Mar 2, 20223 min read

By The Sea Inspired Table Setting | Event Planner Style

Updated: Mar 5, 2022

In-Person Event: Studio 525, New York City, March 2019 for bareMinerals

BareMinerals wanted a dinner inspired by the sea - the only problem was we were in the middle of New York City, so it was up to us to design an indoor event to look like guests were having a dinner outside in the Mediterranean. To get the full vibe of the award winning event for bareMinerals held at Studio 525 in New York City make sure you watch the video above. It was nothing short of spectacular.

Now it's time to break it down on how to customize your own version at home. At East of Ellie, 90% of the time items are rented from amazing furniture, decor, and floral vendors. The good news is i've given you the how to guide for DIY-ing this event amazingness in your own home.

GET THE LOOK

For the event, we selected teal blue chargers topped with rippling iridescent glass salad plates resembling seashells to reflect the seascape projected onto the wall in the dining room.

A few things to consider when recreating the look:

Lighting was a key piece of the event design. Candles, pin lights, and overhead lighting will really bring this table decor to life.
The napkin fold was carefully considered and debated. You can also do a fold that ties at the top of the place setting, check out this Pin to get the visual & how to for napkin folds.
In the photo we used a salad plate for the clear plate. The recommendation is to use a standard dinner plate when recreating at home. This allows room for a full dinner verses a smaller plate typically used for salads. The dinner was served family style, on classic white plates (not pictured here). We'll highlight multi-functional plates in a future post.

Event Planner Pro Tip - Chargers: chargers are typically a hand wash item. They are surprisingly easy to keep clean with a light cleanser and a damp rag. For a dishwasher friendly option, skip the charger and use this plate instead.

CHARGER:

La Jolla Chargers from West Elm

WHY THESE: These chargers are a little darker than the ones we used for Studio 525, but the darker blue works better with a darker toned room or table..

DIMENSIONS: 12.25"diam. x 1"h.

TIP: These chargers are 12.25"diam. x 1"h, which works perfectly with the ocean inspired dinner plate which is 11" in diameter. You want that blue to peak over the edges for maximum aesthetic payoff. These are dishwasher safe - woohoo.

Alabaster Glass Plate Chargers from Pottery Barn

WHY THESE: These are spot on for color and transparency with Studio 525.

DIMENSIONS: 13" in diameter x 2"h.

TIP: These chargers are 13" diameter, 2" high, which works perfectly with the ocean inspired dinner plate which is 11" in diameter. You want that blue to peak over the edges for maximum aesthetic payoff. These are hand wash only, so as mentioned before, if you are a dishwasher only person, this might not be the design choice for you.

PLATES:

Ocean Decor Glass Dinner Plate from Amazon

WHY THESE: These are textured like the event from Studio 525 & dishwasher safe.

DIMENSIONS: 11" in diameter

TIP: You need the plates to be smaller than the charger, otherwise the aesthetic pay off of the blue rim will get lost. Also, if the dimensions and shapes are not aligned, they will wobble, and no one wants that.

French Home Birch Glass Dinnerware from Sur La Table

WHY THESE: These are a plate set that gives the feel of the ocean, without the charger. These are .are recycled glass and dishwasher & microwave safe.

DIMENSIONS: 11" in diameter for the large plate

TIP: If you decide to go this route, use a placemat or a decor item with the sea blue color to elevate the look from everyday.

FLOWERS

Our floral arrangements include white freesias, blush and white peonies and sprigs of eucalyptus, adding a fresh, clean scent to the space. The bud vases were displayed not only among the tabletop decor, but throughout the entire venue. Add some to your bathroom or entry way for a pop of freshness. For easy floral arrangements for your home, our go-to is Urban Stems. You can also get them locally when in season, or shop online 1800 Flowers.

VASES

The great thing about these vases is that they are in a true apothecary fashion, so they have endless versatility. There are some gorgeous options on Amazon. These shapes and textures make it effortless to add sophistication to any table setting with just a few flower buds.