Holiday Table Tips – Tara Guerard Soiree

With the holidays around the corner, we thought sharing some of our favorite holiday tabletop tips can help inspire some of your hosting duties. And, the holidays usually inspire new ideas for us. Here, in areas where warmer temps are possible through the season, dining outside means using your surroundings as decor. Thank you for Peter Frank Edwards for these photos, from our photo shoot last year with Charleston Magazine.

Cheese plates and over the top charcuterie are all over social media. So, why not an elegant cheese plate starter as the first course? Not typical turkey at all, and yet such a perfect start. The table top decor mostly includes items from a quick trip to your favorite grocery store or market. Loose seasonal fruits and blooms, and even easy potted plants that can be transferred to your own pots. But, if your hostess style strays more to quick and easy, a over the top charcuterie could certainly be both the first course AND your centerpiece.

I love the look of a mixed table. Somehow it’s composed and purposeful without trying. It’s great to use whatever different types of candles and holders you have lying around, they don’t have to be the same. Also, hitting the local vintage store or Goodwill offers surprising finds. I also don’t think the china all has to match, for example. Believe or not, this “linen” is a brand new rug from World Market that cost next to nothing. And, since it’s one of the newer cotton blend, so super soft to the touch, and can be repurposed afterwards.

Of course, in my humble opinion, the bar is of utmost importance when hosting friends and family. Having as many choices as possible but still keeping it self serve is my favorite way to go. There are so many Non alcoholic options these days and packing is so huge in the beverage industry. So, creating a lovely display is so easy. And, you can even set the proper glasses out so it’s all ready to go. Of course, my favorites these days are from Estelle. She is a local maker, and provides a wide range of styles and colors, which we love for design purposes.

Cheers! Happy Holidays and Hosting!