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Maximalist Tabletop Style from the 2025 Met Gala Couples Will Love

Maison de Carine’s layered looks, playful accents and fashion-forward plates are redefining the modern wedding table.

May 9, 2025

Three designer plates from Maison de Carine—orange Sacred Bird and Butterfly, green Topiary, and coral Oscar’s Coral—styled with roses, poppies, and patterned linens

The Met Gala isn’t just a fashion moment—it’s a design moment. This year, the buzz extended beyond the red carpet to the dinner table, thanks to luxury tabletop curator Maison de Carine. The DC-based design studio—known for its high-profile weddings, White House state dinners, and signature “fashion on a plate” aesthetic—brought a boldly layered look to the 2025 event, filled with artful color and charming, unexpected detail.

Founder Carine Krawiec’s curated selection for the gala included mix-and-match china in rich botanical and floral patterns, including the Oscar’s Coral Plate, inspired by de la Renta’s vibrant sensibility; the nature-forward Topiary Plate; and the elegant Sacred Bird and Butterfly Plate, based on traditional Chinese symbolism. The tabletop design also featured metallic gold salt and pepper cellars shaped like apples, pomegranates, lily pads, and eggs—a whimsical touch with staying power.

And while maximalism may sound like a bold choice for weddings, Carine says it’s actually the perfect tool for personalizing a celebration—whether you're hosting a refined estate wedding, an alfresco garden ceremony, or a colorful city soirée. By layering tone-on-tone patterns or mixing textures within a color family, couples can create tablescapes that feel both intentional and expressive.

To find out how to make this elevated, fashion-forward aesthetic work for your wedding, we went directly to the source: Carine herself.

Photos courtesy of Maison de Carine

IDM: How do you see this year’s Met Gala aesthetic (tabletop or fashion!) translating to wedding tablescapes in the year ahead?
CK: This year’s Met Gala brought a sense of playful layering—mixing patterns, colors, and unexpected combinations both on the table and in fashion. That same boldness is starting to show up in weddings. Couples are moving away from traditional settings and leaning into more personal, expressive tablescapes. Whether it’s a mix of plates or a pop of color, the goal is to make the table feel unique to the couple and exciting for their guests.

IDM: What advice would you give to couples who want to incorporate maximalist design without overwhelming their wedding look?
CK: One of the easiest ways to keep maximalism cohesive is to play within a monochromatic color scheme. By layering different shades, textures, and patterns in the same hue, you can create depth and richness without overwhelming the space. During our design consultations, I'm always urging clients to take risks. There's an innate serenity in the repetition of a table setting within a space, leaving plenty of room for bold choices.

IDM: How does designing for the Met compare to high-profile weddings in terms of creative freedom or pressure?
CK: At the end of the day, it’s about the relationship we foster with our client. Each event we produce, big or small, is our creative interpretation of the clients’ vision. As creative people, it’s imperative that we approach each new project as if it’s another Met Gala. We take the same pride in perfecting the details on the world’s stage like the Met Gala, or at a private celebration with no cameras at all.

IDM: Which decorative tabletop details do you think are underrated in weddings but can make a major impact?
CK: Small details can make a big impact. Unique table accessories—like fun bread and butter plates, clever knife rests, or eye-catching napkin rings—add personality and intention to the table. They’re a great way to bring in something unexpected without overwhelming the design. Even at this year’s Met Gala, pieces like the gold Apple Salt Cellars and Pomegranate Salt Cellars brought a whimsical, artful touch to the overall space.

IDM: Do you find couples are becoming more daring in their tabletop selections?
CK: Definitely. Couples are becoming more adventurous with their tabletop choices, and it’s exciting to see. We are reminding our couples about what they could do, not what they should do. We also encourage couples to select items from their wedding registry to rent, so their wedding table reflects a bit of the home they’re building together. It’s about creating something personal and expressive.

IDM: Is there one standout piece from the Met Gala that you’d love to see adapted into weddings?
CK: Mix-and-match maximalism was the standout this year. Bold patterns, textures, and colors collided in such a playfully sophisticated way. I’d love to see couples bring that same energy to their weddings. Combining different scales of prints and motifs alongside thoughtful personal touches allows their personality to shine.