When thinking of organising a celebration with a festive theme, vibrant, bold colours with a fun party element often come to mind. Mexico, a home of colourful celebrations, can be a source of inspiration to create a stunning tablescape with traditional elements and personal touches to help fill the occasion with colour, conversation and fun.
THE BRIEF
To style a colourful, lively, and folksy tablescape for a relaxed gathering with one’s girlfriends before the wedding and to create an achievable and affordable atmosphere full of fun without formalities.
INSPIRATION
The vibrant colours and textures of Mexican textiles were key elements in the design of the tablescape. To capture the culture and spirit of Mexico, traditional elements like serape blankets, maracas and cacti were included.
Serape blankets and maracas are available from www.coloursofmexico.com.au
THE SETTING
To achieve a relaxed indoor atmosphere with close friends, loads of laughter and colourful conversation, the best environment may be around the dining table at home.
DECOR
Dashes and splashes of colour are everywhere in the form of flowers, table linens, cool cacti in terracotta pots and vibrant embellishments. When working with colour, develop your own style and decorative choices by selecting your favourite shades and incorporating them into the palette.
TEXTILES
A bright, multi-coloured serape blanket with accents of hot pink, deep magenta, yellow and vivid azure blue, runs down the centre of the table and works as the foundation for the table décor. Further colour has been added with blue dinner plates adorned with napkins in ombré shades of orange and pink.
The napkins have been made in shades of pink and orange and tied with a colourful selection of ribbons. An extra pop of colour has been added with a single brightly coloured poppy.
THE FLOWERS
The central vase, with two smaller vases placed on either side, and filled with colourful flowers such as poppies, carnations, and calendula mixed with succulents, create a focal point on the table. Flower selections were determined by their colour. Cacti are synonymous with Mexico and add a textural element to the overall look of the table. Varying in size and shape, they have been placed in terracotta pots and placed between the flowers to add an element of surprise and interest.
PICK A POSY
For the girls, send them home with a hand tied posy as a memento of the day. An old beauty case from the sixties has been used as the vessel to hold the posies – perfect for a girls’ day of fun and festivities.
GIFTS FOR GUESTS
A creative way to overcome the common problem of a misplaced glass at a party is to tie each glass with a different coloured friendship bracelet that can also double as a gift for guests.
Colourful maracas bring a casual, light-hearted vibe to the party. Gather an assortment of these vibrant noise-makers and place one at each guest’s place setting. Place a tag on each maraca to encourage guests to have some fun with them. Maracas are available from www.coloursofmexico.com.au
MEXICAN FAVOUR BOXES
Decorate hand-crafted boxes with images of Mexican Loteria cards. A traditional card game similar to bingo, the folk-art pictures depict Mexican figures and icons from a bygone era.
STATIONERY
Inspiration for the floral pattern used on the menu and table signage came from hand-embroidered vintage Mexican sun dresses. The simplest flower design was selected from the bright, folksy patterns and drawn onto Kraft paper before being outlined with a fine black marker and coloured in with felt pens.
Plan on adding a dash of Mexican flavour to your party table? Share your ideas with us on Facebook and Instagram by tagging @modernweddingmagazine!
Styling and concept Gail MacDiarmid Floral Styling Sarah Deaker from Teacups and Roses