Tablescape Thursday: A Very Frou-Frou Valentine's Day Table

I was so excited when I put this tablescape together because I had so many ideas and it all came together just like it was in my head (that does not often happen; I usually have to 'tweak' or move things around a lot until satisfied). This one, however, came together beautifully and everything that I used were things I already owned. I believe the only things that I purchased to make this tablescape complete were some chocolates and conversation hearts...and the pink taper candles. I did not have any taper candles in pink!  I've used a lot of pink and red and white; all the traditional Valentine's Day colors and also many of the traditional Valentine's Day motifs; hearts, flowers, angels, birds and romantic couples.
And like any person with a love for all things Victorian, I've made this table as 'busy' and eye-popping as possible! I hope you enjoy this tablescape as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

For my centerpiece, I used this glass hurricane on a white metal stand. Inside I have red roses (silk) and on top a bouquet of white roses and pink hydrangea (also silk).

Around the base is a wreath of ivy with pink glass flowers. I have tucked some sprigs of tiny pink tea roses into the wreath also.

In the middle is a cute cherub blowing kisses. The centerpiece is flanked by two crystal candle holders with pink candles and pink be-ribboned hearts. The center items all sit on a pretty, embroidered cutwork lace dresser scarf, another one of many that I have. This vintage dresser scarf I bought for $4.

Here is my sweet little cherub; he looks a little worse for the wear. I've had him forever, as evidenced by the cracks and scuffs on him. The crack on his leg is where his foot broke off after my late and dearly departed cat Baby, knocked him off a shelf years ago, during his very rambunctious kittenhood.

A little hard to glimpse my crystal candle holders behind the hearts, but they have a rose pattern on them. They are Oneida and the pattern is called 'Southern Garden'. I have the matching bud vase and large vase. The bud vase I used in a previous Tablescape Thursday, on my Continental Breakfast in Bed post here.

Pink damask napkins in a champagne flute. This fold is called the "Peony". I've used this fold with my red napkins at Christmas-time many times in the past and it looks very festive. I've added a red silk rose and a little bit of ribbon here to go with my romantic Valentine's Day theme. For napkin folds that are anchored in a glass, I sometimes like to put the glass right in the middle of the plates on the cover, just for something different.

Some of you are probably already familiar with my fine china from other posts. I'm also using my oval lace placemats, but since I only have four and my table is set for six, the two settings on the end of the table have a vintage linen placemat.

Besides champange, we will also have coffee, so I've put out my coffee cup and saucer. Each place setting also gets a Dove chocolate; heart-shaped and wrapped in pink foil, of course!

And of course, I shouldn't forget this bisque-ware courtly gentleman in 18-century dress who makes up part of my romantic centerpiece. He has a lute, so I imagine he might be on his way to sing a ballad to his lady.

And here's his lovely lady, with her flower basket. She is either raising her arm to check her coiffure or maybe she is flirting with her lute-playing paramour. At any rate, they are now separated by my centerpiece. Usually this pair are on my mantel in the formal parlor. I don't know much about them or how old they are, but I bought them in an antique store because I loved their faces and the colors of their clothes. They stand on either side of a mantel clock, so I guess even in their "regular" place, they never get to be together! :sigh:

For place cards, I've used some of my antique cabinet cards from my own collection, that feature wedding couples. I've collected cabinet cards for many years and have quite a few; many of them are wedding pictures, which are my favorites. I used card stock and a scalloped oval punch to make the name tag and then placed it on top of the cabinet card, which is tucked between the salad plate and dinner plate.

My collection of cabinet cards featuring wedding couples came in handy for my wedding in 2007 also. Our wedding theme was "Vintage Modern" (stylish and elegant with vintage/Victorian elements) and for table numbers at the reception, which had assigned seating, I mounted the cabinet cards on fancy card-stock decorated with ribbons and other pretties and then printed out numbers on my inkjet printer.

In this picture you can see I also have a wire bird-cage tea-light holder; there is another at the other end of the table. This one has a leaf-like finial on top, the other one has a bird finial.

This vintage pink APG petal-shaped  serving bowl has a matching tray that it sits on. This bowl and tray has come in handy quite a bit. I've used the bowl and tray together, or separately. It works well for salads and equally well for holding spinach dip and crackers. I got this a few years ago from my step-mother. It had once belonged to her mother. After her mother passed away in 2004, the family found many things their mother had  had for years in storage. This serving bowl was one of the things they found, although nobody in the family remembers anything about it or where it came from. My stepmother gave it to me, knowing my fondness for such things.

We're having champagne, of course, as well! I don't have a champagne bucket, but I find that my ice bucket, sans lid, works just as well!

My mother-in-law gave us this bottle of champagne, which I'm actually saving for our anniversary. It's from movie director Francis Coppola's vineyard ( the champagne is called Sofia, after his daughter, who is also a movie director.) I've never tried any of his wines. I hope it's good! But I do like the label; so pretty!

I also have this footed APG compote with pink roses that matches nicely. This is a very recent acquisition; again, it was given to me by my stepmother and had once belonged to her mother.

What Valentine's Day table would be complete without conversation hearts??

Cue the romantic music; it is time to light the candles!

Thanks for stopping by!! Please be sure to visit all the other gorgeous tablescapes over at Between Naps on the Porch today for Tablescape Thursday!

Embroidered cutwork dresser scarf: $4, vintage, consignment shop

White painted metal bird-cage tea light holders: Michael's, this year

                 Antique cabinet cards of wedding couples: from my own collection, collecting since 1994

Footed  white-painted metal hurricane: Michael's, this year

Oval lace placemats: Quaker Lace, Boston Store, 1995

Ice bucket: "Tuscany", Macy's, 2008

Card stock, decorative paper, scallop oval punch: Stampin' Up, 2009