Gardening tea party

Your floral chandelier idea sounds incredible. Can you please send us a photo? I would love to see it.

With your chandelier as the focal point, I would simply echo the idea on the tabletop. Use rose petals or petals from the flowers in the chandelier directly underneath, creating a lush petal bed on the table. Accent with a few flower blooms and votive candles in glass holders.

Tea tables can get pretty busy with all the entertaining elements from teapots to food trays. The petals will pretty up the table just enough to really highlight the chandelier.

For more tabletop and place setting inspiration, you may want to read my article Mother's Day Afternoon Tea, where you'll find thematic ideas such as using sugar cube "letters" as place cards and some of my favorite tea party recipes. And in my blog Partini, I wrote a piece called Food in Bloom with ideas for decorating food with edible flowers.

Finally, check out the Elegant Evening Tea Party I designed on the TV show I hosted, Weekend Entertaining at www.diynetwork.com, where I made a teapot fountain centerpiece. And, in the Victorian Ice Cream Social party I made a centerpiece with nosegays topping each branch of a silver candelabra.

Best, Jeanne