It's a cheese board; it's a centerpiece; it's a place to corral cocktail garnishes. It's a basic white platter (this one's from cb2.com), the most versatile item in your cupboard.
Float flowers like these peonies in small bowls, and arrange them with votive candles for a quick, modern centerpiece. On a long table, you can place a few platters down the middle.
A handful or two of freshly cut flowers embody the laid-back spirit of outdoor entertaining, especially when the blooms are slipped into a mismatched assortment of clear glass bottles, jars, and carafes. The containers go with any color scheme and offer a way to pair unlikely garden mates. At this dinner party, sun-craving cosmos meet shade-friendly astilbes. And the mingling of starburst scabiosa seed heads with the fireworks of astrantia makes the tabletop conversation sparkle.
When a vessel is this distinctive, its form and color practically dictate what kinds of displays to create. Martha's blue-glazed ceramic shell evokes summer at the beach, a time and place indelibly associated with billowing hydrangeas. Luxuriant cuttings from three cultivars, along with some leaves, supply the structure of this design. Airy pink gomphrena and white Cimicifuga cap the sea foam with spray.
Follow this guide to determine how much to buy. The primary rule: Buy plenty. You can use it later or return unopened bottles (check store policy before making your purchase).
Wine: One bottle per two people per hour
Beer: Two per person per hour
Spirits: One bottle per five people per hour
Mixers: Three bottles for each bottle of alcohol
Ice: At least one pound per person per hour
You're not the type to have a closet full of neutrals. Wouldn't it be great if your engagement ring reflected your penchant for color? Candy-hued diamonds have figured heavily in famous engagements of late (think Mariah Carey's rose-tinted rock and Heidi Klum's canary-yellow beauty), but they hold a prehistoric appeal. Long before the stones were ready to grace your finger, they blushed pink or glowed gold far beneath the earth's surface, as elements like nitrogen worked their magic. The stunning results, courtesy of Father Time and Mother Nature.
CB2 "Modern" salad plate and dip dish
Floral foam
Gaylax leaves
Three large peonies
1. For the runner, cut floral foam, a spongelike anchor used by florists, to fit a 7-inch-wide shallow dish, and add water. Stick the stems of gaylax leaves into the foam (shown at left). Then insert two or three large peonies, with stems trimmed, on top.
2. For the place-card holder, cut floral foam to fit a 3 1/2-inch-wide shallow dish, and follow the directions above, except use only one peony. Tuck a place card inside the flower.
