Bridal Luncheon Ideas: Showered in Color

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Create Vibrant Centerpieces

Inspired by the hues of peonies, daffodils, hyacinths, and ranunculus, Kim created a palette of pink, yellow, blue, and orange, punctuated by lush centerpieces and new tablecloths made of ikat fabrics. A setting of staggered round tables maximized space and encouraged lots of guest interaction. "Even with a big group, you always want it to feel intimate and personal," says Kim. To dress the tables, Kim combined three different place settings of family china and her own monogrammed napkins and flatware. The result was a cheerful luncheon focused on friends and family.

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Glass vases: For a similar look, try Spiral Effect Mini Vase (8122-20) and porcelain vases: Tozai Home Vibrant Colors Collection in Acid Green, Aquamarine, Imperial Yellow, and Imperial Oxblood; twoscompany.com for retailers.
Blue pottery bowls: Bean Pot in Blue; mccartyspottery.com.
Yellow urns: For a similar look, try the Euro Yellow Ceramic Jar with Lid (21068) by Urban Trends (utgallery.com); available from bellacor.com.

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Group for Impact

Anchoring each arrangement is a handcrafted blue pottery bowl bursting with pink peonies. A random mix of colorful vases filled with daffodils, ranunculus, and hyacinths surrounds the bowls. She placed each kind of flower in a separate vase instead of creating mixed bouquets. "My other sister, Krystal, and I raided everyone's cupboards looking for vases," says Kim, laughing. Getting each centerpiece grouping right was a matter of trial and error. "We kept moving the vases from table to table until we had just the right combinations," says Kim.

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Dining chairs: Tortoise Bamboo Garden Chair and chargers: Round Rattan 12"; poshcouturerentals.com.

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Be Creative with Your Place Cards

Personalized patterned lipstick cases stand in as place cards. Calligrapher Nicole Black helped Kim with these cases, but you can do it yourself using a paint pen from a crafts or hobby store. "I love the handwritten casualness and the addition of more color and pattern to each place setting," Kim says. "The lipstick cases double as favors to take home to remember the day."

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For a similar look, try Kiss Me Twice (11974110) by Vera Bradley; verabradley.com.
Calligraphy on cases: by Nicole Black; thelefthandedcalligrapher.com.

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Coordinate, but Don't Match

Having similar looks on all three tables creates a festive setting that's sophisticated and cohesive. Key elements stay the same, but the colors and specifics are varied. Floor-length tablecloths made of a graphic Ceylon et Cie ikat fabric in three colorways form the base. For the place settings, Kim repeated the following elements: china dinner plate, monogrammed napkin, and casual flatware. "This approach allowed us to mix and match our family pieces," Kim says. Rented rattan chargers and folding chairs offer a consistent thread from table to table and balance the strong colors.

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Tablecloth fabric: Chevron Ikat in Shocking Pink by Michelle Nussbaumer; ceylonetcie.com.
Plates and acrylic flatware: vintage. Napkins: For a similar look, try Hemstitched Linen Napkins in Navy; williams-sonoma.com.

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Yellow Table Setting

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Tablecloth fabric: Chevron Ikat in Lemon Gold by Michelle Nussbaumer; ceylonetcie.com.
Plates: Chinese Bouquet Rust; herendstore.com.
Silver flatware: Noailles Sterling by Puiforcat (puiforcat.com); available from michaelcfina.com.

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Blue Table Setting

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Tablecloth fabric: Chevron Ikat in Royal by Michelle Nussbaumer; ceylonetcie.com.
Plates: Rachael; herendstore.com.
Napkins: For a similar look, try Grape Scallop Boutis Napkins in Dijon; williams-sonoma.com.
Flatware: For a similar look, try Olivewood Flatware by Dubost (jeandubost.com); available from surlatable.com.