Diner En Blanc swept through Hampton Roads for the first time this year, and Mr. Blakes and I attended. A huge part of the event is your table decor, and I wanted to make it really special. I headed to Pinterest for some inspiration, and was surprised that there were very little pins for table settings for two. I decided to strike out on my own, and share with you my tips on how to set a table for two. These tips helped me create one beautiful table setting, if I do say so myself. *wink*

Decide on a theme. Since we were attending Diner En Blanc, which requires that the decor is white, I didn’t have to decide on a color theme. We were able to accent the white with metallics, so I did have a choice in that. Since we had these gorgeous personalized champagne flutes and gold plated silverware, I decided to go with a white and gold theme. Once you know what colors you’ll be using, then you can search for what pieces fit within that color theme. You can also choose style themes, like modern or country, or use themes like Great Gatsby or Vegas Night.

Use what you have on hand. Or what your mom has on hand. Either way, the point is you probably have to majority of what you need already. We already had glassware, dinnerware, silverware, and candleholders. Mind you, they were wedding gifts and we haven’t used them in 15 years, but what a great excuse to wipe the dust off and use them. The vases, tablecloth, salt and pepper shakers, wine glasses, and plates were borrowed from my mom. Check with that family member or friend who loves to entertain, and see what they might have on hand that you can use. This is a huge cost saver so you can use your funds for those items you absolutely have to have to complete the look.

Add personal touches. Whether it’s a romantic dinner, or a catch up session between friends or family, add some personal touches that having meaning to the other person. Frame a picture of you two, create place cards, or use personalized stemware. For this, we used our personalized stemware with our names engraved on the side. I picked up a white and gold candleholder with a ‘B’ on it from Hobby Lobby, and also used our white ‘B’ wine bottle topper. Mr. Blakes was pleased. I also used some crystalware and candleholders that were passed down to me from my late grandmother, which made me smile.

Plan your place setting based on the menu. While the traditional place setting rules have somewhat faded, and you can pretty much do what you want, there are some basics rules you can apply. The level of fancy is really up to you.  [pullquote width=”300″ float=”left”]Here’s an easy way to remember where the silverware goes. Left has four letters, and right has five letters. ‘Fork’ has four letters, so it goes on the left. ‘Spoon’ and ‘knife’ have five letters, so they go to the right. Have more than one of each? The smallest goes furthest from the plate.[/pullquote]

The goal usually is to not have to use any items more than once, but use what you have. Think about your menu and make sure you have the utensils, glassware, and plates that match. For example, if you’re serving soup, you’ll definitely need bowls and spoons. Not serving tea or coffee? Then you can leave the teacup and saucer out of the mix. Adding a napkin ring can be a focal point in and of itself. I decided on something basic with these white and gold napkin rings from Hobby Lobby. But you can really go all out, and Pinterest is a great place to get ideas and instructions on creating them.

Allow for eye contact. Place items with more height towards the outside of the table, and those that come below eye level in the center. This allows for you to keep eye contact with the person across the table. Nothing worse than laying out a beautiful tablescape, and then having to move it because you can’t see the person you’re eating with. Trying to talk through a centerpiece is not cute.

We had such an amazing time at the Diner En Blanc event. Creating this table setting inspired me to do more entertaining and come up with more beautiful and fun tablescapes. But it was fun to just focus on a romantic table setting for two. What tips do you have for how to set a table for two? I’d love to hear about them! Share your favorite tips in the comments below.