By Sarah Jean Shelton for Architectural Digest.
Photo: Marni Rothschild
After nearly 20 years in the bridal business and more than 500 exquisitely executed celebrations to her name, Tara Guérard--the woman behind Blake Lively's wedding--knows a thing or two about hosting a good party. So when the Charleston, South Carolina-based event planner and designer tells you that brunch is the new cocktail party, you listen. "I think people really enjoy brunches," says Guérard in her languorous southern drawl. Compared with dinners and cocktail parties, "they feel lighter and brighter, more joyful." That idea is amplified come April, when the intoxicating fragrance of budding blooms fills the air, and people seem more inclined to venture outdoors after months of hibernation. With the season of entertaining upon us--think alfresco dinners, tea-party bridal showers, beach picnics, and summer soirées--Guérard created this ladylike spring brunch, complete with vibrant floral accents and vernal cheer. Here, she shares seven simple tips that prove there's no better time to test your hosting skills with a brunch of your own.
Photo: Marni Rothschild
Before anything, focus on functionality. While it may be fun to get lost in the details of color schemes, menu planning, and seating charts, making sure guests have a place to put their coats and ensuring that a cold drink is always within reach is far more important in the long run. "Nobody will care what the flowers look like if they can't get to the bar," points out Guérard.
Use what's local. The natural bounty of the greater Charleston area was too rich a resource to ignore. Guérard covered the table in bright pink camellias (a popular southern flower), and urges hosts to let seasonal produce influence the food that is served.
Photo: Marni Rothschild
Don't feel obligated to serve breakfast food. Eggs benedict and French toast are great, but nowadays it's acceptable to serve just about anything at brunch. Guérard's gathering included a menu of tomato soup, a simple grilled-chicken salad, and a lemon icebox pie. As for cocktails, no cliché mimosas here. Guérard served up pink lemonade with peach schnapps and fresh mint, appropriately referred to as Lowcountry Lemonade.
Allow the tablecloth to take center stage. Setting the perfect table can be intimidating, but by choosing a bold pattern "you don't have to do much else," says the event planner. Guérard used floral-themed fabric as a runner to add contrast to an all-white tablecloth, and stuck with versatile white china and classic silver flatware.
Photo: Marni Rothschild
Small details make the biggest difference. Always use linen napkins and place a personalized name card at each seat; your guests will take note of these memorable touches. A word to the wise: Never light candles for a daytime event--save the warm ambience for gatherings after sundown.
Honor the space you're in. "No matter the size of the party, you always want a room to feel full," says Guérard, who thinks a party's intimacy is lost in an unfilled sprawling space. To address the room's height, she installed tall vases of cherry blossoms on the table, adding warmth and texture.
Photo: Marni Rothschild
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