'Tablescaping is my happy place': Event planner Tara O’Connor shares her secrets

Eve Kelliher gets tasty entertaining ideas from professional event planner Tara O'Connor

Tara O'Connor, The Designed Table.

Discovering professional event planner Tara O’Connor’s attitude to tablescaping makes you think of all the good things in life — mindfulness, chilling out and having fun.

But surely arranging cutlery and polishing glasses when expecting visitors to her own home must feel like a busman’s holiday? Not a bit of it. It’s entertainment central at the family residence in Co Kildare. “Tablescaping is my happy place and relaxes me. It brings me so much joy,” says Tara.

“We had a dinner party on Saturday evening, and I loved setting the table for our guests. I plan a party like this weeks ahead, choose a colour scheme and florals, and get menus and placenames printed for each one. I love lighting the candles and seeing our guests’ reaction when they sit down. It brings me such joy.”

Tara, who lives in Kilteel, near Naas, shares her living space with her husband and sons. “We live in a house on the highest point of Kildare, Cupidstown Hill,” she says. “I’m a mom to two beautiful boys aged 12 and 14, we have two dogs, Eevee and Missie, and a ragdoll cat called Marshmallow. My husband wasn’t too happy when I appeared home with her!”

What sort of entertainment zone does she use to delight all the above occupants and their guests — and does it change with the seasons? “We have a lovely room we call the sunroom in the middle of the house. It’s basically a glass box,” says Tara.

The Wisteria Collection, The Designed Table.

“We host lots of dinner parties and lunches all year round. When the sun shines, we can bring the party outside!”

For anyone who might have a summer party hosting duties, does Tara, who has almost three decades of experience in the industry, have any tasty advice? “With tablescaping, I always say the same applies as in fashion — think of what Coco Chanel once said, ‘Take off the last accessory you put on.’ Do that for tables. Don’t overstyle a table,” says Tara.

“Make sure your guests can all see each other and don’t have to strain their necks around a floral arrangement.

“Only put the dishes you need for the starter on the table, and make sure to always have a separate water glass as well as a glass for wine and champagne.

“Look to nature for your centrepiece and florals. Spring is here, and the gardens around us are waking up.

“Bring height to your table with taper candles. And for a sense of occasion, add a charger plate.”

Tara O’Connor, The Designed Table, Thedesignedtable.com, takes centre stage at the DFS Interiors Theatre at the PTSB Ideal Home Show at the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, this Sunday, April 26, at 12.20pm

Q&A with Tara

Dream guest at the table?

Madonna for the ultimate life chats, Martha Stewart as she might help set the table, Stanley Tucci for his charm — and he might cook — Maya Angelou for her soul, poetry and truth about life.

Stanley Tucci with his eponymous Dutch oven.

Who would you least like to entertain?

Politicians — they just talk about themselves.

Ideal table shape?

Round or oval — conversation always flows with guests.

Tablecloths or not? Napkins — a must? Always?

For an occasion, always a tablecloth. It adds a sense of formality to a dinner party or lunch. And cloth napkins. I can’t bear to sit at a table without them. Paper napkins for me are a big no-no!

I’m getting ready last-minute for guests I want to impress. What should I do?

Always greet them with a glass of bubbles and a great playlist. Even if you are running behind, you can make sure the evening starts on the right note. Do try to set your table before guests arrive. We always have time. Even if you have to do it a few days before, just turn the glasses upside down to prevent dust from getting in them. Have room lamps on — no ceiling lights— and candles lit before guests arrive.

Funniest moment to date as an event planner?

God, not sure I can tell any of the funny stories. I’d have to leave the country.

Dream guest, Madonna. 

Career highlight?

So many career highlights, but I love styling tables for my client events. To see the joy on their faces when they walk into the room is my highlight. What always strikes me is that no matter how highprofile someone is, they react with the same sense of wonder as anyone else when they see a space beautifully brought together.

Route to your role?

I started out in brand management and then moved to PR, where I started to style and create events for clients. I work with a lot of luxury brands in lifestyle, hospitality, beauty and fashion and also private clients for parties. I’ve been working in my role for over 28 years.

What is “big” now in entertaining?

LED table lamps. I only use them if the height is right. I sometimes find they block the person opposite you, so only use them if they are low. Green seems to be very on trend for tables, or using one colour but multiple shades of it.

Are you a good cook, and if so, what’s your signature dish?

Yes, I love to cook. My signature dinner party go-to menu is Dublin Bay prawn cocktail to start (no bread, fills you up), main course is fillet of beef, potato gratin and seasonal vegetables. I always do a light dessert like roulade or lemon polenta cake.

Fridge or kitchen cupboard must-have?

Crème fraiche in the fridge and a really good olive oil in the cupboard.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Meryl Streep — she has had so many wonderful roles, I’m sure she could make a go of me!

How do you unwind?

A podcast and a walk or a game of padel. I work a lot of weekends, so a real treat for me is 6pm on a Friday evening to go into the sunroom, lie on the couch, watch the sunset and have a scroll! If my husband is reading this, a nice glass of rosé would be welcome!

What do you have to say about table manners?

Use the napkin on your place setting. So many people don’t use them, especially men. It’s a pet peeve. I love when men stand up to greet a lady at a table. Good manners cost nothing.

What about music/playlists?

There is a great playlist on Spotify called Dinner with Friends. My friend Penny Frady told me about it years ago, and it’s my go-to list when we have guests.

Any upcoming projects you are looking forward to?

I’m working on some fun parties for clients. One is a 50th, and the client loves pink, so that is the ultimate brief. She will just need to rein me in on the budget! I’m also organising a fun cocktail party for Day Mani. They are a great Irish nailcare brand and a super-fun team, so it’s so great to work on events like this.

Tara O'Connor, The Designed Table.

The PTSB Ideal Home Show returns to the RDS Simmonscourt from April 24-26, tickets, IdealHome.ie. Professional event planner Tara O’Connor will be at the DFS Interiors Theatre on Sunday, April 26, at 12.20pm, giving her top tips on how to make hosting friends and family easy this season.