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Dining by candlelight
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| Romantic and evocative, the Valentine's Day table is set with a festive holiday spirit. Elegant and inspired, it is characterized by a formal plan enhanced by a decorative approach that reinterprets the classic theme of hearts combined with roses. |
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The tablecloth can be in a cream or ivory tone, in tone-on-tone embroidered linen or flax. The white dishes (ideally, in fine porcelain) should be plain or adorned with no more than a subtle pattern in relief or a gold border in order to show off the delicate colors of the menu. The glasses should be crystal in order to add a touch of festive sparkle. As for the silverware, if you like a simple, modern look, you can go with stainless steel, but if you enjoy creating a more dramatic, luxurious mood, then you'll want to opt for classic silver.
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The decoration is very important. The emphasis should be placed on the candles, indispensable for creating the right atmosphere. Insist on the excellent quality of candles made from real bee's wax. They can be white or a delicate tone of ivory, both of which go nicely with silver candlestick holders (use vintage or antique ones if you have them). Crystal candlestick holders also make a very dramatic statement, especially if placed upon a tidy little drip dish in the same material. In order to not interfere with the aroma of the dishes being served, it's always best to use unscented candles. And don't forget, in addition to creating a romantic mood, candlelight is very flattering to the face, softening our features and making us appear more relaxed and attractive.
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Along with the candles, no truly romantic table setting would be complete without passionately red roses. If you like centerpieces, you can create a simple, but sophisticated one by arranging the stems (in this case, short) of your roses in florist's Styrofoam, including some seasonal greenery. This composition works very nicely in shallow containers, in silver or porcelain, for example. Another approach would be to use a crystal vase with an arrangement of roses (always in uneven numbers!). Whatever you do, make sure your centerpiece is not too big. You can also use roses to create charming place markers, tying them to the napkins with a piece of red ribbon, accompanied perhaps by a romantic little verse or aphorism, either thought up by you or borrowed from a particularly poignant poem or song.
You can add a delightful, playful touch to the table by sprinkling it with red hearts made from tissue or lightweight cardboard and hand-torn, not cut, so as to resemble flower petals. For a more theatrical effect, instead of the hearts, you can strew the table with silver glitter or little rhinestones. The result is absolutely magical.
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