Now this has to be serendipity at its best! Just last blog I was banging on … (again! I tend to bang on quite a bit: sorry about that!) … about the importance of the place card on dining tables and then, as fate would have it, when at the Woodstock Inn for a spa treatment (I know, sooo indulgent 
) AP and I strolled into the ‘set up’ of a wedding reception to be held under a marquee on the lawns.
Absolutely nothing unusual about that, especially at this time of the year when the inn plays host to everything from graduations, bar mitzvahs, anniversaries and birthdays (well, actually, they pretty much do that all year round; except graduations!)
Anyhoo, we could have left I guess but I am loathe to give up a good opportunity for a bit of a squizz Sooo glad we ambled our way on through the hordes of people scuttling around us because what really caught my attention this time (and AP’s as well) was the exquisite place cards. (Just an aside, I say ‘this time’ because the inn is renowned for doing fabulous functions with exceptional decorations at any time of the year whatever season. So much so in fact, that it has helped Woodstock to be consistently voted as one of the prettiest USA towns to visit. Seriously!!!)
What stopped us dead in our tracks and had me whipping out the camera (alright, iPhone!!!) was the fabulous creation they were assembling for the place cards … a ‘living table’ littered with an assortment of gorgeous flowers placed in a rustic eclectic collection of single stem jars (no rhyme or rhythm to the choice of florals, just whatever was in bloom and pretty) with the name of each guest carefully calligraphed on to a swing tie label more reminiscent of produce from a farmers market than a black tie wedding, and tied with simple brown string to a petite vase.
Gorgeous don’t you think? Apparently this was the brides idea but the florist, Birds of a Flower, ran with the idea of the living table and introduced the moss – which they cultivate – and pulled the whole stunning design together. We were just loving it!
Tinerate, I had not come across this kind of name placing before so was fascinated as to how it works. I was told that the guests find their name – and flower – on the living table and that there is a number on the back of their name card that corresponds to the table number. The guests then find their table and take a seat wherever they like. TA DAA … casual chic at its finest!
With my imagination firing at this inspirational and unique idea, I began to wonder if a particular flower was chosen with a person in mind. You know, lavender hydrangea for the blue-rinse set (now who said that ) or maybe a poppy for a sister (FEC always adored those) but nooo, no secret intent on pairing this or that with me or you.
Anyhoo, in my little ole book, an exceptional idea orchestrated superbly by the very creative and sensationally talented PB and HB of Birds of a Flower. Don’t you agree that this display of local capability would most definitely have ‘broken the ice’ around the table, living or not!
Till next time.
Tipsy Pipsy xo