Date & Time: Thursday, December 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM (CST)
Early Setup: You may arrive as early as 11:00 AM to decorate and prep. Please have someone present by 4:30 PM.
Help make this Christmas one they’ll never forget—for eight Loveladies, hosted at The Lovelady Center!
In years past, many women have said that our Tablescapes Christmas Dinner was the most meaningful holiday celebration of their lives. You can be part of creating that same joy and wonder this year by sponsoring a table for eight.
What Sponsors Provide for Each Table
(Round 60" or Rectangular 8'x30")
- Beautiful decorations & place settings
- Tablecloth, chargers, napkins, silverware, and glasses
- A delicious meal and dessert
- A $30–$50 gift for each Lovelady at your table (no candles or alcohol-containing products)
Your generosity brings dignity, love, and lasting memories.
Questions—anytime, day or night:
Jeanne Sparks • 205-520-3010
Event Flow at a Glance
- 11:00 AM: Earliest arrival for setup
- 5:00 PM: Sponsor teams must have at least one person present and prepping
- 5:30 PM: Optional male escorts meet with Mr. John McNeil in the chapel for instructions
- 5:45 PM: Women are escorted to tables
- 6:00 PM: Blessing and dinner begins
Servers Limit: Please have no more than three (3) servers per table during dinner. All other helpers are welcome to enjoy refreshments in the Hospitality Room.
Quick Notes & Perks
- We take our women to our thrift stores beforehand so they can choose a dress and shoes.
- Local restaurants are donating great food to the Hospitality Room for sponsors and helpers.
- After dinner, you may wash dishes in our kitchen and leave leftover food with our team if desired.
TABLESCAPES FAQs (2026)
1) Will there be enough ice?
Yes. A cooler bag for each table will be pre-filled with ice and waiting in our freezers (pictured below). These will be delivered to your setup table (the small table close by for you to serve/prep from) in plenty of time to serve to the ladies. Bring an additional small cooler if you prefer.
2) Will there be enough tea and water?
Each table receives two gallons of tea and one gallon of water. Please do not open the second tea until the first is empty. We do not have pitchers; pouring from the jug is just fine with our ladies, but you are welcome to bring a pouring pitcher from home.
3) When do male escorts arrive?
If you have escorts, ask them to meet Mr. John McNeil in the chapel no later than 5:30 PM. Arrows and signs will direct to the meeting, to the restroom, and to the hospitality room, if needed.
4) Will there be trash bags?
Yes. Two heavy-duty trash bags per table will be provided.
5) What about parking and safety?
Our staff parks at the church across the street to free up street parking on 2nd Ave S, 80th, and 79th. We hire an off-duty policeman to be on duty behind the church and on 2nd Ave S. We also coordinate with BPD for increased patrols, and our staff will be present during arrival and departure times. Street lighting has been improved. (Further information about entry points can be found in Unloading, Parking, and Setup below the FAQ category.)
6) Can we leave leftover food?
Yes. You may leave any extra food you do not wish to take home with our kitchen staff on first floor.
7) Will there be enough space?
Yes. We’re utilizing Phase 1 areas, the board room, and the chapel to create more space in the main areas. Please keep servers to only three per table; additional helpers can enjoy the Hospitality Room.
8) How many servers can we have at the table?
Maximum of three (3) during dinner. Others may wait in the Hospitality Room and enjoy refreshments.
9) Where should escorts go after seating the ladies if they’re not one of the three serving?
They can head to the Hospitality Room (signs will be posted). Plenty of refreshments will be available.
10) Where are restrooms, the Hospitality Room, and the escort meeting point? Directional signs will be hung pointing the way to these areas from all three floors.
- Hospitality Room: Located in the Cafeteria on 1st floor
- Restrooms: Men’s behind and women’s beside the coffee shop on 2nd floor
- Chapel: 2nd floor
Interior doors use security cards which will be strapped to the door handles that evening for ease of entry.
11) What floor is accessed by the front steps on 2nd Ave S?
The front steps lead to the 2nd floor.
- 1st floor: Devotion area, kitchen, back awning entries (access through the back gate on 80th St)
- 3rd floor: Access via interior stairs from 2nd floor
12) How do we keep food warm?
Best tip: wrap main dishes in towels and stack in a cooler. Some sponsors bring warming/catering equipment.
13) Can we light candles on the table?
Yes, for décor. Please do not gift any candles to the women (this presents a fire hazard in their residential rooms).
14) Gift recommendations?
- Walmart gift cards (the women shop weekly)
- Fluffy socks, lotions, makeup, nail polish, slippers, housecoats
- Aim for $30 (please cap at $50 so all women will receive about the same value).
- No alcohol-containing products and no candles in gifts.
15) What food do the women prefer?
They appreciate any special meal—traditional Christmas, five-course, Italian, you name it.
16) Who will sit at my table?
Final seating is arranged the last week based on logistics. Escorts seat women by table groupings, not by assigned names. We cannot provide specific names per table in advance.
17) How should I label personalized items?
Consider “Daughter of the King” or “Precious Lovelady.” Assigned names for your table are not possible.
18) Will there be a program?
No formal program. Miss Melinda will thank sponsors, but we want the women’s full attention on you. Light Christmas music will play but there will be no formal program during the evening.
19) Table dimensions
- Round: 60"
- Rectangle: 8' x 30"
20) Will there be a power plug near my setup table?
Yes. Bring an extension cord and possibly a multi-outlet strip, as nearby tables may share power.
21) Can we wash dishes after the event?
Yes. You may wash dishes in our kitchen and leave leftover food with our team.
Unloading, Parking & Set-Up
Address: 7916 2nd Avenue South
If Your Table Is on the 1st Floor
- Unload: Back parking area via the gate on 80th Street South
- Enter through the door under the awning at the back, or park in a nearby space
- Assistance will be available; if no one is present when you arrive or are helping others, call Jeanne at 205-520-3010
- After unloading, you may park in the back parking deck or across the street behind the church on 2nd Avenue S for the remainder of the evening (or leave and return later if you’re decorating earlier in the day-your gifts and decor will be monitored and are fine to leave after setup)
If Your Table Is on the 2nd or 3rd Floor
- Unload: Front entrance on 2nd Avenue South
- Assistance will be available; if no one is present when you arrive or are helping others, call Jeanne at 205-520-3010
- Parking: Side streets (79th, 80th) or further down 2nd Ave S
- Extra parking is available behind the church across the street (a Birmingham Police officer will be stationed there all evening)
Once Inside & Unloaded
- You’ll see staff, volunteers, and Lovelady Graduates available to help—please ask for anything you need.
- Your table will have a name card. Leave it visible after setup so that we may take photos of your beautiful tables.
- On your table, you’ll also find an information pack with:
- Gift-In-Kind forms (for tax purposes)
- Updates
End of Night: Pack up your décor and belongings—we’ll break down tables, move them, and clean up.
Final Thank-You
We are so thankful for you. Your heart, creativity, and hospitality make this night unforgettable. If you have any questions whatsoever, call Jeanne at 205-520-3010 (days, evenings, weekends are fine).
Happy Holy-days! 🎄