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Putting together your guest list and sending out invitations is one of the first things to think about when planning your dinner party. Now that you have your invitation template, here is a video of what is done at Highclere Castle, from sending out invitations to how guests are arranged around the table when they arrive:
Throughout the video Lady Carnarvon is at her Carlton House desk, in the library, where she loves to go to write. Whether it’s composing letters to family and friends or progressing with her most recent book, Lady Carnarvon is able to truly demonstrate her creative flair when in this beautifully comfortable setting.
The process behind organising the table layout for Lady Carnarvon’s guests is also shown in this video, along with the place cards, so watch out for the templates when they are uploaded for you to use. There will also be some guidance on how to translate you and your guests’ names into hieroglyphs for a fun twist on tradition. If you would like to know more about the traditions at Highclere or have any dining traditions of your own, please make sure to share them with us.
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Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I am going to have a co-hostess for my dinner party. We are meeting this weekend to make plans as to who we will be inviting. We will also be discussing the date for our dinner, the menu and table settings as well as table decorations. I am so looking forward to all of the preparations for our dinner. As soon as we have some pictures of our preparations, we will be sending them along to you.
Best wishes for a wonderful weekend.
R. Klein
Williamsburg, VA
U.S.A.
What a great idea that one would have a co-host. That way, you both can create a wonderful collaboration.
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful life with us. It is always so nice to see that there are still places left that take the time to make things fun and entertaining for others. Thank you once again.
For all our technology, time still flies. It is a bit mad – but fun
GREAT IDEA .
Thank you
That is a most beautiful writing desk indeed. And I am so enjoying these updates with your wonderful suggestions, Lady Carnarvon, and with the invitation template and now the cards for the guests. I have just seen the episode of Mary Berrys visit to Highclere and the fantastic detail of having the name cards in Egyptian hieroglyphs! ‘Beginning to plan our “Grande Masquerade Dinner” here in Thessaloniki, and the name cards will be in ancient Greek of course 🙂
How very elegant!
What wonderful fun to write the cards in hieroglyphs! Like Lord Carnarvon’s Great Grandfather, my own Grandfather worked in Egypt, although, being an engineer, he was not so fortunate as to discover a Pharaoh’s tomb! Keeping one’s family history alive certainly provides inspiration for celebration. This will be the starting point of our dinner. Such fun! The hieroglyph cards are such a creative way to bring the past into the present!
Wonderful – thank you for your enthusiasm!!!
Recently there was an article (possibly in Crisis Magazine) suggesting that we should return to a more genteel life style. Life has become such a ‘scrap’ that we are all in danger of becoming as unpleasant as the age. Your recent blog is enchanting and will certainly help to re-civilize us, thank you. I love my present little house (warm and cheap to run on a pension) but I miss my large dining room where we entertained all the time. Thank you for your blog..it keeps me in touch with my home country, which I miss so much.
Thank you !
We have a group we call “Crazy Eights” and we still give dinner parties while it seems they have gone out of favor in this techno world – so much fun planning together – so happy you have encouraged others to do it right – Can’t wait to see the winner
Great – may be we have to figure out prizes for the most dinners in a State !!!
In Russia we always like to have our guests on Easter ‘ New Year party,Woman’s Day on the 8 th of March,Birthday Party, on Wedding Party .And only on Wedding party we send invitations.Usually we invite our friends or relavatives Our tradition is all the best for our guests.The best tableware is usually for these events.Some of the guests bring gifts even if they don’t come for parties,in her turn the hostess of the house gives presents for her guests.
Your blog is so informative and useful and make very positive effect and emotions Now I take your idea of planning where each guest takes the seat.And I”ll also write the invataions.
I have a request.I ‘d like to know what is real original English breakfast is. Thank you.
Best regards,
Larissa