Serving Trays...A Staple for the Southern Hostess

I've been busy organizing my entertaining arsenal! Polished the silver. Organized all my dinnerware and my glassware. Ironed the aprons I'll be using in Autumn and Winter.

I've also been going through my "Serving Tray Collection." Lord have mercy, my stash is growing!

Serving trays are an indispensable accessory for the Southern hostess. Along with my "Prissy Apron Collection," these serving trays are a must-have for entertaining and help to make serving a pleasure and stylish.
These trays can be used to serve appetizers, beverages, or a meal in the Relaxing Room while watching television. I have used them to offer breakfast in bed and also as vessels to display books, candles, floral arrangements, et cetera.

If you don't want to spend a lot on a tray, just find one of these clear platters at Walmart, Target, or the grocery store.

Then cover it with a pretty cloth...Voila! Perfect for serving beverages to your guests!
Over the years, I have enjoyed using my trays. This brown rattan tray comes in handy when serving my "Signature Beverages."

The painted tole tray hangs on the wall in the Relaxing Room, but is also used to serve Low Tea on a chilly afternoon.


Husband keeps this vintage Gucci tray in his "Romper Room." Jack and Coke served with style.

French toast and esspresso, served in bed...LOVE this brown wooden tray!

This white wooden tray gets so much use! I found it at a thrift store years ago for about $5 and I use it all the time. In this photo, it was used as a vessel for my "Friendship Gifts"--strawberry preserves.

Here's the white tray again...using during "Chardonnay Hour"

I just used the white tray the other day to serve "Dreamsicle Floats!"

This pretty tray gets a lot of use during the Christmas holidays.

This silver tray is very sturdy and great to pass beverages for a large crowd. {Of course, I usually add festive bows to the handles} In this photo, it's holding my fleur de lis cookies.

I found this preppy pink melamine tray at Hobby Lobby. A must-have to serve beverages in my Lilly goblets!

Love my white wicker bed tray...it was last used to serve my "Royal Tea" during the Royal Wedding. Lord that was a fun day!!!

I get a lot of use out of this black wooden tray. In this photo, it's the vessel to hold Bloody Mary soup in Fiestaware mugs during a Mardi Gras party.

The black trays also make great chargers. I found them at Nell Hill's and LOVE them!

Served lemon sorbet recently on these gorgeous charger plates!

I found this red wooden tray at Hobby Lobby and use it a lot during all the seasons. In this photo, it's the vessel for my "Co Cola & Peanuts" Friendship Gifts.

The red tray is perfect at Christmas time...serving beverages on the porch.

I've had this animal print tray for years...ready to serve cocktails.

My sterling silver service tray--great to serve anything...tea, coffee, desserts. Everything looks pretty on a silver tray!

I found this sweet little tray in Mama's closet last Christmas and she let me have it:)

The Santa tray is perfect to serve beverages at Christmas.

This tray from Pottery Barn is one of my favorites. Great to serve casseroles and I also use it as base for a huge rooster on my sideboard.

This cute little "Family and Friends" melamine tray by Paula Deen was used to hold my candied walnuts..."Friendship Gifts."

Wow! This mirrored tray gets used everyday. It's on my vanity to hold all my colognes & body lotions. I also use it from time to time to serve special beverages...prissy iced tea, mint juleps, and this photo "Miss Janice's Naughty Egg Nog."

This pink & green plaid melamine tray was a find at Target. It was perfect to use on the porch to serve peach iced tea.

I love this monogrammed melamine tray from The Pink Monogram...it's sure to be my next addition to my "Serving Tray Collection."

I think I've just about got my entertaining arsenal ready to go. Now, I've gotta go through all my Fall loot and finalize my ideas for decorating, gift giving, and entertaining.

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope y'all are having a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!