectacular because of its tradition, our
history, and the big fun we all have together.
339EFFORTLESS ENTERTAINING STYLE POINTS
Style does not always mean fancy. Sometimes the best style is
the simplest. Our good friends Nan and Scot Williams have
hosted us at the Eastern shore of Virginia, where we dive into
fresh oysters on plastic tables with an incredible view of the
Chesapeake Bay. No one dresses up; we use paper towels to
wipe our hands, drink beer out of bottles and cocktails from
Solo cups. Okay, the wine is still in glasses, but you get my
point. To do our evenings at the shore any other way would be
silly. Another casual evening, simple in style, that’s a Dalrymple
family favorite is our annual oyster roast the night before
anksgiving. Once hosted by my sister and her husband, it’s
now hosted by their son Scott and his wife, Michelle. We eat
oysters over wood tables, Brunswick stew out of Styrofoam
cups, and sit around the re with dogs and children underfoot.
My children would move heaven and earth to spend this
special time with family. e style for each of these occasions is
spectacularly simple!
Another great way to style up the party is with our menu.
A beautiful charcuterie board, a whole smoked salmon, or
caviar on ice with shrimp and oysters, are ways to take our hors
d’ouevres up a notch. You can also present a fabulous dessert.
Weddings aren’t the only occasions that call for an amazing
cake. For Ed’s ftieth birthday, I had a cake made to look just
like a bottle of Caymus in the shipping crate. It looked so real
I had to post a small sign to let our guests know it was a cake
and not a real bottle of wine!
PARTY FAVORS A NICE TOUCH
Not every dinner party calls for a party favor, but special
occasions are the perfect opportunity to send your guests home
with one last touch. A favor is a wonderful way to say, “ank
you for coming!” I try to nd something that will not only say
thank you, but also be a reminder of our time together. It’s just
fun to see a guest’s face light up when you send them home with
a little remembrance!
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STYLE POINTS
“Most important of all is making your
guests feel cared for and content. at means not
only must you anticipate in advance any needs
that might arise during the party, but that you
should also enjoy the party yourself. When you do,
people leave with a great feeling . . . and that’s
what they hold dear.”
JANE SCHWAB & CINDY SMITH
e Welcoming House
