Pretty Southern Table Setting Ideas

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Alfresco Table Setting

Entertaining expert and Editor-at-Large Kimberly Schlegel Whitman puts a stylish spin on a summer garden party in her own Dallas backyard with this alfresco table setting.

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Blue and White Table Setting

Inspired by her mom's favorite china pattern, Charlottesville, Virginia, event designer Jennifer Carroll creates a blue-and-white table setting.

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Beautiful Basic Table Setting

To create this table setting, Senior Photo Stylist Buffy Hargett used a collection of pitchers as vases, filling them with hydrangea and viburnum blooms for a fresh look.

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Colorful Bridal Luncheon Table Setting

Inspired by the garden, Editor-at-Large Kimberly Schlegel Whitman planned a vibrant bridal luncheon bursting with spring blooms and clever ideas for her sister, Kari Schlegel Kloewer.

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Casual Yet Elegant Table Setting

Even when the mood is casual, the setting can still be elegant and pretty. Lifestyle expert Eddie Ross shopped Atlanta's Scott Antique Market and local stores for a mix of old and new components to create this inviting table setting.

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Patriotic Lakeside Table Setting

Celebrate with a Bang — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

A red, white, and blue palette gets an elegant upgrade in this festive table setting by Alabama interior designer Beverly Farrington.

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Sparkling Table Setting

For this table setting, Charleston event designer Tara Guérard looked to a family china pattern for inspiration. The result is a pretty color palette of Champagne and gold with subtle touches of pink.

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Southern Details Table Setting

Designer Tobi Fairley created a light and airy table setting inspired by a classic Southern icon—seersucker.

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Colorful Table Setting

Interior designer Lindsey Harper gives a nod to the punchy hues and seaside motifs of Palm Beach, Florida, with her preppy and posh table setting.

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Golden Table Setting

Charleston wedding designer Calder Clark warmed up a rustic table with a romantic golden glow.

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Patriotic Table Setting

The key to a fun, casual party is in the no-fuss details. Steal these simple decorating ideas to create a setting that doesn't look simple at all.

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Mini Makeover Table Setting

Birmingham tabletop guru Patricia Murray shares simple ways to elevate any table setting from expected to extraordinary.

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Stylish and Festive Table Setting

Take Inspiration from Antiques — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Hostess Christy Ford shares her secrets for setting a stylish and festive table. She gets her table inspiration from old-master still life vignettes.

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Casual, Relaxed Table Setting

Add Pattern with your China — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Host Darryl Carter shares his secrets for creating a pretty, but casual table. He loves casual entertaining because it puts his guests at ease.

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New Orleans-Style Table Setting

Hostess Melissa Rufty shares her secrets for setting a gracious table. Start off by never being afraid to mix your patterns.

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Colorful Shower Table Setting

From strolling mariachis to tortilla soup, the baby shower for Editor-at-Large Jenna Bush Hager was a true Texas fiesta.

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Colorful Birthday Table Setting

Nashville designer Gen Sohr combines vivid hues of yellow, pink, and red with ample floral prints to create a cheery birthday brunch with a retro vibe.

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Book Club Table Setting

A simple centerpiece provides the drama for a book-themed dinner that speaks volumes. Lindsay Gibson personalized store-bought bookplates to mark each place setting and topped off the look with specially chosen vintage books that double as party favors for guests.

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Make It Personal

Marta Galaz Cancio tablescape — Tablecloth: Veranda Design, Courtesy Lisa Corti; Placemats and Flatware: Courtesy SoirÃÂ©e Everyday; Glassware: Cosimo Pink & Yellow by Campbell-Rey, Courtesy Collecto.
CARMEL BRANTLEY

In addition to gorgeous flatware, plates, and a centerpiece, don’t forget the personal touches that truly elevate a table and make guests feel welcomed. “Place cards elevate everything. They make a guest feel like this spot was meant for them,” says Marta Galaz Cancio, the stationary designer behind the lovely custom place cards and menus on this table.