{Sponsored Guest Post} The L.A. Table Shares a 1920s-Inspired Tablescape

My husband and I had a DIY wedding in 2006, and seven years ago, there was very little available in the way of disposable plastics which were also beautiful.  We had tons of family coming from all over the world for the weekend before our wedding, and let’s just say, I had to re-glue a fingernail the night before my wedding because of all the dishes I washed.  It made sense to us that beautiful, disposable plastic dishes were something that other people might want and need, and so the idea for The L.A. Table was born.

I am lucky enough to spend every day working with all kinds of brides.  They all have different visions, different tastes, and different budgets.  But the one thing they all have in common is they all come to me for help in planning the most fabulous day of their lives.

For most brides, after getting the shiny diamond on their finger, the first order of business is planning their engagement party—the kick-off, the homecoming, the beginning of their “Wedding Season.”

Our friends, Jason and Melissa, came to us a few months ago looking to plan an engagement party that was as much a party as it was an engagement event.  They were both into vintage, and looking for a 1920’s-themed black and gold evening.

They were on a budget, but also wanted to make a statement and have an evening that was all them.

I immediately heard Ella Fitzgerald playing in my head, soft candle light, and wine aplenty.

We began by collecting wine bottles from our friends and family to use as centerpieces.  I had an idea if we spray painted them with black paint, we could get that whole bootleg effect without having to spend much money on them.  We had 210 guests coming, so we needed to collect 21 wine bottles.  I did some research (thank you, internet) and watched a video on You Tube about how to spray paint a glass bottle.  I found that the best way was to use acrylic paint, which cost less than $4.00 per can, and we needed 3 cans.

I spread garbage bags on my garage floor and sprayed them one evening, let them dry, and re-sprayed the next evening.  I found that removing the label wasn’t necessary, but that if you concentrated on the label, you wouldn’t see it, whereas if you took the label off, it was incredibly time consuming and looking bumpy under the paint.  I had found some beautiful gold floral decorations that were on sale for $1.00 each at a Christmas Tree Shop, so I bought two for each table and thought they would be perfect for the wine bottles.

Continuing with our bootlegger 1920’s theme, I thought we should have mason jars with candles inside of them.  I found them at Walmart for $1.40 each.

I went to my local dollar store and bought gold lace ribbon $1.99 for 5 yards (I needed 5 rolls to cover the jars), and dug out my hot glue gun.  I also bought 100 yards of faux white pearls to drape on the tables.

A few days before Jason and Melissa’s party, I got a few of my friends, poured some wine (we were still collecting bottles) and started gluing.  I had one friend measuring ribbon, one cutting ribbon, and I glued the ribbon on.  It didn’t take long, and we had a blast.  Melissa loved them, and is also using them to decorate the wedding ceremony.

The day of the engagement party was here, and it was time to set the tables.  The venue was the local community center in Melissa and Jason’s neighborhood, so they got a  good deal on the event.

To make the table number signs (which I put on the wine bottles), I downloaded a cool font called “Another Typewriter” free from the web.  It had a real 1920’s feel to it.  I downloaded some sepia colored paper and printed on mailing labels I got at Staples.  The end result was pretty cool.

Melissa had spoken to her caterer and found that it be less expensive to use our china-like disposable dishes than it would be to rent dishes from him, which also  meant not having to use plain white dishes, and no worrying about plates breaking! We have a lot of beautiful patterns at www.thelatable.com.

She also wanted the evening to be explicitly Melissa and Jason, so Melissa chose our Casino Gold Collection for the dinner and appetizer plates: http://www.thelatable.com/casino-gold-10-25-dinner-plate-pack-of-10/.

To add a little contrast, we decided on the Empress Gold Collection Bowls for all of the nibblers she would have on the tables for her guests: http://www.thelatable.com/empress-gold-soup-bowl/.  She had also seen a prototype of the new disposable chargers we have in production.  Since they were samples (we only had about 50 of each), and they all matched the black and gold theme, she thought it would be cool to vary the tables.

With the tables set, the candles softly, and Ella Fitzgerald crooning, the evening was pure magic.  But the best part of the evening was easily the love between Melissa and Jason.  They were at the beginning of an incredible journey, and we at the L.A. Table were so lucky to get to be a part of it.

We would love to help you plan your own magical evening.  Whether it be your engagement party or your wedding reception, we are here for you!  As one of our brides so aptly put it, we are for brides with champagne taste and a beer budget.

We also offer a bulk discount when you buy by the case.

The L.A. Table would like to offer something special to all of you DIY Brides.  Until March 21, 2013, we are happy to offer 25% off everything site wide at www.thelatable.com with coupon code with coupon code DIYBRIDE25!  You can also contact Emily directly (see below) to order samples!

About the author: Emily Tamir was a DIY Bride and is now a DIY Wife and Mother who help brides by day, and glues and colors with her two little girls by night.  Having spent 10 years working in the fashion industry, Emily has a flair for style which translates into her work helping to style events.  She is an avid reader, and loves cooking and baking.  She and her husband started The L.A. Table two years ago after the birth of their second daughter and feel blessed and lucky to get to work together every day.  You can reach her directly at emily@thelatable.com or by calling  646.580.1615

Related post: {Product Review} The L.A. Table Makes Your Table Look Good

Disclosure: DIY Bride has a financial relationship with The L. A. Table, meaning we may have received compensation for this content and/or related content.  We firmly stand behind our review and recommendation, and are committed to promoting only those companies we feel offer our community excellent products, ethical business practices, and outstanding customer service.