Last month, Merci New York was fortunate to partake in a collaborative shoot with a group of talented NYC-based designers, artists and vendors…. and while we showcased an overview in this post , Merci New York intentionally omitted some of our gift and dessert table details so a few of our blogger friends could share our ideas with their readers too {many, many thanks}!Anyways, now that the cat is out of the bag, I thought it would be fun to share some tips and tricks for creating a unique DIY gift and dessert table and also let you know about a fun {soon-to-be} related project we are featuring on a great wedding planning resource.
So here are a few tips! Hope you enjoy!
- Think monochromatic: I love color, but when it comes to a table theme, it’s best to stick with one or two main tones and an accent to make the story “pop”. We chose neutral “woodsy” tones for this table, and threw in a cornflower blue, which was the accent tone on the inspiration board.
- Use your venue’s backdrop: The backdrop behind this table is actually the loft space’s non-functioning freight elevator. The rustic patina played well with the table design and added to the texture of the final product. Make sure you think about where you are placing your table, and how the backdrop might play a role in its grand reveal.
- Make flea market finds work for you: I know everyone says this, but it’s true. There’s a great local flea market right across the street from my UWS apartment every Sunday. While everyone tends to flood the outdoor vendors, I grab my Starbucks and head indoors each weekend to one quiet vendor who sells vintage botanical tear sheets. I sift and sift and pull pieces for future projects. the art work on the birdcage, welcome notes, and custom candy bars were born of vintage tear sheets.
- But don’t ignore your local design stores: Though I love my Sunday at the flea, the hunt is not always worth the time, especially if you are looking for elements that will “transform” or “transition” once you complete your table. For example, I could have scoured the NYC flea markets for hours trying to find a perfect birdcage, but I also knew I was going to snazz it up quite a bit {so the initial birdcage design was not as important as the final product}. So for this project {and coincidentally, also for the chocolate wood trays that house the moss-filled lollipop and popcorn gardens}, I took to my trusty West Elm store. Yes, the birdcage is still available here , and they constantly have a slew of decorative versatile trays on hand – And better yet, they’re cheap!
- Behold the beauty of Japanese paper: If you’re close to a great stationery store, such as Kate’s Paperie or Paper Source, swing by on a slow day and play with a few sheets {apparently, the staff at Kate’s told me Sunday mornings are best for this sort of work}. While they can get pricey, the texture, print and overall beauty of Japanese papers truly shine through any display. I loved the combination of vert green and cornflower blue papers for our birdcage favor boxes, as well as the faux bois design I used to line the dessert trays and create the popcorn cones. Again, use only a few patterns, and integrate them around the table.
- Remember, these are edible:Don’t go all “type A” on your table! This is a dessert and gift table first and a design project second! Be sure to remember that the contents are just as important as the design. No one wants to visit a table of color coordinated icky, unpopular treats. Make sure to have a balance of salty, sweet and savory items, include crowd favorites… and think about the combined tastes of what you are presenting!
All photos courtesy Oh Darling!
