When 1stdibs decided to throw a luncheon for some of our most stylish friends, it was clear that wedding planner Tara Guérard would be the perfect cohost. Luckily she was game! Tara shopped 1stdibs for her favorite tabletop pieces, and then hopped on a plane from her home base of Charleston, NC to give us some seriously stylish advice on entertaining with vintage decor. The end result was #Setpiece: a lunch (held at Upper East Side eatery The East Pole) where our guests could enjoy their meals while admiring five incredible tables that Tara and her team whipped up. For an in-depth look at the event — and detailed photos of Tara’s work — check out this week’s story in Introspective.
Tara makes it look easy, but as any host or hostess knows, a well-executed event requires a militaristic attention to detail. In the days leading up to #Setpiece, we had a chance to sit in while Tara designed the place-settings and floral components for each table. After receiving dozens of packages from 1stdibs dealers and an early morning visit to the flower market, Tara got to work in her New York studio. Click through the below gallery for a behind-the-scenes, step-by-step peek at Tara’s process.
All photos by Liana Hayles.
The designer in her studio.
Tara in her New York City studio arranging a piece for the luncheon. Next to Tara is a William Spratling sterling silver service set from Gallery 925.
String to tie gift bundles for guests sits next to a Lungby covered bowl from Donzella.
Trimming stems at a diagonal keeps blooms fresh.
Fresh cold water is always the first step after flowers are selected.
An intuitive, slightly impromptu process lent a naturalistic, garden-like quality to the bouquets.
Fresh linens on 19th century plates and vintage Georg Jensen Acanthus silverware were the jumping off point for designing the final look.
Snipping stems before plunging them in cold water helps to maintain freshness. Tara chose Steuben hand-blown crystal tumblers from Elise Abrams Antiques to accentuate the greens in her arrangements.
Make way for blooms! Flowers took over every surface.
Each flower is carefully chosen to match its themed setting. Behind Tara, you can spy a pair of 1930s apple green candlesticks and a Steuben Spanish Green crystal water goblet also from Elise Abrams Antiques.
A finely articulated silver fish — with pink gemstone eyes! — from Linda Horn rests on a 19th century French Neoclassical dinner plate from Bardith.
The feather print on these napkins was custom-designed by Guérard for the event.
Richly gilded French porcelain neoclassical vases from Bardith sit next to a Lungby ribbed porcelain bowl from Donzella and a 19th century Haviland oyster plate from Elise Abrams Antiques. In the back, a Portuguese Palissy charger from Linda Horn depicts green grasses, coiled snake, grubs and moths.
Anemones are arranged in an 18th Century Cligancourt porcelain ice pail from Bardith.
Tara ponders a work in progress.
