I'm throwing my 1st dinner party - part 1

I love entertaining - but entertaining my friends has always involved a quick, thrown together cheese board, a huge bowl of fruit and multiple bottles of wine. So I have decided that on Saturday, October 2nd - I am having 5 very dear and wonderful girlfriends to come over for dinner and drinks - and I am going to go ALL out.



The checklist:

- send out invite - DONE!
- see what serving pieces and tableware I have - DONE!
- decide on recipes and organize list for market
- purchase any missing items needed for table
- grocery shop and pick up flowers and candles
- cook!
- make floral arrangements
- entertain and enjoy!



Anyway -- I am completely inspired by Eddie Ross and his ability to use vintage and flea market finds to make such a gorgeous table. So, last night I started fiddling around with what I currently own to see what kind of fillers I would need. So - here was what I have thus far - but I definitely want to funk mine out a bit - it needs way more of the unexpected:


- The turquoise floral "table cloth" is a remnant of fabric that I got at a flea market that I had to have.
- I have service for 6 of Fire King dishes with a gold rim that I never use because they can't go in the dish washer. I got the dishes at an estate sale! Total score btw.



- The Napkins are gorgeous cream with silver threading detail. Even though the dishes have a gold rim, I think it works ok. The napkins (I have the matching table cloth too) are from 45 Three.
- The tall tumblers have gold and turquoise cruise ships painted on them. An ebay find.



Below is the same Fire King set of dishes - but I swapped out the tumblers for a different (my favorite) set and changed the table cloth to yellow. The napkins are vintage sunflowers by Vera that I got at the Long Beach Flea Market (a set of 8 for 4 bucks!!)



Another idea I had was to go super vintage and mismatch a little bit. Using vintage hankies for napkins and give it a shabby chic vibe. I nixed this idea but still wanted to put the pictures up. You just gotta think outside the box. This could be a good idea for a brunch or something.

I'll keep you posted on how it all goes!! Wish me luck!