Napkin Ideas for Your Home Parties

Some home parties don't require cloth napkins--for more casual events or ones where children will attend, paper napkins are probably a better choice.

But some home parties are not as casual, and the hosts want to use cloth napkins.  Dinner parties, even alfresco/outdoor parties, can use cloth napkins successfully. 

For buffets at home parties, generally cloth napkins are used to roll up cutlery bundles, and napkins placed at place settings aren't generally used unless the guests serve themselves from a buffet and then take their seats at tables with place settings. 

If this is the case, or you have place settings at a dining table or two, or you serve guests at several smaller dining tables with place settings, then cloth napkins are appropriate at home parties.

Today's napkins in place settings
Today place settings with cloth napkins have evolved a lot.  While elaborate folds are still used for more formal events like weddings and some fundraisers, even these types of events now often include more fun types of napkin "folds" that set a more comfortable ambience, not as stuffy.

The most current napkin "folds" today are:

• Rolled napkins on top of plates, with or without some decorative element on top of the rolled napkins
• Square-folded napkins, also on top of plates, also with or without some decorative element on top of them

These are just a lot easier to do than the more elaborate folds and can go well with many types of decor at home parties.

Decorative elements on top of the rolled or folded napkins can be anything from event favors to gilded twigs, flowers to name cards written on paper (even on leaves) to small candies.  Generally the decorative elements will suit the theme or reason for the party. 

And the decorative element doesn't have to be placed in a napkin ring or rolled in a ribbon or raffia or string--it can be, if you like that look, but if you want to make it easy on yourself, just place these little decorations on top of each rolled or square-folded napkin on the place settings and they'll look wonderful with less work.

Another way we do napkins, for more traditional decor, is to fold them in triangles and then put them flat on the plates, with decorative elements on top of each.

Napkin rings
If you do like napkin rings, there are many styles available, from traditional to modern.  In fact, modern-type napkin ring designs have exploded in the past 10 years!

Available at places like Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Sur La Table, and Macy's or Bloomingdale's, or more "exotic" designs from Pier 1 and other import stores, they can be almost the easiest way to use cloth napkins at your  home party because all you do is push the napkins through them. Easy, right?  Two of our favorites are silvery parsley-leaf motif rings from Sur La Table and beaded rim silver rings from Crate &Barrel.  You can also check out Ebay and Etsy for vintage and artisan rings.

Either way, cloth napkins add tremendous style to your home parties and they're so much easier to set up and work with today!

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077

www.fandango-catering.com