Engagement Party: A Tuscan Dinner

By Nina

Take a trip to Italy without leaving home by hosting a Tuscan Dinner Party in celebration of a newly engaged couple.

Create a romantic atmosphere using the same fruits and flowers that beautify the hills of Tuscany and serve a menu of fragrant foods and recipes from the region.

Both casual and naturally elegant, an Engagement Party with a Tuscan theme will put all at ease and allow everyone to come together as one big family.

Tuscany is an area in Italy slightly north of center and toward the western border that includes the cities Florence and Pisa. Much of the terrain is hilly and mountainous with colorful vegetation and picturesque villas, farmhouses and ruins that dot the countryside.

Tips

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Aromatic Invitations

Entice guests with an aromatic invitation.

We’re not suggesting that you spray perfume on the invite, but rather

adorn a card with botanicals such as lavender or rosemary stems.

Arouse guests’ senses when they open the invitation.

Fasten a ribbon around the invitation and tie a knot.

Add a small lavender or rosemary stem.

Tie a bow to secure the stem.

A Fragrant Family-Style Menu

Tuscan cuisine is typified by of the bold

flavors of the region. Olives, lemons and rosemary are classic

ingredients found in Tuscan recipes along with Italian staples such as

tomatoes and garlic.

Due to the popularity of northern Italian cuisine, many prepared foods will be available at the grocery store for your party.

Dine family-style, which means that the food is put on platters for all

to share; a great way for future in-laws to get to know each other!

Purchase store-bought with food with a Tuscan flair such as:

Dipping bowls of gourmet olive oil and sliced baguettes.

Roast chicken on large platters surrounded by lemons cut in half and rosemary stems.

Microwaveable Country Crock Garlic Mashed Potatoes.

Ceasar Salad kit where all ingredients come in a nifty bag!

Italian ice cream like Spumoni or Gelato.

Round out your menu with the recipes below and don’t forget the

Chianti; a red table wine from a region of the same name located in the

romantic hills of Tuscany.

Decorations

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A Romantic Tuscan Atmosphere

Tuscan Tabletop

The Tuscan countryside is a scenic landscape of fruit trees, grapevines, olive groves and flowering fields.

Bring Tuscany’s beauty on to your tabletop.

Create a familial atmosphere at your engagement party by
setting up a long continuous dining table. Rent 8-foot tables and join
them end-to-end. Also, rent tablecloths in your party’s color scheme.

Drape tables with fabric overlays that depict a Tuscan theme
and choose plates, napkins, and table accessories based on the
overlay’s colors.

Or go with some fabulous ceramic Tuscan dinnerware and pick up the colors in your table linens.

As a finishing touch, place rustic arrangements of sunflowers
on the table and wrought iron candleholders with candles that match
your party colors.

Tuscan Décor

Model your party space after the courtyard of a Tuscan villa.

Place an iron scrollwork arch
at the entrance of the party or in another area as grand focal point.
Rent an arch or purchase one and give to the soon-to-be newlyweds after
the party!

Decorate doorways and the arch with green leaf garland that is embellished with fresh flowers.

Add potted Ficus trees or topiaries
both inside and outside, and make them sparkle with battery-operated
twinkle lights. Use these portable trees to light up dark areas of the
party.

Illuminate the party space with white twinkle lights.

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