Taking cues from the richness of autumn, this year’s cozy Thanksgiving table features deep copper, soft velvet and the jewel tone beauties of the season’s bounty.
To be completely ready for the holidays, check out The Ultimate Thanksgiving Menu Guide, 3 Tips For Adding New Foods to Your Holiday Menu, and How to Set An Inviting Buffet Table.
Of all the Thanksgiving tables we’ve done, this may be my favorite. Cozy, yet elegant. Simple, yet sumptuous. Not to mention, we’ve taken Thanksgiving outside.
With our mild southern seasons, an outside table and dining is a real option. Even if the day is a bit brisk, light throws placed on chairs and a cozy fire pit crackling off to side can make this a wonderfullt inviting Thanksgiving to remember. (If an outside table is absolutely not an option for you, this table works inside just as well.)
Plus, an outdoor setting is the perfect place to put together an elegant farm to table feast that celebrates the holiday and the bounty of the season. This table is both luxe and earthy with punches of rich purple and warm copper, which might be unexpected but very autumn all the same.
One thing I’ve leaned about Thanksgiving is that your table doesn’t have to be all turkeys and harvest gold to embody the holiday. Follow nature’s lead and look for joyful colors all around to incorporate.
What fruit or vegetables are ripe during this season? How are the leaves changing colors? Think of the blaze of cozy fire or glowing sunset. Autumn is rich with vibrant hues! What inspires you?
This year’s table it was these plates from Tuckernuck that inspired me. The fruit, the butterflies, the colors, they were exactly what I wanted this year’s Thanksgiving to be.
But here’s the surprise. This isn’t expensive China. It’s picnic ware. These plates are made of stamped tin, and they are truly incredible. The design is the Duke of Gloucester Pattern, taken from an English Worcester soup plate made around 1780 and silk screened onto the tin plates for more accessible use.
The tin is light weight and durable which make these plates perfect for use outdoor dining, buffets and large gatherings. Unique and stunning!
To complete the table, these monogrammed velvet napkin twillies from The Preppy Stitch and ruffled linen dinner napkins from Hen House Linens were absolute must-haves. The warm copper velvet is gorgeously luxe, highlighting the table’s theme of autumn’s bounty.
Contrasted against the deep, richness of Hen House’s aubergine ruffled linens, the two make a stunning pair. The velvet and the ruffle add depth and textural warmth to the table. And the weight of the napkins is perfect. Both brands are Southern Discourse partners and can be found in my curated shop.
Mixed warm metallics play off the velvet napkins ties and bring an autumn glow to the table. Gold flatware, a hammered copper pitcher, copper-colored glass votives and brass candle sticks with warm caramel taper candles anchor the table with a soft seasonal lustre.
TIP: Want to do place cards this year without place card holders? Try inserting these place cards with a rose gold/copper border between the prongs of your forks for a simple, elegant look.
The loose cornucopia centerpiece is easy to recreate. I used a single eucalyptus garland down the center of the table, then mixed in my candles, faux pears, plums, white pumpkins and purple cabbages and artichokes for that bountiful harvest feel.
TIP: The eucalyptus garland and the fruits are a nice investment because of their versatility. Switch out the cabbages for magnolia and a few pine or spruce boughs, change your candles and you’re ready for Christmas!
Additionally, this type of centerpiece is deal for a long rectangular table because it stretches all the way down the center, filling up the table from end to end, providing plenty of interest. But it’s also low so that conversation can flow easily across the table without guest having to look over or around an arrangement.
TIP: Make hosting at the holidays easy by renting what you can. The gorgeous chocolate tablecloth and deep brown chairs in these photos were provided by M&M Event Rentals. Event rental services can be that extra helping hand that takes the stress out of hosting during the holidays.
Why Does it Matter How You Set Your Thanksgiving Table?
Let’s be honest. Getting together at the holidays shouldn’t be a “have to.” It should be a “want to.” And the same goes for hosting. Whether you are having your meal catered, preparing the meal yourself or everyone is pitching in and bringing a dish, putting together a Thanksgiving dinner is no small feat.
And it’s important to honor all that hard work. Don’t run the whole race and quit right before you get to the finish line. Make your table as inviting as your meal will be tasty. Show your guests how special they are to you and how glad you are that they came. Give them the gift of nice table. They’re worth it.
Besides, there’s always plenty time for paper plates with leftovers!
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