Easy centerpieces for any dinner party

Who doesn’t just love a dinner party with friends? Part of what makes the holiday season so much fun is the dinner parties and get togethers that we attend and throw.
Wow your guests with eye-catching centerpieces and elegant place settings this season. For a sophisticated and glitzy but balanced look that won’t be too over the top, make sure to stick with nature’s natural elements. For example, fresh fruits, slender branches and berries combined with fall florals can look fabulous and will garner a lot of ohhhs and ahhhs from your guests.
This season, look for metallics to add a touch of modern to your tablescape.  Coppers and bronze are a lovely addition to any traditional table to give it pop.  Keep in mind textured elements like seed-beaded placemats, bamboo napkin rings, lace inspired table covers with jewel toned table runners, colorful glazed pots and vintage glassware and plates.  Complete the look with an amazing fresh bloom terrarium.
Here are a few ideas to get started:
1. Use pinecones. Dress up a simple table setting by gathering pinecones from your yard and lightly spraying them with glitter. Then, use your glue-gun and glue pearls onto the pinecone giving it a studded look. (Instead of glitter spray, you could also whitewash the pinecone.) Attach each guest’s name tag to the finished pinecone with wool and set on top of a folded linen napkin, then set on plates.
2. Use rustic elements. Incorporate wool, knits, fabrics, fresh greenery from your yard and woodsy textures.
3. Cast a glow with candles. Flickering candles and votives look amazing when surrounding any centerpiece, especially when the lights dim for your dinner party. Make sure to stagger the heights of the pillars and don’t be afraid to use different sizes, widths and colors.
4) Mini pumpkins and gourds with fresh fruits and veggies bring an organic feel and look stunning on a table.
This week, we are going to learn how to fashion a beautiful centerpiece with branches, twigs fresh greenery and flowers. You will need a shallow waterproof tray, (Look for something that is unique and has character), two bricks of oasis, your waterproof oasis tape, some fall colored pillar candles, plenty of branches, pinecones and berries from your yard (try eucalyptus, cedar and pepperberry) and last, but not least, your favorite fall inspired flowers. I used black magic roses and chartreuse spider mums. We want the centerpiece to be low and long rather than high, making it conversation-friendly for your guests who are sitting at the table.  I like the spider mums for their fluffy, airy look. If you do not want to use the spider mums, hydrangea or viburnum will give you a similar look.
Fill the tray with water and place the pillar in the middle. Take your pre-soaked oasis blocks and tape on either side of the pillar. Tape with the waterproof tape so that the blocks are secure. Using your longest branches first, start inserting from the bottom and go up finishing with the smaller branches. Make sure to integrate all the different types of branches you have collected to give the centerpiece texture and depth. Start adding your greenery and insert in similar fashion as you did the branches and twigs. Now, add your roses and mums distributing them in an even fashion. Finish the look by draping the berries over the sides of the arrangement. Surround the centerpiece with mini votive candles in matching fall colors. Step back and enjoy!
For more information on creative holiday decorating with flowers or to have the Flower Girl come to you and help with all of your floral design and decorating, call Alison at 843-575-2527. New holiday decorating classes with the Flower Girl coming to Grayco soon! Check Grayco’s Facebook page or call 521-8060 for more information. For a stunning place to hold your next event, call Jaime at The Green Room in Habersham at 815-7464.