With the holiday season in full swing, comes plenty of parties. Although hospitality may come easy to some, for others it can be a challenge. Regardless of the event, a party in your home can be a fantastic way to get everyone together, whether it’s a cooked meal at the table or party food to pick at. If you have a gathering planned, maybe with family and friends, you’ll most likely want to be prepared. Your home needs to be ready to host as well as an effort being put in in the kitchen. 

The sun might be retreating and the nights might be drawing in, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t have fun. But if your idea of a fun night is witty banter, and catching up with old friends and family you might feel that the traditional house party isn’t for you. If you don’t drink or want to support a partner or friend who is teetotal, a more sedate occasion like a dinner party might seem like a better option than a traditional house party… but that would involve chaining you to the oven when you could be mixing with friends and loved ones. 
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For one of this years Halloween gatherings at our Home in Spain, I created a really simple and pretty (because I only DO pretty) pastel with black and gold, tablescape for a few of the girls who were coming around for the evening. 

So the final part of of Our Wedding in Provence is here (for Part 1 and 2 here) and I really hope you've enjoyed following along as much as iv enjoyed a trip down memory lane sharing it with you.

Following on from part one of Our Wedding in Provence from last week today i'll be posting more memory's from our wedding in Provence. ​

If you have followed me for a while, you'll know I'm fanatical about 2 things... Jo Malone and flowers. As I absolutely love peonies, and my favourite scent in the world is Jo Malone peony and blush suede I figured, why not combine the 2 and share with some of my favourite people for an evening of candlelight and cocktails. I managed to capture a few images to share with you too before retiring the camera for the rest of the evening.

As it was also the last week for peony's, it was even more reason to go out with a bang. 

So if you saw my previous Easter tablescape post, here is how I switched it up for some of our other visitors over the Easter weekend... cause life's to short to do the same table twice right? ​

Using the same floral arrangement's, and many of the same accessories and tableware. But I switched in a different table cloth and now we have a very different feel all together. I changed the location from the front patio of the house, to the back terrace for a more intimate feel.  ​

And instead of using my pink occasional cushions, iv accessorised with green/ blue cushions.  

​I hope this gives you some ideas for Easter entertaining and also for how to mix it up without too much hassle if you are entertaining multiple party's 

Wishing you all a fabulous Easter 

Belle 
​Xx 

More Easter Inspiration here and here 

We celebrated Easter Sunday last year with an alfresco dinner in the Garden. The weather was so lovely despite Easter being 2 week earlier than usual, so we decided to make the most of it and enjoy our outdoor areas

If you have read my blog for a while, you'll know I love celebrating Easter, and last year was no exception. I like to decorate the house and create a beautiful tablescape for the celebrations. Its just so much fun and seeing a creative vision come to life gives me so much pleasure.

I set the table up at the front of the house which is actually my favourite area to entertain guests. When dinner is finished we can retire to the back terrace and enjoy totally new views of the house. 

Surprise, surprise I went for a pink theme once again... I literally can't help myself, but it is my favourite colour. However, I do think it looks different to last years table, which is all that matters right?  

I lined Square pink vases down the centre of the table and Filled them with various shades of white and Pink roses and Ranunculas (one of my favourite flowers). I also used a rose pink table cloth to make the look extra pretty and feminine. I wanted to grey shutters to add a contract to the pink, so I accentuated with a lilac/ grey colour plate. 

Is there anything more enchanting than candles flickering in the warm evening as the sun comes down? 

I hope my post gives you some Easter inspiration this year! 

Belle 
​Xx

I have so much fun dressing our entry way at Christmas that I thought why not do a spring version for the hallway! Its lots of work, but anything worth doing is right?

I wanted to do something in spring pastels with a pop of color. Almost a little natural... as if you had stepped into a super floral pretty meadow 

I ordered in roses in shades of various shades of pink and white, along with tulips in shades of lilac and white. Snapdragons and wax flower in pink and green chrysanthemums helped to create the look I was after.

I start by soaking the floral foam blocks in water for around 4 hours. Be careful not to press the foam down into the water as its soaking and little drink at its own pace- otherwise it will create air pockets and wot do its job properly.

I then lay the foam on plastic trays which I then encase in chicken wire to strengthen the unit (very important of you'll be using lots of flowers and foliage)  You can secure these with cable ties 

I than start to add in the fresh floral. Its a good idea to have a shape and a general look in mind before you start, however I find that its also nice to see where the natural shape is taking you. 

I like to start from the outside and work inwards, and don't be afraid to move flowers if they don't look right. 

I flanked either side with some bunny decorations I found in John Lewis a few years ago, and placed some pink and gold lanterns in the center.

Do you decorate for Easter?

​Belle
Xx

​For more Easter decorating ideas see here and here