How to bring your garden party to life …
Founded in 2023 by former fashion editor Grace Cahill, Studio Grace has worked with luxury clients including Prada, Charlotte Tilbury and Brown Thomas. She says that an event planner or designer is “so much more than aesthetics.”
“I love creating a beautiful space, but it’s the atmosphere people remember. When the flow feels considered – along with all the little details – it’s always a beautiful experience.” Here, Grace shares her top tablescaping tips for a posh garden party …
1. Use your resources: Your table should feel like an extension of your style – I always like to think of it as another room in my home. What really elevates it and makes it stand out or feel welcoming are the thoughtful details. Use the kind of pieces that reflect you as a person – it’s not about impressing your guests, it’s more about making the space feel warm and inviting. For me, that’s natural linen that ages well, good glassware that’s not too delicate, and sturdy vintage candleholders with Erik and Ester dripless candles that hold a naked flame into the early hours. Freshly picked flowers are a lovely way of personalising your table, and foliage from the garden is way more interesting than a store-bought bouquet.
2. Work with uneven heights and numbers: Don’t worry too much about symmetry. Uneven heights and odd numbers work surprisingly well to make everything feel a little more relaxed. I love to work with two or three kinds of greenery or florals, arranging them in small clusters of three or five stems, starting low and gently building height across the table. The same applies to candles and vessels – variation creates movement. You don’t need to rely on traditional vases either. I often use what I have on hand – rattan glasses, jars or any container I naturally reach for when arranging flowers. As long as they aren’t too tall or obstructive, they’ll do the job nicely.
3. Layer, then add another layer! If the table is too perfect or too uniform, to me it can feel cold and a bit lifeless. When you start layering textures, mixing prints and playing with contrast, there’s warmth and character to it. I try to create a bit of rhythm, maybe the shape of a bowl that echoes something in the tablecloth, or the flowers pick up a tone in the tablie setting. It doesn’t need to be obvious, subtle cohesion that might be picked up gives the evening a flow.
4. Lighting is 70 per cent of the mood: No-one needs candlelight at 6pm in summer, but soft lighting makes the whole setting feel intimate and a lot more intentional, which is the whole point of hosting and holding space for guests to make memories.
