With Valentine’s Day coming in February, it is never too early to brainstorm a party idea and I have a great theme – Queen of Hearts!  This theme could be used to set the table for a fun family dinner or an elegant tea luncheon or late dinner with close girlfriends.

Valentine’s Day is not always about romance and couples, it can also be a time to show love and support for your family and friends.  With our busy lives and everyone scattered to school, work and athletic activities sometimes we need to stop and spend some quite quality time together.  This would be a great occasion to celebrate with your family and show them how much you love them!  Fix a great dinner or maybe order take-out, it doesn’t matter, just take the time to talk and share together as a family.

Maybe there are other important people in your life that you want to show your love and support.  Another idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to invite other mothers in the neighborhood or your child’s school.  What a wonderful afternoon it could be sitting around the table with friends, enjoying a relaxed lunch and sharing the happiness or difficult times of motherhood.  (We’ve got to support each other!)  Or maybe you are single and want to get together with your girlfriends for a celebration.  Schedule a late dinner after work to eat a great meal and sit around a beautifully decorated table talking about love, men and dating … besides who wants to be alone on Valentine’s Day!

Basic supplies

• Red tablecloth, size is determined by the table dimensions
• White or ivory napkins for each guest
• Rose floral centerpiece
• Red rose buds for each place setting
• Beautiful plates, glasses, utensils for each place setting
• Red ribbon and red sparkle netting for chair back decorations
• The photo shown above shows our dining room table set for a tea luncheon.

    

Start by setting the dining room table with a red tablecloth.  Set each place setting with beautiful plates, cup and saucers, glasses and utensils.  I used a large white dinner plate with a smaller red salad plate on top.  As a cute touch I cut a slice large jelly heart and attached it to the rim of the teacup.  Next, I used white napkins with a red rose bud tucked into silver napkin rings.  To complete each place setting, I used small white frames, tied with red ribbons for place cards.  To add festive look to the chair backs, I used two yards each of 1½ wide ribbon and 6 inch wide red sparkle netting tied into bows.  I also cut a large heart of red sparkle foam for each chair and attached it to the chair back.  Finally, to complete the table I wanted to enhance an existing deep pink rose floral arrangement, so I added red feather sprays and three red glittered hearts on sticks.  I think the table looks very festive and I think it is perfect for a Queen of Hearts tea luncheon for friends!