Set The Table
A Sustainable Tablescape
I wanted the tablescape to be just as responsibly-sourced as the TENCEL™ fibres themselves: local British flowers (arranged and transported by me), rented wooden chargers, recycled paper stationery painted by me and beeswax candles. The napkins were made from TENCEL™, embroidered with my floral design and each guest’s initials.
So many elements of a table can be rented or borrowed. These wooden chargers are rented from Maison Margaux, who offer everything from plates to glassware. Also, ask friends! I actually own very few plates (just some classic white and some pretty dessert) but our neighbourhood WhatsApp group often has my requests. The candles were beeswax so 100% natural. Not only that, the negative ions emitted when they burn actually improve air quality.
"What a joy to co-host with my friend and fellow TENCEL™ ambassador Jasmine Hemsley for this event. We began with Jasmine's soothing sound bath to start the morning mindfully then the brunch menu was devised by Jasmine, kicking off with her signature golden spoon."
June is a time of year where British flowers are abundant. It's therefore even easier to source locally, support flower farms near you and learn what's at its best each month. Seasonal flowers last longer, smell stronger and look better! Just like our food at the brunch, this was not the time to be importing from Peru… I always say it's best to forget rigid bouquets of roses flown in from far-off climes and focus instead on seasonality.
The napkins were made out of biodegradable TENCEL™ fibres derived from sustainably managed renewable wood sources - though I hope no-one chucks them on the compost - they were embroidered with my floral design and each guest's initials!
The menus and place cards were made from recycled paper and painted by hand by me. You can this one step further - always save greetings cards so you can upcycle and use the back of them for menus.
For sustainability, the clear-up is key too; waste not want not! We all took home Jasmine's homebaked buckwheat banana bread (by some miracle we hadn't finished it...) and the hessian ribbons are now a key part of my party box that I return to month after month: ribbons, fabrics, trinkets, candles in an array of colours!
Credits
Napkins: Bespoke
Chargers: Rented from Maison Margaux
Candles: Bable
Dress: EvaRae made with TENCEL™️ fibres
Floristry: Rosanna Falconer
Photography: Georgia Meramo
* Part of a paid partnership with TENCEL™️
Read More
Christmas At Bonadea
Festive FAQ with Gemma Martinez de Ana to mark my December showcase in Bonadea's Garden Room.
Christmas Tree Decorating
5 ideas for your Christmas tree, from sourcing to decorating.
Entertaining A Crowd
Tips and ideas for hosting large numbers for a sit-down dinner at home.
Colour with Edward Bulmer
Festive tips from our pop-up and tablescape masterclass at Edward Bulmer Natural Paint.