For Charleston event planner Calder Clark, Mother's Day is best spent relaxing with family. "Sundays are for rest, so I make our dining experience really informal and easy," says Calder. "The quintessential Mother's Day brunch is about the perfect high-low blend: easy tea sandwiches served up with the finest linen napkins, delicate glass containers housing simple garden greens, farmer's market berries with over-the-top imported lemon curd. Some of the best memories are made at a simple farm table with comfort food favorites and copious amounts of crisp rosé."
Scroll through to see more of Calder's stylish tablescape, with clever tips on recreating this effortlessly chic soirée.
Subtle color is all you need for an effortless look. Little pompom borders, a tiny pop of color, fresh berries in lieu of bold color on the tabletop- all of these concepts go a long way in creating a lovely atmosphere.
Get the kids in on the game. Children love to dig in the dirt, so have them help craft terrariums from simple inexpensive garden greens and blooms from your local nursery.
Don't underestimate the power of texture. Here we used rough-hewn linen, bouillon wire to bind the napkins, and copper accents throughout to keep the eye roving over the tablescape. A shimmery moment always packs a punch.
Get out of your comfort zone. If your taste is generally more traditional, layer in a few modern touches like we did with lucite art deco flatware and agate place card holders.
Down South, we call tiny presents "surcies"- they are simply thoughtful gifts, usually diminutive and inexpensive. As your friends and family leave, send them off with homemade lemon curd and farmer's market strawberries.
Give your tea sandwiches a face-lift by making them open-faced and color-coordinated to your table. Elevating food makes it easy for guests to see what's up for grabs. Our marble 2-tier made the perfect passable tray of goodies, and also lent interest to the tablescape.
The breadbasket will never be passed over if it's filled to the brim with piping hot homemade popovers and clever butters. We used fresh strawberries, blueberries, and pistachios to create our three spreads.
A runner can take the look up a notch without making it fussy. We kept our palette neutral by using a runner out of the same material as our napkins; the playful edging lends a tiny note of color throughout.
