Cedar Hill Farmhouse

updated COUNTRY FRENCH

Wildflower Party Vintage Details

By 32 Comments

I had so much fun planning and setting up for our wildflower party.  The sprained ankle (more about that here) I could have done without, but I still had a great time.

Now let’s take a look at the BBQ table.  (Did you miss the previous posts on the party?  No worries, just go to the end of this post to find links to the other posts.)
Mr. CH says this little kids’ bench needs to be painted.  I say, “I don’t THINK so!”  This is a bench I used to use for little girl portraits when I had my photography business.  I thought it added some much needed height and interest to this table.  The chalkboard sign is a little something  I found a few days before the party.  I will say that after the party, Mr. CH informed me that I misspelled “broccoli.”  Well, spellcheck doesn’t work when you are using chalk. It’s a good thing I didn’t have toilet paper on my shoe, because he probably wouldn’t have told me about that either.

And just so you know, I did not make dinner… we ordered it.  Yes, in my younger days, I have been known to cook for a crowd, but honestly it took me three days to get all of this set up, and months to plan it, so there is no way I would have had time for cooking and baking on top of all that.  We were expecting around 55 guests.

Here’s a close-up of the flowers, which are the only ones bought for the party.  The rest were picked from our pastures.  I put them in an old enamel tub that I bought at an antique store years ago.

Here’s a look at the table that held the BBQ and really all of the food. It’s a standard folding table, topped with a 48 inch diameter round piece of plywood, covered with a piece of muslin fabric that I got at Hobby Lobby for 40% with a coupon on my phone.  So it was about $12, I think, for the fabric. Since the fabric was 108 inches wide, it was already the right width (the table was 48 inches across at its widest, plus 30 inches on each side for the height.)  I didn’t even hem the edges, since it was for a rustic party and I know no one would notice or care.  So for this table, I bought the fabric, the flowers, and the chalk board; everything else I had on hand.

I have a few things to say about this table.  Firstly, the amount of potato salad, brocoli broccoli salad, BBQ chicken and brisket were so massive, that I had to find larger bowls for them, so I didn’t end up using the bowls shown in this photo.  The roasting pan worked great for the green beans, and was just the right size. Secondly, I had every intention of taking pictures of the table after I got the food out there, but with the craziness of getting it all out here hot for the guests and with my ankle in its injured state, I didn’t get any.  That is life for you, you can plan and plan, but something at the past minute can really throw a monkey wrench in the mix.  I will say I am so grateful I set it up most everything for the party the day before.

Here’s a welcome sign that my friend Becky gave me awhile back that has been sitting in my shed, just waiting for a party.

Diane at Tablescapes by Diane gave me the idea to put tags on the drinks for guests to label.  Some of the Mason jars are sitting in a Coke crate that Peggy gave me for Christmas this year.

To make all 48 tags, I used a Marvy tag punch that I purchased at Hobby Lobby, but I also found it at Overstock if you want your own.  (I am providing the link as a service, but am not being compensated by Overstock for this link.)   I used the tag punch many times for other projects to make labels for place cards, here, and for party favors, here, so it’s a great tool to have on hand.  I left my drink with it’s tag there to encourage people to write their names on their tags.
This chalkboard sign was a birthday gift several years ago from my friend, Kathleen.

The remaining glasses I kept in their boxes, but I lined the boxes with my toile bandanas.  Since so many people asked, I wanted to mention that I found them at Wholesale For Everyone.  Again, I am not being compensated for the mention.

The tub on the table we filled with ice for the tea, since a traditional ice bucket would be way too small for this crowd.  (You can see the dessert and drink area in the distance; I’ll be talking about in my next party post.)

I used a green drink dispenser for the sweet tea, and the white one for the regular iced tea. I meant to get photos of the tags I used for the dispensers, but I’ve already been over that.  You can just barely make them on out on top of the dispensers below.  (Did I mention that I love tags?)

Here are the Mason jars up close and personal.  BTW, Mason jars are not easy to find these days.  I went to several Walmarts in the city and they no longer carry them, but I found them at the Walmart in the country, and at a country grocery store.  I bought the pint size.

After I finished my dinner, I hobbled over to the front porch, grabbed my camera, and plopped into a rocking chair. Here’s a few photos I took from there.  You can see that I selected a spot in the shade for the table. I spent several days outdoors around 5 pm to see where the shade would be in to decide where we should put the table.

From a view standpoint, we wanted the tables here in the field below the back porch.  (These photos were taken in the early morning when it was foggy.)  Mr. CH really wanted the tables back here.

But I knew it would probably be warm the day of the party (it was) and that guests would not want to be sitting in the sun.

This area is eventually in the shade but much later than this crowd wanted to wait.

Here are some of the guests below.  Mr. CH not wanting someone to fall or run over a culvert, added the lovely orange cones.  Yes, Photoshop could have removed it.

I’ll have my staff get right on that…

Well, to be honest, we’re still working how to greet guests without sniffing every body crevice. I mean, let’s leave a little mystery there.

I have a few more party details and photos to come, so please come back.
Did you miss any of my other party posts? There right here.

The Big Table

 

Comments

  3. Anne says

    Anita,
    Your home is so beautiful and so is that gorgeous land and flowers surrounding it.I love your whole setting for your party.How lucky for your guests.You did an amazing job.I feel like I was reading and looking at an article in Country living.
    Anne

    Reply

  7. Bliss says

    I would party at your ranch any time. And isn’t that what friends are for not husbands….. I mean to tell you if you have toilet paper on your shoe?

    ~Bliss~

    Reply

  9. Betsy@ coastal-colors says

    Anita, everything has been lovely at your party! I have enjoyed seeing the pictures and appreciate the time you took to include the links! The mason jars with labels, the chalkboard and the mason jar lights are amazing! You know I adore the Bluebonnets! It all looks perfect!

    Reply

  15. Samantha says

    Your party is so beautiful! Those little chalk boards, the dishes…I can see the thought you put into the all details. What a perfect venue– I wish we lived closer. I would invite myself over all the time 🙂 Ha!

    Reply

  16. Lisa says

    What a dreamy party! All your sweet touches made it perfect and I’m sure your guests felt so welcome! I am amazed at all your bluebonnets! I was just telling another blogger that I hadn’t seen many this year. I guess ’cause they’re all at your house! LOL! Beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing all the lovely pics.:)

    Reply

  17. Shannon says

    What a beautiful setting for a party! I love seeing the Blue Bonnets in the background. Your attention to detail will make your guest feel special. Have fun!

    Reply

  21. Sarah says

    Anita, it is a treat to see the party details and also the views of your gorgeous ranch property. Springtime in TX with bluebonnets. Big smiles!

    Reply

  24. Stephanie says

    Looks like such a great event! I wouldn’t even consider cooking for 55 people – ordeing is the way to go! I love the mason jar/tag idea!

    Reply

  25. Nadir@StitchSense says

    Hi, I’m visiting from Truly Lovely blog. The set up for this party is absolutely stunning! The detail & time you took is amazing, I’d LOVE to go to a gathering like this. 🙂 Hope you’re ankle feels better, I recently had a bad sprain myself so I feel your pain! Take care!

    Reply

  26. Ivy and Elephants says

    First of all your photos are stunning. The event looked like it was a blast. I am in love with the mason jars. What a fabulous idea. What an inspiring post! I would love it if you would share this post at our WIW linky party. I hope you can join us.

    Paula
    Ivyandelephants.blogspot.com

    Reply

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