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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Valentine Dinner Party for Twelve

Sometimes I think we are crazy but this past weekend, Mr. Delight and I decided to throw a one-day-to-plan dinner party for twelve of our skier friends.  Our work schedules are such that sometimes we just have to be spontaneous! Fortunately, we entertain quite often and work well as a team putting things together quickly. Our struggles are around fitting that many people into our dining room!

Mr. Delight has crafted a piece of plywood to put overtop of our dining table which allows for extra seating.
We borrowed some chairs from our church which though not very attractive, took up less room than the more formal ones.
My tablescape started with three of these hurricane shades I got at a local Pharmasave drug store.  I added the "cling-on" Valentine hearts I picked up at the Dollar Store.

Some red and white carnations in a square glass vase with pebbles were placed in between the hurricanes.
 I kept the table fairly simple (for me!) because there were so many place settings.
 I used my lily shaped bowls (Pier 1) for our soup course. Unfortunately, I only have 8 so had to use some other square ones for 4 other settings.


 A black tablecloth adds a bit of drama to the red and white.
 Yes, we are still dining in a "SNOW CAVE" as pictured below. Of course, our skier friends loved it!

 I even hung a few hearts in with the snowflakes from the chandelier.
 Each guest had a menu placed beside their bowl.We "pre-dish" up each guest's plate (like in a restaurant) so if there is something they would rather not have, they can say so.
Mr. Delight made the Beef & Veggie (& Prawn) Shish Kabobs and the Grilled Asparagus.

 I was so upset with myself as I wanted to get pics of the food FOR SURE THIS TIME as I always forget but again, in the panic of getting things to the table hot, I forgot again.  I did manage to get these of the desserts I made though.
 Cherry Cheesecake parfait and Chocolate Truffle cake with Strawberries served on a heart shaped plate.
The lights were dimmed, the wine was flowing, the laughs were plenty and a terrific evening ensued! After dinner, Mr. Delight cranked up the tunes and we all started dancing!  Now that's a fun Valentine party! So glad we made the effort to entertain! 
The most amazing thing to me was that Mr. Delight and I even fit in 2.5 hours of skiing that day prior to the dinner party! Now, that's teamwork!


I will be linking this post to the following fantastic blogs who host some fantastic parties. Be sure to check them out this week!
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

27 comments:

  1. Wow, it looked fabulous! I have never thought of using black as a background....it really made everything pop!

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  2. Your table in the snow cave was just beautiful. I love those red chargers,and the love the bowls.

    And you were a GOOD hostess not to worry about a picture of the food but to worry about your skiers instead. Two thumbs up!

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  3. You all did a beautiful job and I'm sure everyone really enjoyed it.

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  4. You are the most energetic lady I know.....I am so impressed that you pulled off this grand party in such a short amount of time! Your table is lovely and very dramatic.....love the flower soup bowls which fit in perfectly with the theme of Valentine's Day.

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  5. Holy mackerel, woman!!! That was a LOT of food! I guess everyone will ski it off, though! :-) It is so weird that the snow is still so high. It made the perfect backdrop, though, for your red, black & white table! Gorgeous! Thanks for stopping by earlier, and I hope you are able to dig out soon!

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  6. Beautiful table. I love the hurricanes with the hearts. Your flower bowls are great too. The desserts look fabulous.

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  7. Everything is so beautiful. Love the candles and the hurricane shades.
    Blessings ~*~ Wendy ~*~

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  8. You did a marvelous job and I am sure your skiing friends felt right at home in the snow cave! Amazing pictures! Loved it all!
    Andrea

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  9. Gorgeous table! Wonderful meal!

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  10. Gorgeous! The lighting from all those candles is fabulous!!

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  11. Yummy AND Gorgeous...what a combo!! You are amazing-getting this all together so beautifully in ONE day! I'm sure your lucky friends had a great time!!! The table is just beautiful, especially the white lily bowls. The menu sounds wonderful and the desserts are beautiful!
    I love the idea of the the table "extension". Great looking party! Looks like your skiing friends could get to you by snow!

    P.S. Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment!

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  12. Oh, my goodness, I have never seen that much snow! What a sight! But, it does make the perfect setting for your Valentine's dinner for your ski friends! The color scheme is both dramatic AND romantic. I love the placesettings, and the menu sounded great!

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  13. What excellent hosts you and Mr. Delight are and you make a great team. Your table looks so pretty and the menu sounds dreamy. I am sure everybody had a great time. It sure looks so cold there when it's been in the 70's here this week...Christine

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  14. Wow that was some dinner you put on in such a short time. Everything was perfect. I am glad you all had a fun time.

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  15. You are amazing. I'd be too pooped to entertain in such a "delight"-ful manner after a morning of skiing. Everything looks wonderful. Even the snow cave adds to the ambiance, if you don't have to be out in it, of course.
    The hurricane shades with the cling-ons are terrific. What about the pedestals? The closeup shot of one is very interesting. I like the fact that they appear wide, but not very high.

    Sorry to be so late to comment.

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  16. What a beautiful table. I love the idea of adding the cling-ons to the hurricanse. I am going to remember that trick. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving your kind comments. From a fellow Canadian :) ~Alana~

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  17. Holly Molly! You really know how to entertain. I love to death you lily bowls.

    The sweets looks pretty yummy. Hope everybody enjoyed the dinner.

    Happy TS,
    /chie

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  18. Your table is amazing -- so dramatic! It's great that you and your husband work together to throw a dinner party of that size! WOW! I thought the parfaits and chocolate truffle cake looked just delicious. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for your kind comments. I will plan to post a tutorial on the heart napkin fold. Look for it this coming Monday or the following at the latest on Susan's Met Monday party. Oh I almost forgot; I cannot believe the snow outside your dining room windows!!! We live in North Carolina and we've never seen snow that deep. I really enjoyed seeing the pictures. Take care.

    Denise

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  19. The fact that you can get 10 other people together on short notice speaks volumes about your reputation as a host and hostess and your hospitality. I find that spur of the moment is sometimes more fun and relaxing. As you know, planning (the cake :) does not ensure a perfect party!! :) Your table is lovely! I agree with you. I am not one bit hesitant to be called grandma if that's what he chooses. It's a title I will cherish! Thanks for visiting!

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  20. Your table is so lovely! Those desserts look so yummy and pretty!!!

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  21. Oh my goodness, I love all the snow as the backdrop for that amazing table!

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  22. What a pretty table! Lovin' the lily bowls, looks like a beautiful evening:@)

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  23. Beautiful table! I love the way it really glows with all that candlelight. Those bowls are adorable too. Great job! Thanks for stopping by my blog with your nice comment!

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  24. Oh My! Are your skier friends lucky people or what? What a wonderful, wonderful table and dinner you gave to your friends! The menu looks amazing and now I am hungry! I would say that you and your husband are expert party planners! Angie xo

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  25. Have you ever thought how rich you could get if only you could bottle and sell that energy! LOL My husband and I were in awe as we sat here sharing your amazing party.

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  26. Yay!! I would have went into panic mode and killed the man! Lucky you both are into team work lol.
    Gorgeous, simple yet soooo elegant!

    ~~Wendy

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