I'm Late! I'm Late!

For a very important Valentine date.

Yes, I know that Valentines Day is still four days away, but I'm still late with this table. It's bad enough that I'm 3 days too late for the Valentine Par-Tay at Bargain Decorating With Laurie, but I'm actually even later than that.  

About 368 days later. 

This is the table that I dreamed up in my head for luncheon club last year. I had it all planned to go with my 2013 color of the year. I just didn't finish the kitchen makeover in time to host a luncheon until May. 

I hosted it this year, though.  Saturday, the club came over for a luncheon that I called, That's Amore!  The food was Italian. The table was the one that I dreamed up in my head last year. 

Which is why this table is mostly  white and silver...

...with just a pop of red. 

I used a white table cloth, white candles, 

white  tulips, and white china. 

(Cameo Platinum by Mikasa.) 

I  borrowed the little red and white plates from the Farm Sister and added a bold red napkin.

That was the only red on the table.

(Act I flatware by Oneida.)

An easy peasy transformation with some little candy boxes turned them into favors.  I just painted the exterior with white Fusion satin paint and trimmed the sides with silver paint and satin ribbon.

Then I decoupaged each guest's wedding monogram on the top. 

Never let it be said that Debbie let a good decoupage opportunity go to waste...

(Moonspun crystal by Lenox)

I told them to share the chocolates inside with their husbands. The Men of the Houses deserved a little favor this time because they had done me a favor.   

They helped me with the place cards... 

... by secretly sending me a photo of their own big fat 80s weddings.  

Of course, the groom below didn't have to send me a picture. That's the Farm Sister and the Cowboy once upon a time. I was the Maid of Honor at that wedding and had my own photo.

I remember that boy...

 I remember all those boys.
In fact,  I'll let you in on a secret: That's still the way I see them. 

High school sweethearts...

In the end, most of the men kept their secret. One young swain accidentally left his photo on the computer so his bride had a hint. She kept it mum, though, and still enjoyed the surprise.  I think we chose some pretty good boys.

I know I chose some very good friends.

Talkative ones, too.

 They arrived at 11:30 and never headed out the door until 6:00. 

I'm pretty sure that's a new record. 

Even though I still had a Sunday School lesson to finish, that was fine by me. We're studying "one another" in Sunday school, after all. Part of that one another-ing includes hospitality and fellowship. Saturday we had a little bit of both.

And there you have it:
 My 2013 pop of red Valentine table,

 better late than never. 


*****
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