Spring Table

When you visit the studio of uber talented David Monn, a designer best known for planning events such as the Costume Gala at the Met, you always leave amazed by his luxurious creations.  What was surprising about a recent wedding salon that he hosted, with industry notables such as Cathy Riva, Lisa Hoffman of CECI New York and caterer Peter Callahan, was that his incredible tabletop ideas were both easy to replicate at home and designed for those on a budget.

In line with our Lazy Hostess philosophy that entertaining can be simple as well as stylish, Monn proves that with a little creativity, a beautiful event doesn’t have to break the bank.  Here are some tips we picked up from Monn on how to create a fresh, Spring table that would be perfect for any wedding related event but, is especially timely for Easter.

Use a simple color palette
Sticking to two colors gives maximum impact to your table while lessening the load on executing design.  Bright white and crisp green are great choices for an elegant yet modern look and be applied to table linens, candles and even florals.

Decorate with potted flowers
A few clay pots filled with fresh white tulips are all you need to dress your table.  It cuts down on the time needed for flower arranging and will last  much longer than cut flowers.

Display dessert as a centerpiece
By using a vintage tiered dessert tray or stacked cake plates, you can create a chic and edible centerpiece. Vanilla cupcakes with white and green frosting (here by Billy’s Bakery) can be dressed up with delicate laser-cut cupcake wrappers by Paper Orchid (available online for $13 per 12 pieces) which adds texture to your table. The Basket, Picket Fence and Butterfly patterns are especially cute for Easter brunch.

Have fun with your tray presentation
Caterer Peter Callahan creates a striking and whimsical hors d’oeuvres tray by sticking appetizers like pigs in a blanket in bright green wheatgrass.  To have some fun with simple smoked salmon on pumpernickel, Callahan used cookie cutters to create pig shaped toasts for the tray.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Chuck Fishbein and Brittany Allen