The Perfect Dish!

There's no question that delicious foods will be a hit with your guests, but how you serve it should be equally important!

Often we spend hours planning the perfect menu, cooking, decorating and getting our home ready for our guests, but how often do we think about what we're serving our food on?

Of course, you may have considered how many plates you'll need, but have you really thought about what they'll look like??

I never really thought about it until a couple of years ago I went to a friend's wedding in upstate New York. She kept telling me the reception was going to be extremely causual, and in fact, they had cleaned out their old barn and were going to host the reception there!

An old barn? What????? I couldn't imagine that after having an elegant ceremony in the Cornell chapel, they were having everyone come back to their old barn for a reception! But they did! And what I saw when I entered that barn took my breath away (and not because of any leftover animal smells!)

She had decorated the barn with chandeliers and oriental carpets! There was silver trays and candleabras! It was exquisite!

What really caught my attention, however, was the massive (and I mean massive!) collection of shabby chic china that had been in her family for years! While they each had a different pattern, each had a delicate pattern and unique charm - and collectively, they made quite a presentation!!

She chose a shabby chic look because it fit with the theme of the barn, and it lent a simple yet sophisticated flair to her event!

Since her wedding, I have begun collecting my own set of shabby chic plates, cups and saucers. I scour antique shops and flea markets for these little gems! I have toile, floral, patterned and polka dots! I use them every chance I get!

I have also found some great sites that you may want to visit if you're looking for the perfect dish! Some are china, melamine and paper:

Royal Albert Patterns.com