It was 29 years ago that Susan Glassmoyer and Victoria Snee pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma at SMU. Just a year later, Kappa alumna Louise Griffeth, along with other alums, created Tablescapes to raise funds for non-profits.
Now, nearly three decades later, Susan and Victoria were co-chairing Tablescapes by Candlelight on Monday, October 10, and the Tablescapes Luncheon on Tuesday, October 11, with Louise serving as Platinum Key Honoree for the events at the Dallas Country Club.
Adding to the “key” connection were a trio of Kappa alumnae: Honorary Chair Jan Hegi, keynote speaker/designer Lela Rose and moderator/FOX 4 Good Day Co-Anchor Lauren Przybyl.
Monday night’s cocktail buffet in the DCC ballroom was a preview of the tables displayed throughout the club by designers A Place to Love LLC/Sarah H. Hancock; Alison Palesky; Amy Berry; Anna Curnes of Anna Lou Glass; Annie Griffeth Art; Backstory and Top Tier; Ballard Designs; Barrington; Blue Print; Branching Out Events; Cathy Kincaid; Central Market; Chambers Interiors and Tour Décor; Charlotte Comer Interiors and Collectibles Inc.; Sherryl Bittner Design/Pierce Hardware; Christie’s Auction House, Anna Weatherly Designs and Avant Garden; Claire Rathbun Flora; Collins and Sweezey; Dahlgren Duck Associates, Fenwick Fields; Hazen and Co. by Taylor Turner; Javier Burkle/Burkle Creative; Katy Duvall Interiors; Kelli Ford and Kirsten Fitzgibbons; Krane Home; Lela Rose; Lucky Dog Barker; Lynda Piepgras/Rooms With a View; Neiman Marcus; Olivia G; Paige Rippey Locke, ASID; Patti Flowers Design Studio; Philip Thomas Vanderford/Studio Thomas James; Rosanne Beck Collections and Madeleine Creative; Sand and Lavender Floral Designs; S.B. Long Interiors; The EC Table and St. Michael’s Woman’s Exchange; The Garden Gate and The Ivy House.
The next morning got off to a rough start that suffered from the season’s ongoing valet challenges. This time the foul-up was attributed to the crew being largely made up of newbies. Even DCC members were not thrilled to discover their Beverly Drive members-only entrance was on hiatus, and first-time guests parked in the 19th Hole lot. (The problem didn’t get much better later in the day, with one guest cooling her heels waiting an hour for her card to be retrieved.)
Ah, but once inside it was a feast for the eyes. Like the previous year, the ballroom had been transformed into a seated luncheon setting with a stage for the chat that would take place between Lela and Lauren. Only this time there were new wall panels and carpeting that received rave reviews. As one guest remarked, “It’s no longer Steak and Ale.”
[Editor’s note: In past years the ballroom had boasted theater-style seating for the keynote speaker, followed by guests dining at the designer tables.]
Victoria showed her fashion smarts by wearing an adorable dress with a Lela Rose print matching the day’s program.
Louise and daughter-in-law Annie Griffeth, who had designed a table in the entry hall, disappeared briefly. When they returned, they had small boxes containing gluten-free muffins that had been awarded a blue ribbon at the State Fair of Texas over the weekend. What was the connection? Louise’s son/Annie’s husband Teal Griffeth had created the award-winning goodies that the girls had for guests at their table.
Following Susan’s and Victoria’s welcoming the crowd — it included Susan Butt, Ellen McDowell, Nancy C. Rogers, Vicki Chapman, Lisa Troutt, Cathy McEachern, Peggy Sewell, Pam Busbee, Christie Carter, Heather Washburne, Vicki Howland, Laurie Sands Harrison, Leisa Street, Diane Bumpas, Kay Weeks, Libby Allred, Pamela Graham, Debbie Oates, Connie O’Neill, Kim Purnell, Elaine Agather, Beth Thoele, Jill Smith, Linda Secrest, Tavia Hunt, Stacey Walker with mom Kay Sim, Venise Stuart, Michaela Dyer and longtime Tablescapes supporter Annette Simmons — and recognizing Jan and making a presentation to honoree Louise, Lela and Lauren took their places on stage for a brief conversation.
During their … er, lively … chat, Lela revealed that her key tips for putting on great parties included serving signature cocktails that “complement the hostess’ attire,” finding unexpected locations for special events (including dead-end streets and industrial spaces) and combining vintage with new materials to ensure a sense of the “unexpected.”
On that note, Lela proceeded to surprise the guests with a slide presentation featuring highlights of her new book, “Pret-A-Party,” which would be a luncheon favor for the attendees.
Funds raised from the two-day event will benefit the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation’s 2022 beneficiaries Behind Every Door, The Center, Magdalen House and The Senior Source.
For more Tablescapes creations and guests, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.