Game pieces, vintage keys, and animal figurines are all spray-painted to coordinate with the tableware, ensuring that what could've looked hodge-podgey becomes modern and Swedish-chic. If you're the hunter-gatherer type, you'll love these tablescapes that show off your favorite flea-market treasures. The key: giving them a sophisticated edge. The secret: spray painting them all cream for an upscale look.

For a creative place card idea, tie a manila tag, calligraphed with your guest's name, to an animal statuette. Attach it with red-and-white baker's twine to match the French linen tablecloth. Animal figurines, from Michaels. Similar shipping tags (#11005), Avery. "New Club Tourney" plastic chess set, The Chess Store. "Bordeaux" baker's twine, Raffit Ribbons.

This playful tower of farm animals displayed in an apothecary bell jar is a showcase turned centerpiece of the things you love. Similar glass cloches, Jamali Garden Supplies.

With so much eye candy and activity (hopping bunny, anyone?) on the table, you've got to keep some things simple. Refrain from introducing yet another element, and extend the tag-sale theme to the table number by calligraphing the number on an oversize tag and hanging it on a pitcher. Similar shipping tags (#11004), Avery. Calligraphy here and throughout this story, Paperfinger.

Paper doilies can add high drama (without the schmaltz) and stylish elegance (without the stuffiness) to your reception tables.

Create this waterfall of ruffles out of doilies for a visual high. Make garlands as shown at right, and tie to a large and a small wreath form. Hang with ribbon, placing the smaller ring lower than the larger. (Use pushpins or adhesive hooks to secure to ceiling.) Twelve- and 24-inch doublerail wreath rings, Maine Wreath Co.

Basic 12-inch doilies can do double-duty as place cards and chargers. Simply position a glass plate over a doily calligraphed with a guest's name. Doilies, Wilton, Michaels.

Turn your and your new husband's chairs into the best seats in the house with flirty paper-puff garlands. Sew extra garlands to ribbon ties, slip over chairs, and anchor with double-sided tape. Taffeta ribbon (Art. 4496, color 5), Mokuba New York. Chair rental, Bridge Furniture & Props.

This fun, inventive spread, featuring embroidery hoops as muse, couldn't be a better example of refined whimsy. It's an effortlessly chic look that's easy to execute and difficult to resist.

For bohemian yet tailored table decor, look no further than these dangling embroidery hoops fitted with beautiful fabrics. The trick is to use translucent fabrics that are in the same palette, and hoops that vary in size and dangle at different heights (for an organic effect). Bamboo cylinders, Jamali Garden Supplies.

How should you decorate the plates? Put a ring on it. We used a fabric pen to handwrite a guest's name directly onto a piece of solid-colored cloth, then secured it in a six-inch embroidery hoop for a unique way to direct guests to their seats.

You'll be blazing a new design path with this clean and contemporary tablescape that takes its cues from the striking beauty of abstract art.

A big, vibrant pop of color in the form of bright candles you design yourself casts a warm glow over an otherwise clean, minimalist table. White pillar candles, Jamali Garden Supplies. Acrylic tray, Professional Plastics. Learn how to make the striped candles.

The centerpiece is so stunning, guests will want it for their homes. Appease them with bundles of similarly toned taper candles as favors. Six-inch "Celebration" candles, Creative Candles.