Vintage Feature – Glamourous Vintage Vignettes

Early this year Jamila contacted Southern Vintage Table about helping with her August wedding at the Virginia Dare Ballroom in Raleigh. She and her fiancé currently live in California but their wedding will be here in North Carolina with family and friends.

The historic Virginia Dare Ballroom is in the former Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel, built in the early 1920s, the same time period portrayed in The Great Gatsby. With that beautiful backdrop, Jamila and Victor want a vintage look for their wedding with elements of silver, gold, and pearls, reminiscent of this glamorous time .

So, using my Mother’s Day pink roses, I created a few centerpiece mockups and sent these photos for Jamila and Victor to consider. They said “Yes!” We’ll be tweaking these formulas a bit closer to the time, and, of course, I’ll be scouting the thrift stores with their glamorous vintage vision in mind!

Looking for a unique look for your centerpieces? Take a look at our centerpiece decor collections and packages!

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Decor Rental NC

Vintage Adventure – All In A Day’s Work

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC


It was all in a day’s work – scouring the local thrift stores for unusual vintage items. And, true to thrift shopping lore, I didn’t see what I was looking for but I did find some terrific treasures I couldn’t pass up!

As I browse around a thrift store, I’m thinking about our clients and their upcoming celebrations. One of our brides, Anna, is getting married next month and together we designed her table centerpieces which include lots of lovely items such as vintage tins, frames, brass candle holders, and teapot vases. She also loved the vintage petite artwork as much as I do. A few of these items are pretty rare to come across, but the vintage gods must have been directing me this week because many were there, on the shelves, as if they were waiting for me to pick them up!

I am so looking forward to seeing many of these new items gathered together on Anna’s tables along with the other charming trinkets in our vintage decor inventory at Southern Vintage Table!

  • Vintage Brass Candle Holder
  • Vintage Decor Rental NC
  • Vintage Decor Rental
  • Vintage Decor Rental
  • Vintage Decor Rental NC
  • Vintage Decor Rental NC
  • Vintage Decor Rental NC
  • Vintage Decor Rental NC
  • Vintage Decor Rental NC

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Event – Katie & Ryan Get Hitched!

It’s true – it’s all in the details and Katie and Ryan didn’t miss a thing with their beautiful wedding and lovely reception! With the help of wedding coordinator, Amy Wurster of Knots ‘N Such and Southern Vintage Table, and after months of planning with friends and family, Katie and Ryan’s vision of a rustic yet elegant celebration was realized. From the big details to the personal touches, it was a memory-making day for all!

It began at Fairview Baptist Church where friends and family witnessed the sweet wedding ceremony officiated by pastor, Hoyt Shuford. From there, guests migrated to the reception at The Big Barn. We all love this place, not only because of the family connection, but because it’s historic and authentically rustic.

While Katie and Ryan embraced the rustic atmosphere, they also wanted it to befit their romantic celebration. After swaths of cloth were draped across the ceiling and cascaded down the interior wall, and market lamps hung, the next step was to add the small vintage details.

The wooden tables are definitely part of The Big Barn’s charm and to showcase their beauty and history, we used an alternating table runner with vintage lace sewn by friend, Cynthia, and a layered doily stream provided by Southern Vintage Table. The decor, although slightly different from table to table, featured vintage treasures from our collection such as brass candle holders, alarm clocks, stacks of books, and frames. The charming petite coral rose arrangements, fashioned by Amy, added that perfect “pop” of color.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

After the table centerpieces were in place, our final preparation was setting up the greeting and card stations. Take notice of the terrific vintage picnic basket, child’s chair, and the baby’s breath tucked in the pockets of the old suitcase, brass goblet, and metal pitcher. Such wonderful vintage details!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental

The sweetest details were the personal ones shared by Katie and Ryan. The mantle was bedecked with photos of their engagement, the handmade box that held the engagement ring, the famous “Get’in Hitched” sign made by a friend for their engagement party, and the lighted “J” at the bar.

Perhaps the loveliest displays were the dessert and sign-in tables. Covered with one of our vintage lace tablecloths, the beautiful tiered cake was flanked by photos of Katie and Ryan’s parents and grandparents. Also, note the table next Katie’s exquisite portrait – as a memento of their day, they created a poster with a heart from their thumbprints and guests added a personal message to the couple.

One last touch, added to the tables and in honor of all who came to celebrate with the newly married couple, was a beautiful message. “We feel that the finest gift is one that helps others. We truly appreciate that you are part of this special day! Love Katie & Ryan.”  And, with that came their gift to the Fairview Baptist Church Food Pantry. So thoughtful!  Wishing you two joy, happiness, and endless love!

Southern Vintage Table

Of course, family and friends took part in this special event as well as these amazing individuals and businesses!

Wedding Coordinator & Florist – Knots ‘N Such
Vintage Decor – Southern Vintage Table
Venue – The Big Barn
Officiant – Hoyt Shuford
Catering – Johnny Bakatsias Catering
Rentals – Classic Party Rentals
Photographer – Ginny Corbett Photography
Videographer – Andrew Kennedy Cinematography
Lighting – K2 Productions
DJ – Michael Gay
Cake Designer – Faye’s Cakes
Hair Artist – Lanee Brooks Salon

More to come about this delightful couple’s wedding when Ginny’s photos are available but here’s a preview, capturing the end of a memorable day for all!

Ginny Corbett Photography

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Event – A Preview Katie and Ryan’s Wedding Day!

Sweet, romantic, and beautiful!  With vintage vignettes down the tables and throughout the venue, the celebration of Katie and Ryan’s wedding was ready to begin. This week’s post features a quick peek of last night before the guests arrived – more coming next week!

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Event – An Easter Family Dinner

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Our Easter surprise came as a last minute request to set the table for a Sunday family dinner – sweet!

Our design began with a vintage floral printed tablecloth, layered with bright green placemats and yellow napkins. We chose vintage stoneware patterns that featured green, yellow, and brown, and the sparkling jewels of the table were Sharon’s amber thumbnail tumblers – so gorgeous in the afternoon sunlight!

The centerpiece vignette included an eclectic mix of vintage gems – brass candle holders with yellow candlesticks, a mixed bouquet in a vintage vase, moss-covered egg cups and china purse, a vintage Easter postcard poised on a fork stand, and a cute ceramic basket filled with colorful jelly beans – so many fun, delightful touches to this stunning table!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Sharon absolutely loved her beautiful table and knew her Easter dinner guests would, too.  As I am in the moment, writing this post about this intimate family dinner and thinking about our upcoming wedding this weekend, I realize once again why I love our business.  Each event, dinner, affair, and occasion, small or large, grand or casual, is an opportunity for Southern Vintage Table to create a beautiful, unique, vintage-inspired table atmosphere for the most important guest list – yours!

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Event – A Valentine’s Dinner Party

Southern Vintage Table Vintage Decor

The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing. – Unknown

The sweetest of all holidays brought a wonderful request from Sarah – an invitation for Southern Vintage Table to help with her Valentine’s Day dinner party.  She loved our vintage place settings and decor when we set the table for her family’s Seder dinner last year and we were thrilled to be asked back again.

We packed mixed and matched vintage dinner and salad plates, silver-plated flatware, water and wine glasses, and decor items for her 40 guests. Since her dinner was buffet-style, our main setup mission was to create beautiful centerpieces for her tables. With Jami, Priscilla, and Sarah’s gorgeous selection of flowers, we did just that!

Our centerpieces began with our assortment of vintage silver-plated trays. Lush bouquets of roses and tulips along with accents of vintage frames, tins, votives, and bowls filled with chocolate kisses completed our Valentine’s look. On the coffee bar, stacked with vintage teacups, and around the room, Priscilla and I created sweet vignettes with Jami’s adorable moss-covered purse arrangements.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage Decor Rental NC

Thank you, Sarah and family, for inviting us to be a part of your family celebration! And, many, many, thanks to friends, Jami and Priscilla, for our delightful evening together! Any occasion with friends and family alongside is always magical, wouldn’t you agree?

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

 

Vintage Feature – Framed Centerpieces

It’s been very busy at Southern Vintage Table this week. This month we are helping with four events!  And, what’s wonderful is these are very different kinds of affairs. We have a bridal shower for Katie, Sarah’s Valentine’s dinner party, a photo shoot with Tre Bella, and the Rolesville Chamber‘s annual awards banquet. We are packed and ready for the first three and getting things together for the fourth. Look for these to be featured in the coming weeks!

One of the table decor items we are featuring for the bridal shower and dinner party is a collection of small vintage frames. For the last couple of months, I’ve been picking these up at various thrift stores and my vision was a montage of frames on the table filled with lovely things like post cards, intricate lace or doilies, and pretty flower backgrounds. I love how these look and can’t wait to see them on the tables!

Vintage Decor Rental

These frames are in our Tabletop Decor Collection and can coordinate with any event. I’m working on our soon-to-be-revealed Vintage Centerpiece Package and our frames certainly will be included as one of many different options to help create interesting and pretty tables for your guests!

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Feature – A Mother’s Grief Kindles a Porcelain Legacy

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

I saw this unusual candy dish in the thrift store and, I admit, my first impression was that it was a bit gaudy. Without my glasses, I couldn’t read the mark very well but I did see that it was made in Pasadena. The script of the mark and the place clinched the deal – I bought it.

Florence Mark

It sat on my table for weeks, and occasionally I’d pick it up and admire it, running my fingers across its smooth, ruffled edge. The muted colors and delicate handiwork of the roses captivated me. Finally, I took a photo and decided to do a little research about its history. I couldn’t find the exact piece but I did see another one that was pretty close. However, it turns out the story of this woman-owned American company was the best part of this vintage find.

According to the International Ceramics Directory, Florence Ceramics began in the early 1940s by Florence Ward, an anguished mother who lost her young son to a rare blood disease. To cope with her grief, she took a ceramics course at the Franklin School for ceramics and pottery. Her artistic talent was quickly revealed in her figurines of women and men dressed in authentic historic dress. Friends admired her work and she began selling her signature pieces from her garage.

As her success grew, Florence Ceramics moved to a large, modern facility in 1949 and began mass producing her figurines. Her employees loved working for the Ward family and high standards were always revered. Eventually, as the story often goes, cheaper reproductions from overseas and the death of her husband caused Florence to sell her business to Script in the early 1960s. According to the eBay article, Florence Ceramics aka Florence of California, “A great era of perfection and detail in porcelain figurines came to an end.”

Florence Candy Dish Closeup

Alas, I do not have any figurines to share but you won’t be disappointed if you take a look at some of these found at Replacements. So beautifully vintage!

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Feature – Revamping the “About” Page

This past week I have been working on my new website. One page I have wanted to change and update is “Our Story.” So after researching effective “About Me” pages, I hit on this idea.  The page title is simply “About.”

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 Hello, I’m Shelly.

I’m the owner of Southern Vintage Table, a vintage tableware and decor rental business. After two years of scouring thrift stores, estate sales, antique shops, auctions, craigslist and even my own home, I have collected lots of vintage china, glassware, flatware, serving dishes, linens, and accessories. Many things have been generously shared by friends and family. Our collection spans the 20th century and everything is available for hire.

Here are a few things about me – in no particular order.

~ I’m an optimist, like my mother, and believe things have a way of turning out okay. Maybe not in the way you envisioned but perhaps how it must.

~ I’m a retired middle school teacher, wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, niece, and friend. I am a twin with 7 siblings and have two children. I met my husband in the 6th grade.

~ My alma maters include Orange High School, Western Carolina, and UNC-CH. I have a masters in education and earned National Board Certification.

~ My last teaching assignment included a video/news program class called MNN, a web graphics course, and yearbook. I taught 6th, 7th and 8th graders and sometimes had a student for all three years, which always delighted me.

– Whenever I can afford the time, I take the scenic back roads. Thankfully, I usually have the time.

~ I especially love candlelight, potted plants, flowers, pretty china, and wooden boxes. My hobbies have included sewing, playing tennis, making mosaics, and rearranging furniture.

~ As the owner of my business, I have learned how to drill holes in china, get rid of stains in china and linens, and – gasp –  properly set a table. And, I love setting tables!

~ When I go thrift store shopping, I’m not necessarily thinking about what the item is, but what it can become or how it can be repurposed. Sometimes I can see it right away, and other times I buy it knowing the vision will come eventually.

~ I’ve started reading a few pages of a book before I go to sleep. I’ve almost finished “Bossypants” by Tina Fey, which I highly recommend. Witty and profound.

~ I’ve written a country song I want Miranda Lambert or Kelly Clarkson to sing and have a movie I want Reese Witherspoon to produce. I’ve messaged the cosmos to help me with these two projects. Hey, it can’t hurt and it just might help, right? That optimism my mother gifted to me is kicking in here.

~ I love meeting new people and listening to their life stories. I especially enjoy hearing the names of their children, parents, grandparents, and even further back. Makes me feel like I’m time traveling with them.

~ I am so grateful for my friends and family. Their wisdom and stories have infused my life with joy and love.

~ I’d love to talk with you and promise our Southern Vintage Table collection will create a memorable, lovely affair for your special guests!

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Let me know what you think about my new “About” page.  If you have any ideas, suggestions, or additions, I’d love to hear from you. Really, I mean it…

New website is well on its way – should be unveiling it soon!  Here are some photos I took this past week for it.

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Event – Hot Off the Press!

Faith Teasley Photography

Yesterday a wonderful surprise came in our Facebook mail – a post from Faith Teasley Photography.  Ashley’s spring wedding was featured in a prestigious online publication, The Every Last Detail, and photos of Southern Vintage Table‘s beautiful china and table settings are highlighted in the photo essay.

Feast your eyes on this gorgeous wedding captured by Faith Teasley in Soft Pink & Pale Blue Vintage Garden Wedding. Thank you Ashley, Faith and The Every Last Detail!

Faith Teasley Photography

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC