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Garden
Party
Fresh Ideas For Elegant Outdoor
Entertaining
 When it comes to having friends
and family over for summer gatherings, our first thoughts often
turn to late afternoon barbecues with sizzling burgers, plastic
cups and paper plates. If that’s your idea of outdoor
entertaining, maybe it’s time to get out of the house.
“So many people are trapped in the
mindset china should only be used for formal meals around the
dining room table,” says Annie Williamson, showroom stylist with
Replacements, Ltd., the world’s largest supplier of old and new
china, crystal, silver and collectibles. “That’s just so
limiting. You can have fantastic fine dining outdoors, such as a
sunny afternoon picnic or perhaps a beautiful dinner at sunset
or under the stars, simply by using ‘your good stuff’ outdoors.”
New Uses for
Traditional Pieces
Who says you can only use a tureen
to serve soup or goblets for wine? Outdoor or alfresco
entertaining really opens the door to new purposes for china,
crystal and silver.
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Use a soup tureen to keep
dinner rolls or buns warm.
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Iced tea glasses are perfect
for parfaits or fruit salads, while sherbet or champagne
glasses are great for serving ice cream and other summertime
desserts.
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Use silver mint julep cups to
serve shrimp cocktail or as individual vases. Fill coffee
pots and pitchers with fresh flowers to create unusual
centerpieces.
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Fill your silver or crystal
punch bowl with ice to chill bottles of wine and other
beverages.
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Stack footed cake plates, fill
with appetizers and adorn with fresh flowers. You also can
place candles of varying sizes on cake plates to create a
great accent or centerpiece for evening entertaining.
“So many people are squeamish
about using their china, crystal or silver, especially heirloom
and discontinued patterns,” says Replacements’ Dubravka
Vujinovic. “But these pieces are made to be used. In fact,
regular hand washing will help keep impurities from penetrating
the glaze of china and basically keeps the glaze strong, while
silver’s finish actually improves with daily use.”
Sizzle With
Seasonal Color
From crystal blue skies to vibrant
blooming flowers, dining outdoors is all about summertime hues.
“Entertaining outside frees up the
host to mix bright colors that might be a little overwhelming
indoors,” Vujinovic says. “Get creative by mixing and matching
different hues of china or colored glass. And instead of using a
tablecloth, buy inexpensive fabric remnants to layer various
bold colors to accent your tableware.”
She also suggests using ribbon or
kitchen twine to affix fresh flowers around linens instead of
using napkin rings, or using bedding plants in lieu of cut
flowers. Incorporate fresh flowers and greenery from your yard
or summer fruits and vegetables from your garden in centerpieces
and other decor.
Summer Tea
Parties
Formal afternoon tea isn’t just
for the English, tea parties are becoming a popular entertaining
trend.
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Set up several small tables
around your patio or deck with tea sets/themes of various
patterns; tie those together with similar floral
centerpieces.
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Purchase tea cups in patterns
that fit your guests’ individual personalities for a take
home gift.
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Float delicate blossoms in tea
cups or fill with miniature bouquets for colorful accents.
– Courtesy ARAcontent
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