Set Your Table With Flair--An Elegant Vampy Día De Los Muertos Halloween

Hola, mis amigas y amigos preciosos!  I hope all is well with you and yours!

It's almost Halloween yet again....time for fun with kiddos, spooks, and specters!  When I initially began planning my 2015 Halloween tablescape a few months ago, I wanted to set an elegant table with a vampire theme.  However, sometimes, like the seasons, things change. 

If you have been following along here with me, you know that recently, we lost a very dear friend of ours.  He was one of the kindest people I have ever met, truly salt-of-the-earth. My husband and I are fortunate to have known him.

Have you ever heard of Día de los Muertos?  It is a lovely Mexican tradition that commences at or near Halloween time and lasts until November 2. During this time, family and friends celebrate and pray to their dearly departed and wish them well in the afterlife.  What a beautiful thought! 

In honor of our recently departed friend who happened to be Mexican-American, this year for Halloween, I wanted to combine elements of a Día de los Muertos celebration along with some vampire-esque nuances I had previously planned.  I hope you enjoy the post!

For this tablescape, I began on bright white linen that has a subtle shimmer. Dark and vibrant red chargers

were followed by simple white plates

and dark saucers.

Blood red napkins

were topped with mini coffins.

Each coffin was held upright by a tiny black stick leftover from the centerpiece flowers.

It almost disappears, doesn't it?

Names were written in red marker onto black paper,

before being placed inside each coffin.

To view the tutorial to make these mini coffin place settings, please visit the post on my blog The Crafting Table here.

Building the Centerpiece

I wanted the centerpiece of this table to incorporate elements of both Día de los Muertos and Vampires, Muah ha ha....

I started with a simple candelabra.

Two cans were placed strategically (as level as possible) and on top of them, two blocks of floral arranging foam.

I covered everything with a large black napkin.  My platform is set.

I clipped and trimmed a few bunches of faux flowers in black and red

and placed them all around the bottom of the platform I created.

My Mr. and Mrs. Sugar Skulls joined the centerpiece

followed by white candles with dripping blood (yikes!)

Close up.

To make the dripping blood effect, I held a lit red candle and let the wax drip onto plain white candles.

Quite macabre!

If you would like to read the tutorial about how I made my sugar skulls, you may visit the post on The Crafting Table here.

Here are a couple of shots of the centerpiece by itself, which could also be used as a vignette if desired.

Crystal goblets

were followed by elegant silver flatware on black napkins folded length-wise.

You'll notice here that I've broken the rules a bit in how I've placed the silver, but I sort of liked the gothic-looking spike they seem to form when placed this way.

I thought the goblets added just the right amount on gothy charm.  Almost complete.

For the final step, I poured some of Vette's Vampy Tea in each glass.

 A perfect sip for a spooky soirée.

 

If you would like the recipe for Vette's Vampy Tea, you can view it on my blog Parsimonious Pabulum by clicking here.

Completed tablescape.

Closeup of the place setting

and centerpiece.

A few more shots.

Left.

Right.

For an even more macabre effect, consider dimming your lights....it might make the vampires at your soiree more comfortable as well!  :)  Note how everything has a darker, more somber effect and the colors appear richer when I did so.

Are you ready for Halloween?

From my collection:
White plates, Ralph Lauren Club Collection
Dark saucers, Tai Pan Trading
Chargers, generic
Flatware, Wallace Silversmiths Antique Baroque Collection, Horchow/Neiman Marcus
Crystal goblets, Godinger Dublin Collection, Horchow/Neiman Marcus

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