Elegant

The sumptuous trappings of an elegant event often evoke a feeling of indulgence, that “ahh” moment of everything being right in the world and exquisitely lovely, as well.

Unlike the jazz-infused, bouncy vibe of a glamorous event, an elegant affair is often a quieter, more luxurious gathering of crisp linens, gliding waiters, string quartets, and crystal glasses held aloft in an amusing but tasteful toast.

“The ambiance must engage all of the senses, and everything from the scent of the candles to the feel of the tablecloths should be pleasing,” says Terrie Bulanek, director of catering at The Saint Paul Hotel.

“A guest should feel welcomed and taken care of the moment they walk in the door.”

At The Saint Paul, a well-traveled destination for elegance seekers, the tone is set through attention to detail, Bulanek says. Nestled in the heart of downtown St. Paul, the hotel has several event rooms, including the large capacity Promenade Ballroom, a favorite for wedding receptions in particular. With professional coordinators, on-site caterers, full beverage services, and a skilled pastry chef, the hotel aims to give as much service to the hosts as to the guests.

In planning elegant events, service in general is much more important than for other types of parties, according to Bulanek. The pace is often slower, giving guests more time to mingle and socialize, and there tends to be a higher number of staff people to convey a sense of pampering.

“We live in a self-service world,” Bulanek says. “It’s nice to have full service, to have someone pull out your chair for you and hand you a linen napkin. It feels elegant to have that level of pleasing formality.”

To create a night of graceful confection, the elegance often begins before the first guest walks in the door, with a greeter that says hello, perhaps offering a quick guide to the event’s layout or dinner schedule. “This helps reduce the awkwardness of first arriving and not knowing where things are,” Bulanek notes.

A certain level of dress among the guests also helps give an elegant reception its charming look. In a culture that’s gone increasingly informal, having a night of glittering jewelry, swirling silk, and well-cut jackets gives an event a special quality.

“We’re all so casual,” Bulanek says. “But this is an opportunity to really dress up. Your guests should feel like they can wear jeans the other 364 days of the year, but this is the night to shine.”

Asking for “black tie” on an invitation will yield a sea of tuxedos and floor-length gowns, but those who want a slightly less formal mode of dress can still convey the occasion’s elegance through the invitation’s design, says Susan Harrison, owner of Papeterie in Stillwater.

“How the invitation looks will indicate how to dress, even more than the words printed on it,” she says. “If you have an elegant and beautiful design, that tells the guest that the event will be the same.” Popular among those wanting a more luxurious tone are thick, handmade papers and ribbons matching the event’s color scheme, she adds.

Although place settings for such events are classic—think crystal, white china, heavy flatware—the food is often anything but traditional, says Marcia McKinney, outside sales manager for D’Amico Catering, which provides distinctive dishes for elegant venues like the Metropolitan in Golden Valley.

“Anytime you can do something out of the ordinary, it can increase the elegance,” she says. “Duck instead of chicken, for example, or wild game as part of the starter course. Change it up a little.” Especially delightful for elegant events are unique desserts, she adds, such as gold-dusted crêpes or caramelized peaches. For “butler-passed” food, delivered via those smoothly moving waitstaff members, small bites like scallops or buffalo mozzarella can have a twinge of flair by being set on a silver spoon, for example, or in a small martini glass.

Inventive dishes contrast well with décor that tends to be more comfortably elegant, McKinney says, such as dark wood in the room, floor-length tablecloths, and historical artwork.

Like its glamour-puss kin, an elegant event is best by candlelight, McKinney believes. Low lighting combined with abundant candles can add extra sparkle to the crystal and to the conversation.

Another common touch to such upscale events is to show a hint of innovation in the flowers, says Tina Kiriakou, general manager in Café Minnesota at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, another draw for the elegant-minded. To give a party a seasonal vibe, she’s seen many hosts offset monochromatic flowers with fresh fruit at the base of arrangements, such as oranges in the summer or pomegranates around the holidays. “There’s a touch of class to using fruit in that way,” she says. “It also perks up the table and shows personality.”

A growing trend at elegant events, especially for wedding receptions, is the inclusion of small cakes as centerpieces. Expert pastry chefs like those at Wuollet Bakery (which has locations in Edina, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Wayzata, and White Bear Lake) can often tailor small cake requests to fit both the event and the table dimensions.

With white-glove service, sparkling place settings, and melt-in-your-mouth food, anyone can feel the glory of classic elegance.

The Jewels
An understated pair of earrings is perfect for the Minnesota bride. Simple elegance is found in a pair of pearl drop earrings with diamonds at the top by Robert Foote, owner of Robert Foote Jeweler. Foote aims at timeless style to ensure his jewelry can be enjoyed for many years to come. Robert Foote Jeweler, 5007 France Ave. S., Ste. 205, Edina, 612-929-2279

The Favors
Elegant chocolate, specifically truffles, makes any event classy. St. Paul’s Chocolat Céleste is known around the world for its amazing truffles. When throwing a party, hosts can meet with Chocolat Céleste owner Mary Leonard to talk about boxes, flavors, themes, colors, styles, designs, and prices. Consider these options:
• For a wedding, order truffles featuring drawings of a bride and groom on each one.
• Put a company logo on the top of a chocolate to celebrate a retirement or create atasty marketing tool.
• Decorate the truffles in your school’s colors for an elegant high school event orgraduation party. Prices vary. Chocolat Céleste, 2506 W. University Ave., St. Paul, 651-644-3823