Boarding Pass to 1958~Behind the Scenes of our Pan Am Fantasy Table

If you’ve been following along for a while, you’re probably familiar with Fantasy Tables, an annual charitable event held here in the mountains that raises money for educational scholarships. It has become one of my favorite events of the year-not only because it supports such a worthwhile cause, but it showcases an incredible amount of creativity and imagination.

The concept is simple: table hosts select a theme, design and decorate their tables around it, and invite guests to join them for an evening of dining, fellowship, and fundraising. Proceeds from the dinner, dessert auction, and basket auction are used to fund scholarships for local students. Last year alone, the event raised nearly $100,000.

This year marks our fifth year as table hosts, and I can honestly say that dreaming up the theme is almost as fun as the event itself. Over the years, we’ve transported our guests to a cozy Dinner in the Library, wandered through the Enchanted Forest, journeyed to Out of Africa 1924, and crossed the pond for our Great British Bash.

For 2026, we’re inviting our guests to step back in time and board Pan American Airways. Our theme is 1958 Pan American Airways and the Golden Age of Travel: Come Fly with Us. Today, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes look at the entire process-from the moment the theme was conceived to the night of the event itself. Fasten your seatbelts and prepare to takeoff!

Since there is so much information to share, I am breaking this into two parts. Today’s post is all about the planning, problem-solving and creative process, pre-event. Those who enjoy decorating, entertaining, and DIY projects will love seeing how everything comes together.

A Theme is Born

This year’s theme can be traced back to a visit we made last summer to the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton, Ohio. I was captivated by the vintage aircraft, the rich history of aviation, the variety of uniforms,, and the elegance that once defined air travel. Flying wasn’t simply a means of getting from one place to another-it was an experience.

Adding to the charm of the museum is the Tin Goose Diner, a fully functioning 1950s-style chrome diner that serves breakfast and dinner while playing the wonderful music of the era. It felt very nostalgic and magical. The seed for this year’s Fantasy Table theme was planted right then and there. As we walked through the museum, ideas began taking shape and by the time we left, I knew this was the theme to recreate.

The Invitation

I am a firm believer that a spectacular invitation can generate excitement long before the event itself. It sets the tone, builds anticipation, and gives guests a glimpse of the experience that awaits them.

With the help of my dear friend and creative genius, Lycia of Caught by Design, we develop a passport-themed invitation that contains all the pertinent details for our upcoming flight aboard Pan American Airways.

We begin with plain passports holders, which Lycia customized with the iconic Pan Am logo. Inside, card inserts provide all the necessary information-the who, what, when, where of the event. Adding a bit of humor and personality, we include the AI-generated photograph of Scott and me transformed into a Pan Am captain and lead stewardess to welcome passengers aboard.

Naturally, proper attire is encouraged. Guests are invited to embrace the glamour of the golden age of first-class travel~airline crew members, sophisticated jet-setters, or elegantly dressed passengers bound for an exotic destination. Lycia took the theme even further by creating miniature drink tickets and exclusive admission passes to the “Sky Lounge” for first-class passengers.

To complete the presentation, each invitation was tucked inside an authentic vintage Air Mail envelope (found on Etsy) adorned with vintage postage stamps.

The Table

One of my favorite parts of the process is researching the details that make a theme feel authentic. For this year’s table, I spent quite a bit of time studying photographs of first-class airline service from the late 1950s, paying particular attention to the place settings, china, glassware, and linens.

Fortunately, elegance was the order of the day in 1958. Crisp white china with a delicate gold rim was common, providing the perfect foundation for our Pan Am-inspired table. Fortunately, I have a set I bought from Pottery Barn years ago.

Through a bit of detective work-and a great deal of help from darryldesign at Redbubble-I was able to find Pan Am decals and stamps that transformed my simple white plates and glassware into the airline’s service collection.

Unlike today’s first class airline meals, which arrive neatly arranged on trays, dining during the golden age of travel was much more refined. White linens, proper china, polished silverware and attentive service created an experience that felt more like a fine restaurant than a flight.

Though Pan Am has it logo engraved on the silverware, this set that once belonged to my mother is remarkably similar. After a bit of much-needed polishing (thank you, Scott), it was the perfect final touch to the place setting.

In addition, I add miniature salt and pepper shakers, petite flower vases and other vintage-inspired touches. Together, they help create a table that feels elegant, nostalgic and ready to welcome passengers about Pan American Airways.

The Place Cards and Menu

Designed with the help of my sweet daughter, Julianna, the place cards are boarding passes personalized with each guest’s name. Not only do they serve a practical purpose but they also reinforce the feeling that our guests are about to embark on a special journey.

The menu continues the theme and are designed in the style of a 1958 airline menu. From the typography to the layout, every effort is made to capture the elegance and sophistication of first-class air travel during that era. These small details may seem insignificant on their own, but together they help tell the story and create an immersive experience for our guests from the moment they take their seats.

The Centerpiece

Now this was definitely outside my decorating comfort zone, which is probably why it was a combination of hard work, frustration and fun.

From the very beginning, I knew I wanted the centerpiece to be a runway stretching down the center of the table, but I had no idea how to create one. Like many of my projects, it’s a bit of trial and error. Using a length of black felt as the foundation, I add white border lines with white paint.

Felt is like a sponge and it quickly drinks up the paint. Thanks to YouTube, I discover it’s important to use Gesso first, before you paint. The second attempt to apply the white lines is far more successful. Though the runway is not completely accurate (as pointed out to me by my friend and pilot, Larry), you definitely get the sense that it is a runway. White tape is used to apply the thicker lines and numbers.

But the pièce de rèsistance was undoubtedly the runway lighting. Battery operated lights are carefully inserted through small holes I poke along the edges, creating the effect of a real runway guiding aircraft for takeoff and landing. The fun part is switching on the lights which brings the whole runway to life.

By re-creating the activity at a busy airport, the hope is to add Pan Am airplanes appearing to be in different stages of taking off. The goal is to use nearly invisible fishing line to hang the aircrafts above the table.

To complete the scene, I make fluffy clouds, using inexpensive glass votive balls with hangers. I stuff and cover them with fiberfill that was carefully hot-glued in place. Once suspended overhead, the clouds will appear to float effortlessly above the runway.

Not only will this give height to the centerpiece, but transforms the table into a miniature skyway. Well, that’s the plan at this point.

I hope you have enjoyed all the special details that go into planning this event. I cannot wait to show you how it all works together the night of the event. Stay tuned!