Here Comes The Bride! Rehearsal Dinner Tablescape

It's 3:10 a.m. and I am wide awake..today was the culmination of several weeks worth of decorating work on a much anticipated rehearsal dinner. (I also judged a Beauty and Beau pageant soon after the decorating ended, thus, I am still revved up!) Full days and coffee late in the afternoon = disaster when it comes to sleeping.

Wedding rehearsals are a fun preview of the day to follow. Excitement is like electricity in the air. This sweet bride requested only three things...simplicity, white branches, and mercury glass. This was to be a laid back dinner with people free to eat and converse and really enjoy the event. I did my best to comply.

My "jumping off" point...beautiful gray ribbon with silver (and a teensy bit of gold) paisley designs. Typically, February weddings are filled with reds, hearts and such...this was not an option (as per bride's request)...so I hit paydirt when I spied this wired ribbon.

It's been the coldest winter we've had in decades here, so an "ice crystal" winter theme was mulled. I decided to take the plunge and go for it..only to have the most beautiful spring like day dawn on rehearsal dinner morning...I kept with the plan with a few modifications. (So what if it was 70 degrees? It could have just as easily been 20 degrees..it was three days ago!)

The centerpiece was to mimic snowflakes and ice crystals...white spider mums, gray eucalyptus, silver ting ting and soft green fern were just what the gorgeous mercury glass vase needed. I combined two ribbons for the bow.

Centerpiece at night.

Back of arrangement.

On either side of the arrangement were hurricanes protecting silver candle sticks and white candles. The combination ribbon bows cradled a small bird's nest. Inside the nest was a silver heart instead of an egg!

Hurricane lit for the occasion.

I made dove gray tags with meaningful thoughts or names printed in darker gray. Each tag was tied by a special helper friend in soft gray satin. The thought tags were placed on the centerpieces throughout the dining room.

Each edge was frosted with clear glitter.



Each of the eleven guest table centerpieces consisted of a tall glass cylindrical vase with mercury stones anchoring the white branches, bird's nest and silver hearts, silver ting, ribbon and tags. A small gold or silver bird perched nearby watching over the festivities. The foundation was built on a silver charger overlaid with a large crystal snowflake. I crocheted the birds' nests.


Clear votive holders (both small and chunky) and mercury glass votive holders and stones were placed up and down the length of the tables.





Because of a previous commitment, I didn't get to see all the candles lit with the darkened windows and dimmed lighting. A fellow blogger promised pictures. And here they are!!

It's interesting to hear many people talk about how "they" do this type decorating and planning as if they single handedly wiggle their nose and it all falls magically into place. I find that attitude extremely self serving. I could NEVER do any type event without help. I have wonderful friends who listen, commiserate, toss out ideas, reign me in, actually WORK and in general support me in bringing ideas into reality. Without their friendship and willingness to put the shoulder to the grindstone, events like this just wouldn't happen. I won't use their names (they are so weird about that!)...but I would publicly like to THANK them and let them know (and they know who they are) how much I appreciate and value their kindness and willingness to help me. YOU ARE THE BEST!

I also wish the new bride and groom the very best life has to offer. It's been a pleasure being a part of their joyful occasion. Now to sleep for me!

Linking to Between Naps on the Porch...Tablescape Thursday and Boogieboard Cottage's Masterpiece Monday! Come by Dittle Dattle's Amaze Me Monday and Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life, too. Use buttons on right to join us, please!

It's almost time for the groom to kiss the bride,