Simply Elegant Dinner Party

The table should be a feast for the eyes with lots of interest to gently stir your guests with anticipation for delicious food. Pull out your finest serving pieces to up the feeling of elegance, and use a beautiful fabric as a tablecloth. For this party, a navy blue microsuede sets a rich and dramatic backdrop for the table. An added bonus: Microsuede cleans easily.

A menu card is a fun way to engage guests. Perch it in a place-card holder on the table so guests can savor the courses ahead.

To create a pretty yet simple centerpiece, place square dinner plates down the center of the table. Arrange a mixture of mercury glass and milk-glass votive holders filled with flowers on each plate. For added sparkle, add a piece of vintage jewelry to each plate.

Glass cylinders wrapped in lacy scrapbook paper make engaging candleholders and cast pretty shadows about the tabletop. To customize glass cylinders, measure the height and circumference and cut decorative paper to the measurements. Wrap the paper around the glass and secure with double-stick tape.