When Baby Love, our first grandbaby, was baptized, Mr.. Nest and I were thrilled to host the reception at our home afterwards.
The table was done in whites, using the beautiful, hand-stitched vintage tablecloth we had bought years before, exactly for the event—our grandbabies’-to-come baptism! Recently I saw the tablecloth again, as I inventoried my linens in my newly organized system (you can see the post on that here), and the memories of such a happy day inspired me to create a similar table, using the now-beloved (now that it was used for a grandbaby’s baptism) tablecloth, silver, and white hydrangeas, just as we did for her baptism. Her reception of course was a larger affair—we rented white tents and tables and chairs, using Battenberg tablecloths on all the outside tables, so this table is an inspiration table, for a small gathering of six. Won’t you join us? We’d love to have you!
The hydrangeas are from our yard, not quite in full bloom yet, but I really wanted to use our own, as we did for her baptism, and the vases are some that I purchased for her reception. In this picture the detail along the edge of the tablecloth is visible.
I miss the candles on this table, but since this is a daytime gathering we are sans candles. Do you find it hard to leave candles off a table like I do? I just love the look of candles and candelabras.
I don’t know the names of many stitches, but I do know beauty and skill, and this one meets both. I can’t begin to imagine the skill and patience required to appliqué such tiny, exact pieces of thin, fine fabric with such tiny, perfectly spaced stitches. My grandmother and mother could do this type of stitching, and growing up we had plenty of these beautiful pieces on our tables, so that’s another reason why I love them so. They bring back memories and create memories. I hope someday Baby Love will have this tablecloth on her own table, for her babies’ and grandbabies’ baptisms.
For some of the details of the table…
The silver double chafing dish: My mother and I found this wonderful piece at an antique shop many years ago, and I had to have it. The fact that it was double, had two sets of wonderful wood handles, and the original fuel burners with a wick made it impossible to pass up. They found a happy home!
There is something about etched, vintage goblets that I find irresistible, and although I don’t really need more crystal, it’s very hard for me to pass them up when I see them. These lovelies have a faceted effect on them that makes them gleam. Our guests will sip pink champagne punch from these beauties—I can’t wait to have some myself!
To add interest and height to the table, the silver gallery tray holding the goblets sits on a crystal cake plate.
The champagne punch will be served in our sterling punch bowl, a long-ago gift from my MIL. Those of you dear friends who visit often know I like to use the Amish highchair we bought for our grandbabies as an auxiliary table, as I did for this buffet setting.
I think we’ll also have soft pink petit fours in the pedestal, silver domed cake plate, a great gift from Bombay Co. when they had their wonderful retail stores. Do you remember Bombay Co.?
I used one of my silverplate toast servers to hold the napkins, which, although not an exact match to the tablecloth, have the same lovely handwork. It, along with the silverware, sit at the end of the serving line, so guest don’t have to juggle extra items as they serve themselves, and they can pick them up as they walk away.
The silverware was placed on another Bombay Co. silver piece—this one a small, tiered server.
For those who prefer refreshing water, cucumber water with slices of strawberries will also be offered.
This silver server, set on its own lid to add another layer to the table, will hold an assortment of tea sandwiches.
Our guests will serve themselves on these vintage pressed-glass plates. A silver salt shaker was re-purposed as a small flower vase. Its companion is elsewhere on the table.
The liner on the table is barely pink, and these pink etched cordials are a nod to the guest of honor—a sweet and precious baby girl. Guests who might enjoy a bit of Bailey’s will be glad to do so in these beauties, which were a gift from my mother. Those of you who visit frequently might recall seeing them make an appearance at other gatherings.
My favorite little serving spoon had to make its appearance on this table, this time to serve pink and white yogurt-covered cranberries. Do you love small, intricate pieces like this? Do you use them often, or are you simply happy to “have them there” like I am?
And now, for those of you who enjoy the little details, as I do, below are the close-ups you might be looking for. Enjoy!
The Waterford Lismore pitcher that very often appears on my REAL family tables, because I love, love, love its looks and its size—not too big, not too small. It was a lovely wedding present almost 30 years ago.
Mmmmmm……a close-up of the stitching on this tablecloth!
Ribbons on the stems.
The Waterford Lismore vase filled the void between the two large vases.
And my new, Endless Summer hydrangea made its debut at this table. I had two little clusters to clip, and I’m so excited I could use them on this table for our Sweet Baby Love!
The plates are Depression pressed glass, but I can’t remember the details about them. If any of my readers would like to know, email me and I’ll do some research. The small silver tray was a happy find in an auction lot! Do you do auctions? Do you love the good extras you sometimes get in a lot? I love those fun finds!
And the best for last…this was our baptism gift to our Sweet Baby Love and her parents:
Sweet Baby Love
This is a close-up of her gown, our other gift to them. It’s also handmade and hand-stitched in a very similar style to the tablecloth, which was of course not orchestrated, just a happy coincidence. The short gown was a gift from a family friend, and she wore it at the reception.
Thank you for joining us at our baptism reception. I hope you liked the champagne punch, the petit fours, and the tea sandwiches, and that you’ll come back soon!
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