HONOR THE RITUAL OF CONNECTING
A note: It has only been two weeks since our last post, but it feels like two years. So much has changed in our daily lives due to COVID-19. We are a community that runs to meet the crowds, and we’ve been forced to stand still (and honestly) pray. There will soon come a day when we can assemble together, but until then, entertaining is still very much who we are. Like the rest of the world, we have felt the collective anxiety and have been forced to take a deep breath and pause. And that pause reminded us of the little moments that inspired us to gather around the table in the first place. Our ritual of letting go has always been a meal with family around the table, a happy hour with best friends, and the fits of laughter with the people who know us best. Connecting with loved ones has never been more important. Because of that, we are moving forward with sharing ways to entertain, spark joy, and add to the beauty of this world in our daily lives. Thankfully, our digital world has made it easier than ever to continue these rituals. While we are promoting postponing over canceling events, this is the virtual hug we all need right now. So onward friends. Remember, our imagination is immune to virus.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
What is time anymore? The best advice we continually see in the inundation of media and isolation is to stick to our schedules and routines. While we are thoroughly enjoying lazier evenings and weekends, keeping connections is also keeping us sane. Maybe you have Netflix and chilled a little too hard (and honestly, same). So why not embrace the “social” in social distancing and host that book club or happy hour that were put on hold? If you miss wearing dresses on a Friday night, turn that desire into a theme for a virtual party. Our cabin fever is calling us to break out the hair rollers and Grandmother’s Reed & Barton for a table set for two (or however many are in your home). Honestly, there’s also never been a better time to dive into the hair and makeup tutorials you’ve wanted to try out for a special night or perfecting the looks for our postponed plans. Virtual happy hour is our favorite place to start. So how to begin? See our tips below.
SEND OUT EVITES
The key is to keep the rituals of party planning in place. We love Paperless Post for their fun (and funny) evites for rsvps and as a delightful way to set the tone for a virtual evening. Connections like Zoom, Skype, Facetime, and (our favorite) HouseParty are apps that make engaging easy and accessible for all. We also love the idea of creating a playlist to send to guests to get them in the mood for your chosen theme. For brides, we’ve seen Postpone cards sent out in these unforeseen times a la Save the Dates..., and what better way to lift their spirits than a virtual toast of the good times to come? Snail mail is still a wonderful way to engage depending on your time frame, and you can finally practice your calligraphy skills.
GET INSPIRED
Set the mood for your party with florals in the background and good lighting. Pinterest is our number one source for perfecting our tablescapes. Our Instagram isn’t too shabby either with an A-list of the top designers and event planners sharing gorgeous tabletop, floral, and paper inspiration. Our vendor friends have risen to the occasion with their Instagram tutorials on creating floralscapes from grocery store sourced flowers, cooking recipes, and happy hours. We are also finding fresh inspiration with the abundance of online courses out there. TheSill.com has a floral arrangement online course calling our name. What about the food? It’s a great time to break out your cookbooks or order enviable meals from our favorite Dallas caterers and local restaurants. The support is much needed!
SET THE TABLE
You know how making you bed in the morning sets you up for success. We feel the exact same way when it comes to setting the table. There is nothing more welcoming than walking in a dining area with a cozy tabletop, so that is forever on our daily ritual list. When it comes to making a virtual party, perhaps it's time to break out the family heirlooms and make a masterful place setting to set the tone. As long as the wifi will travel, we love an outdoor set up in the backyard. (This is also great for a break for family dinner.) Set up a festive bar in the background. Drink the good wine—just make sure to save a bottle to share with friends post quarantine! And while we're on the subject of drinks…
IT’S FIVE O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE
Texans rarely need an excuse for imbibing (for proof, look no further than all of the margaritas to go popping up!). Streaming porch parties with besties or family is a great way to keep you afternoon happy hours while catching up on something other than the news. Two of our favorite Texas muses have shared their personal margarita recipes on their IG stories (linked here for your pleasure: Bradley Agather and Jan Barboglio). We add bonus points if you break out the special occasion stemware that has needed a good dusting off. There has never been a better time to record stories from your parents or play twenty questions with friends. Let’s make a toast to finding silver linings and great conversations.
STAY CONNECTED
Hopefully you find this as helpful encouragement to stay grounded and stay connected. Head over to our Instagram to see how we are staying inspired for future events (they will happen!) and keeping sane on a daily basis. We would also love to see your porch parties and how you set the table at home during this time. Tag #poshcouturerentals and we will share our favorites.
IMAGES
Image 1: An old tradition with a modern twist, featuring Kirsten Dunst and Jason Schwartzman on the set of Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.
Image 2: A Southern Porch Party by Hill and Co. Creative with mint juleps and the best bubbly.
Image 3: Just add single flowers to create sophisticated elegance at home. Plate Setting: Concrete Gray Charger, Wedgwood Vera Wang Marble China, Lucca Matte Black Flatware. Laning Photography // Ladybird Paper Co. // Cliffhouse Texas // Dr. Delphinium Weddings
Image 4&5: A perfect backyard setup. Place Setting: Coupe China in Linen, Grey, and White. Cutipol Rondo Matte Gold Flatware, Vintage Goblets. Cottonwood Photography // La Tavola Linens // The Yes Girls // Coral Lane Event Rentals
Image 6-7: Personality thrives when you host at home. Place Setting: Mirrored Place Setting, Cutipol GOA White and Gold Flatware, Extreme Riedel Stemware, Stella Goblets. Alyssa Meeks Events // Silhouette Studio Photography
Images 8-9: Warm and welcoming, whether virtually or in person with wishbone chairs and coupe linen china. Chair: Mid Century Chair with Natural Cushion. Lindsey Brunk Photography // Slow Darling Floral // Ben Q Photography // Urban Fire House // Isidore Augustine Stationary
