FABULOUS Hosting a GRAND Dinner Party

OK... I spent hours in the Formal Dinnerware Section of  Bergners picking out the perfect Fine China (VW Place Settings, Flutes, Wine Goblets, and beautiful Towle Fine Silver) for my Bridal Registry ....only to have it collecting Dust in our Hutch.

All that effort and 5 years later I am still using paper plates for Entertaining our guests!  WHAT A WASTE, RIGHT?

OK .. here is how to throw a FABULOUS... 8-10 guest Formal Dinner Party!

1. THROW OUT THOSE DAMN PAPER PLATES
2.  BUY SOME SILVER TARNISH REMOVER AND GET TO WORKING ON YOUR FORMAL SILVER WARE
3.  SCRUB THE DUST AND DIRT OFF OF YOUR FINE CHINA
4. CLEAN THE FLUTES, WINE GOBLETS ETC....
5.  BUY LINEN NAPKINS and BEAUTIFUL NAPKIN RINGS (Start Universal go for a basic Silver or Gold Ring)... (GO to BERGNERS in PEKIN.. or even scour your local BOUTIQUES ... Like ACKERMANS or LULU's ON MAIN in MORTON) as well as BEAUTIFUL TABLE LINENS (Including LINEN PLACEMATS)

LULU's http://www.gottalovelulus.com/

OK Once you have done all the dirty work... here comes the fun part!

THEME AND INVITATION IDEAS

Yah.. we know it's formal... but what are you going to have for Color Scheme  and/or type of formality.

 I love BLACK WHITE EVENTS... (Everyone Must dress in Black or White) or have a great Valentine's Day Formal Party (Everyone incorporate Red, Silver or White into their Ensemble)

Get creative with your Invites... DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY ... with the cost ... just keep it simple but make sure it's Elegant and conveys.... what your theme is!

Table Decor is a must... simple, elegant, with pops of your themed colors.  Add flowers & candles!  Create Ambiance!

... Also... You can plan around a certain event .. Like a Kentucky Derby Party.  Request that everyone comes dressed in formal attire with a fancy Derby Hat.    Hook up with your local Cable Company and subscribe for one day... the Sports Stations that covers each race.

Have some fun and place bets!  But make sure you plan to serve dinner at a time that doesn't interfere with the race times.  Nothing like your money hungry Male Guests... breaking their necks at the table to watch the race..!!! THAT WOULD BE WASTE OF EFFORT!

OK... here's where the fun part... learning how to set the table.  I found a great website that teaches us how to set a formal place setting.

Formal Place Setting Tips


These are just some of the wonderful diagrams that you will find to help you with your place settings.

Ok don't worry if you don't have everything here... use what you have to start.


ONE GREAT IDEA I GOT FROM A REAL HOUSEWIFE From KENTUCKY...

"Every year.. I go to an Antique Store and find great little table ware pieces to give as gifts to my grandchildren... Last year I found a beautiful Victorian set of Grapefruit spoons and Butter Knives to give to my 4 year old and 10 year old granddaughters.  I know they won't appreciate it now.. but when they are in their own homes and are wanting to throw lavish dinner parties....  These unique pieces will not only be great pieces to have but wonderful conversation starters around the table."

What a great idea!!!!  I love it... she knows that Fabulousness has to be learned and it starts at a very early age!


Start Planning your FABULOUS FORMAL DINNER PARTY.. and for GOD'S SAKE... THROW OUT YOUR PLASTIC FORKS, SPOONS and PLATES... and use those beautiful pieces you have displayed in your dusty old hutch!