After literally years of trying to decide what I was best at doing, I think I’ve finally hit on it. It seems I simply excel at lounging around the outdoor fire with friends, sipping on a cocktail. In fact, a real talent so I’m told Who knew I was inadvertently putting in years of practice honing my life skills to perfection (Oh, okay, never perfect but definitely fine-fun-tuned!) Tinerate, even better news, it turns out I’m a natural to boot!

Anyhoo, with my new lounge-around-the-fire-pit-looking-fabulous-whilst-indulging-in-witty-repertoire Boston mates the conversation soon turned to tables (well, I was there so no surprise I coerced the chat to one of my favourite topics ) and it quickly took a new twist. The place card!

It is a brave individual who chooses to deny the complexities of the intricacies of the table seating and places guests at random. In fact this one task can often be the make or break of a party so I can’t stress enough how essential it is to put time, effort and, the biggie, focus into this task if you want a successful gathering.

Now of course, there is no guarantee that spot on, cleverly manipulated seating means a frolicking good time but at least the odds are stacked in your favour. You know, I honestly feel that this one little job is sooo vital that I have decided to dedicate today’s post to savvy seating style. (Mm, stating the obvious there maybe … Oy Vey … )

New mate, AJ, was adamant that a table is not officially dressed until adorned with the place cards. I, for one, agreed with her for several reasons but first and foremost being that the party is more likely to rock if a host in the know of her guests personalities sits them where they will shine. But never a predictable sparkle; always look for the pairing that will bring the diminutive twinkle into a full illuminating glow. That’s how spontaneous fun happens and the best memories made don’t you think?

Tinerate, it would be remiss of me if I didn’t point out that no matter how much fine-tuning and laborious thinking is spent in tweaking the table place cards to perfection, there is always (and I DO mean always) going to be some sweet soul who is not happy with where they have been placed and this naughty friend is going to upset the whole equilibrium of the balanced apple cart you have created by trying to switch the place cards around to suit their own purposes at the very first opportunity they have.

So, B-E-W-A-R-E! My advice here would be to keep the dining table a surprise until ready to sit down to the table (or at the very least, steer any guest hovering over the place seatings or lingering too long near his seating, back out to the kitchen to help with the drinks!)

Anyhoo, nothing like commandeering a riveting discussion on the life and death importance of the table place card … such a First World problem, right?

Till next time.

Tipsy Pipsy xo