Entertaining-Party Panache

Party Panache:

Planning Perfect Party Flowers

So, you got that promotion and you’re feeling festive. Aunt Daisy is turning 100…Mom and Dad have an anniversary…It’s Christmas…or time for a picnic at the beach. In other words: IT’S TIME FOR A PARTY! Every day there are scores of reasons to celebrate the joys of life, honor traditions, socialize with business associates, family and friends.

Flowers are an essential element of any party…whether a formal seated dinner, casual barbecue on the patio, gala holiday buffet or an event you are hosting for someone else. Flowers can enhance the mood and help set the tone. And flowers are just as much a part of the aesthetic experience of dining as the food…whether they be daisies or delphinium, roses or ranunculus. So if you have a special theme in mind, want to enhance your home’s features, or express your own unique style at your party, there’s a flower to do that.

Professional florists are experts at the art of self expression and can help to create the party of your dreams. You may find that a visit to the florist’s cooler will provide you with a plethora of flowers and inspiration. By tapping into the creative expertise of your florist and working with them closely regarding your budget and goals, you can make the most of your party and host an event that guests will remember for years. Select from the list below to plan the perfect party:

Size Up The Seating
Create Mood Magic
Details Make The Difference

Size Up the Seating (back)
How and if guests will be seated is one step in planning your party decorations. Be sure to avoid inviting more than your table or location can comfortably handle -- everyone remembers (usually with a tinge of pain) being relegated to sit at the "kid’s table" during Thanksgiving dinner while the real action was going on at the "adult table" across the room. So, when planning your party, consider sizing up the seating as a preliminary step.

Seating checklist:

How many guests will your current dining table seat comfortably?
How many guests have accepted?
How much space do you have in the room?
Can you do a buffet in place of a seated affair?
Do you have an outdoor living area such as a patio that could be utilized, weather permitting?
Will guests be able to move comfortably to socialize?
If servers are not used, is there enough space for drink or hors d’oeuvre stations?

Florists and caterers use a couple of simple solutions when working on a tough seating situation that will ultimately affect the presentation of their food or floral decorations.

Go Smaller: Use small tables throughout a space and seat all guests at the same size tables.
Go Taller: Turn the dining table on hand into a buffet table with standing guests
Go Grand: Use plywood or a series of long tables to create a long table that seats many guests on both sides.

Once the business of bodies and where they will sit is solved, attention can be turned towards the decorations and the mood you want to create…the memories that your guests will take home long after you have kissed them all good night and washed the last dish.

Create Mood Magic (back)
Flowers have a magical ability to create ambiance and mood. The selection of flower varieties and color choice can go a long way in achieving the mood you desire. Just follow these three simple steps:

STEP 1: Consider the Lighting
Will you be hosting a candlelight dinner or a sunny brunch? Light plays a huge role in color and how the human eye sees the flower. So for maximum "bang for your buck," the Society of American Florists suggest a few simple tips:

For low-light or candlelight use colors that are light or on the "warmer" side of the color palette: yellows, oranges, and reds. These colors are considered aggressive and reflect light in such a way that makes them stand out or forward. Any lighter or darker variations of these warm colors (such as light yellow, pale pink or coral) are also great choices. White or any very light color is an excellent reflective choice for candlelight. "Cooler" colors such as purple, violet or dark blue do not reflect light in the same way. They are considered passive colors and are therefore recessive. These colors will be seen by the eye as being in the background or even as a dark space.
For bright spaces anything goes. Since bright light is highly reflective and shows color in it’s purest hue it is an ideal time to get maximum visibility from deeper or darker tones such as burgundy, purple or deep blue.
Extra light can add dimension to any party. A romantic effect can be achieved as simply as adding a few white "twinkle lights" to trees or try shining an inexpensive work light or can light (available from hardware stores) onto a floral arrangement for dramatic impact. These can easily be hidden with a plant or cloth.

STEP 2: Choose Colors That Help Create the Mood
Have you ever noticed that certain colors make you feel a certain way? Reds and yellows make you feel vibrant, greens and cool lavender may soothe jangled nerves.

It is proven that color actually causes a real emotional response in humans, on a visceral level. For example, it is widely understood that green is soothing to the human eye and causes us to feel restful. So, when planning your floral décor, think of the way you might make the best use of color to enhance the environment.

And take a cue from the type of food you plan to serve. To make the most of a zesty Mexican meal, spice it up with bright reds and golds. On the other hand, if a romantic wedding brunch in a traditional setting is on the agenda, pastels may be the perfect choice. A casual pasta dinner might call for eclectic colors.

STEP 3: Select Flower Varieties That Get Your Point Across
While almost "anything goes" in flowers, there are certain varieties or design styles that best enhance the look or environment you are trying to achieve, whether casual or formal, and help you stay within your budget. Florists can help you with appropriate choices to highlight any mood or theme. Be sure to ask them about what’s on hand. Sometimes seasonal varieties can be a great choice…like roses in summer…a great value to consumers because they are in abundance.

Details Make the Difference (back)
When people attend dinner parties, of course they are there to share in the celebration and to be with friends. But let’s face it, they are also there to be dazzled. Why else would we put ourselves through so much trouble to plan every detail so thoroughly? Here are a few more simple and inexpensive ideas to add that extra special touch:

Matching Flower Napkin Rings/Guest Favors
Ask your florist to create a floral napkin ring for each guest, or order a few extra flowers that match the centerpiece and simply tuck one into each folded napkin or napkin ring. Be sure to keep flowers in water until right before guests arrive and then cut the stem back to about 3 inches. Ask your florist about what kinds of flowers work best for this type of treatment.

Floral Place Cards for Each Guest
Make a place card for each guest using small vases with one flower cut very short in each one. The card can be glued or taped to the front of the vase, or nestled into the blossom itself. If a vase is not used, simply place a flower blossom on the table facing each guest and using a little glue, attach the card to face the seat.

Dressed Up Candles
Place votive candles on flower petals or a leaf. Add ribbons with flowers to candlesticks. Float flowers or fragrant flower blooms in crystal bowls. Candles decorated with flowers enhance both the centerpiece and the mood while visually "lengthening" the decorations.

Buffet Flowers
Ask your florist to make a tall design and a couple of smaller ones on different levels. This will allow everyone to see the flowers up close and make good use of the stem length.

Decorate a Cake With Flowers
Ask your florist to decorate a cake for you or order the flowers and follow these steps: Wash the flowers to be used thoroughly and allow them to dry. Cut the stems to about 1 inch. Dip the ends into melted paraffin and allow to dry. When decorating the cake, insert the stems directly into the cake. Foliage or flat flowers such as pansies can be placed flat onto the cake. Try adding lace or ribbon for great effects. Florists can offer the best advice about what flowers to use.

Posies in the Punch
Make a punch float by placing washed fruit or edible flowers into a tube cake pan. Fill with water to about 3 inches. Freeze it and pop it into the punch bowl flower side up as guests arrive. Make sure that you take out the float and put in another one as the ice melts and the flowers are ready to be exposed.

Garnishing Trays and Platters
Presentation is everything. Here are a few great ideas for garnishing your serving platters: Line the tray or the edges of it with decorative lettuce leaves or kale. Use flowers as accents in the center or on a corner of the tray. This is a great way to disguise serving platters that don’t match.

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