Is a *sophisticated* tropical theme an oxymoron?!

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Ok, so every couple of months I go crazy trying to think about the "theme" for our reception at our home after we return from our wedding in Turks and Caicos. After thinking about the shell ornament favors the other day, now I'm wondering how I can tie in a beach theme in the decorations/tableware without it looking like some tacky luau!

This paperware isn't SO bad--the most subdued tropical I've seen so far:
http://www.partysecret.com/cgi-bin/C...te=htx/new.htx
I like the bamboo plates and the beverage napkins with the flowers. The cups are nice, too, though I keep thinking I want REAL glasses, so maybe I'd rent them or even buy them and just have 80 extra glasses laying around the house.... Maybe that's not a good investment, though. Are the paper cups in and of themselves tacky?

Just wondering if anyone has ANY ideas on how we can tie in a tropical beach theme without any of the really tacky bright hula sort of stuff. Or, if you've seen tableware like this but better--if you get the feel I'm going for.

I'm thinking maybe if I covered the tables in a bamboo matt and placed shells around, and orchids, etc., in low bowls. Anyway, that's what I'm thinking. Now I'll sit back and wait for all your good ideas to start rolling in!

[Lizbet]

I like the idea of bamboo orchids as centerpieces. They were everywhere when DH and I were on our honeymoon in Hawaii. Oh, something you can look into...My Mom has them, but I don't know where she got them. (I'll ask if you'd like me to.) She has actual wooden toothpicks with real small shells attached. They are really nice. If you are having a cheese tray or something, you might want to consider that.

I think if you want to go sophisticated, you should look into renting tableware and glasses. Paper plates and cups aren't tacky, but they would discourage the atmosphere it seems like you're looking for.

If you're willing to go more casual, I think the items you found are nice. They have a tropical atmosphere, without being neon obnoxious.

[bebe]

MTGH - I can recommend a flower vendor who has both excellent service and products for fresh orchids and flower/leaf leis. The prices are great too - $26.00 for 250 loose orchids, white or purple/white. I have ordered through them before. They were on time, and each flower was in perfect condition. We made lei's and they stayed fresh looking for at least a week. You could make leis, have flowers for all of your guests to wear, scatter them around the tables, float them in water etc

http://www.hawaiiflowerlei.com/lei/l...p?ProductID=43

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Those flowers are a GREAT idea, Bebe! And I'd like to know more about the bamboo orchids, Lizbet, they sound interesting! Shell toothpicks are a good idea, too.

I was only thinking paper stuff because I have no room for it to be a sitdown. Standing room only cocktail party, so it would be easier for guests to just toss their plates/napkins when they're done (with lots extra so they can grab new plates/napkins), and I won't have any places for them to set down *real* plates. Glasses I figured could go with real--if possible-- because people would use one all night. I could only imagine 100 china dishes piled up in my kitchen sink while guest mingle in there since it'll be tight space. It makes logistics complicated....

[bebe]

MTGH - I think paper would be fine for what you have planned. You are right, all of those dishes would start piling up, and you'd have to have TONS of them so people could get fresh plates. Also, I would recommend clear plastic cups as opposed to real glasses. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am forever losing my glass at a party. Being able to just go grab another one would be nice.

[Heather]

Hmmm... I'm going to give you a different perspective. What I would do is keep the bamboo items you're talking about like the mats, and the centerpieces if you go that way. I would not use the plates/cups you've linked to. I think to keep it simple and elegant, I would use colors like white and ocean blue. I would stay away from the hawaaiin tropical-luau colors and stick with more sun-bleached colors...

[TheaterDiva1]

I'd rent Rogers & Hammerstein's South Pacific for ideas. It had the most beautiful scenery.

[whiddle]

Originally Posted by Heather

Hmmm... I'm going to give you a different perspective. What I would do is keep the bamboo items you're talking about like the mats, and the centerpieces if you go that way. I would not use the plates/cups you've linked to. I think to keep it simple and elegant, I would use colors like white and ocean blue. I would stay away from the hawaaiin tropical-luau colors and stick with more sun-bleached colors...

This is what I was thinking. I love the leis bebe suggested.

[Lizbet]

MTGH, the bamboo orchids are a type of orchid. The orchid stalk looks like bamboo, because it has, sort of, links. Like bamboo has sections. I'll see if I can find a good pic of one to post.

Here are a couple I found:



and

[whiddle]

At Wal-Mart, they have fancy disposable silverware that looks like the real thing.

[feb-bride]

I would go Heather's route and keep the plates in a single, subdued color. It might look to "luau" if you do everything in the tropical theme (including plates).

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Ok, I'm thinking skip the cups and go for the clear hard plastic ones. Then you think those square plates with the bamboo edging is too much? I kind of like them and they seem pretty nice--not bright or crazy or anything. They're just beige. And maybe the napkins. Dave likes them, too--and I think this is the first wedding item we agreed on! But, ok, that could be the extent of the "tropicalness" of the tableware.

That bamboo orchid is really pretty. I think I'm going to order Brandi's loose orchids and just sprinkle them around the table, etc. It's a good idea...and easy...and cheap. And thanks for the disposable "silver"ware idea, whiddle--I'll have to check out Walmart for sure. I knew you girls would have great ideas for me!

[allison]

I'd say definitely get the hard plastic cups instead of glasses, and make sure you have lots of extras. Your guests will definitely set them down, forget where, and need a new one.

As for the plates, I don't think the bamboo edging is too luau at all. I think it's subdued but still gets the theme across nicely. Plus, you and Dave actually agreed on it. Go for it!!

[wembley]

I liked the square plates. I say you should go for them. I think they would end up being a little more fancy than just a plain paper plate.

I love the orchid idea. I think that will be beautiful!

[Complicated Woman]

I like the bamboo edged plates, I think they're very pretty and tropical yet simple and sophisticated. The bamboo placemats and scattered orchids sound really gorgeous, too! The napkins ( are they the green ones with the flower??? if not, this doesn't apply) are a little too bold for my taste, but that's totally just me. I might roll beige paper napkins around sets of plastic flatware and tie it with natural raffia and tuck a flower in or a tropical printed ribbon or something and put them in a shallow basket at the end of the buffet...of course you don't want to drive yourself crazy, either, so idk.

[maroki13]

I love the orchids and I think sprinkling petals on the tables would be great! I saw a picture of Rob and Amber's wedding today (Survivors, I forget their last names) and I thought of you because it was very beachy-tropical inspired. Except they used the colors of the ocean instead of flowers and stuff. That is something you could consider doing...using a tropical ocean blue and lots of white...that way you wouldn't have to worry about being too luau-themed. And you could still pull in bamboo elements, because that beige/tan goes great with blue. All the disposable stuff could be blue, or some of it, with white tableclothes. The pictures I saw were stunning. Made me want to scrap my plan of a wedding and run away and get married on the beach like you are doing!

[Heather]

Originally Posted by maroki13

Except they used the colors of the ocean instead of flowers and stuff. That is something you could consider doing...using a tropical ocean blue and lots of white...that way you wouldn't have to worry about being too luau-themed. And you could still pull in bamboo elements, because that beige/tan goes great with blue. All the disposable stuff could be blue, or some of it, with white tableclothes.

Yep! That's exactly what I was thinking... The bamboo would look gorgeous with a light blue and white. Is Dave all for the tropical/colorful theme?

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

I don't think either of us is "all for" any theme. We're actually so caught up on the house, stuff, we don't really plan too much wedding stuff except for once in a while I get inspired from you all to start looking up ideas again. That sounds pretty. Maybe I will go with the bamboo plates and add in white and light blue. That would look pretty with all the white flowers around, too. Though, does it matter that it would clash with the decor of my house?!? My dining room is red with dark green trim which opens into my living room, which is sage green with the same dark green trim. I think that's why I liked the browns in the plates/napkins, because it would "go" with all my dark wood furnature and wouldn't "clash" with the red and greens of my house. So now, though I think the light blue would be pretty, it wouldn't "go" as well. Does that matter?!?!? Should I go with stuff that not exactly *matches* but at least accentuates my decor and avoid things that would clash?

[Lizbet]

Maybe you could go with more of a seafoam green? That would keep the beachy feel without clashing with your already green-toned house. You could still do the square bamboo plates. I also really liked CW's rafia tied napkins. That would greatly add to the sophisticated feel.

[Heather]

Great idea Lizbet... You could easily switch the blue to a seafoam green.

I thought you were going to have the party outside? You know what girl, it's going to be beautiful whichever way you decide to go. It's going to be great to show off the new addition so if you want that to be the star of the show, then go with what will match what you have.

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

No, the wedding's on the beach--just us. We're coming home and having the party inside at our house in October or November--so has to be inside! Look at these pretty napkins I just found:

http://www.ecoparti.com/ripana.html

The maroon/gold scroll would compliment the bamboo plates--but then not so tropical, really--and the colors would be beige and gold. Or the soft jade ones could play up the tropical green. Hmmm.... I'm suddenly obsessed with napkins! I think I'm going to go with mostly finger foods, as it will be a standing room only cocktail party. So while I love the idea of big napkins around the silverware tied with raffia, it's a little too complicated for people to deal with while holding a plate and a drink. So, that's why I'm thinking more along the lines of small plates and a ton of beverage-sized napkins. And I think these are really pretty--as far as beverage napkins go.... Which one do you like? Or any other suggestions? Thanks, girls!

[Complicated Woman]

Ohhh, those are really pretty! It's going to be so nice. I can't wait to see all the stuff you pick out!

[Lizbet]

I think if you want to stick with the tropical theme, you should either go for the jade feathers. Or, I would use one of the more plain colors like the white/ivory filigree or plain gold and let the placemats and shells on the table represent the tropical theme. (I really like the burgundy/gold ones, but they would take away from the tropical theme, IMO.) Just remember that sophisticated and simple go hand in hand. Keeping things simple with small touches here and there (like your mats and shells) well help with the sophisticated look you're wanting to acheive.

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Hrpmph! I edited my post to add another link before, but it didn't work. Anyway, this other site has those napkins with blue shells on them:

http://www.nostalgicimpressions.com/...-everyday4.asp

What do you think? I know I just said blue wouldn't work. But it's just a little bit of blue. But maybe that's getting back to the TOO tropical I was trying to avoid. I think I'm confusing myself. Brain on cocktail napkin overload!

[Heather]

Those are gorgeous!