Creative Inspiration for Your Thanksgiving Table and Entertaining Tips!
βGratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.β ~ William Arthur Ward
Undoubtedly, Thanksgiving will look different for everyone this year! Our daughter who lives in Boston has decided not to come and our youngest, who lives in Germany, obviously canβt come. It makes me sad because Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and we have so many good memories of all of us sitting around the dining room table. We have all of our traditional foods, and always make something new that sometimes becomes a tradition. There is always too much food,β¦every year, we say weβll cut back but we never do!
Iβve decided that even though weβll have a smaller crowd this yearβ¦it will be my sister and her husband and children and my oldest daughter and her family, Iβm going to do what Iβve always done. We live in the same town and see each other all the time, so Iβm not worried about COVID with just close family. Hopefully, it will be a beautiful day and we can have a fire and plenty of room to social distance somewhat. Iβm just really thankful that everyone is safe and happy, even if weβre apart!
This post is all about setting a beautiful table and entertaining! Itβs helpful whether you have a crowd of 10 or just 4. It is my hope, that next year, COVID will be over and we can get back to our new normal and not worry about how many people we have around our Thanksgiving table! Stash these tips away if you donβt need them this year and pull them out whenever you have your next partyβ¦hopefully very soon!
Fall is the season for gatherings β whether it be with family, old friends, or new friends β it is a time for connecting and creating life-long memories with your loved ones.
However, hosting your first (or 50th) gathering can be overwhelming and sometimes life just gets in the way. But, we shouldnβt let it! Itβs a great way to express your creativity and a chance to create moments that truly matter for you and those around you.
Let this be the year you finally host the dinner party youβve been dreaming of for years.
Serve a signature cocktail
Signature cocktails are a great way to help your guests feel festive and cared for at your gathering. Mulled wine is a perfect drink for a gathering in the fall or winter. Itβs warm, comforting, smells amazing, and is easy to prepare in large batches ahead of time.
Try a simple cheese board
As much as I love to create an extravagant cheese board, it really would be too much when youβre doing an entire meal (especially Thanksgiving). A minimal cheese board is just as beautiful and gives your guests something small to snack on with their drink.
Prepare in Advance
In any kind of gathering, you really want to do everything you can to make things easy for yourself as the host! Be strategic about the dishes you serve and keep in mind their cooking and preparation times. Also remember that if you prepare things in advance that need to be reheated youβll need to consider your oven space.
Keep the Decor Doable For You
Some people like an elaborate table, while others want to keep it simple. When Iβm preparing a meal like Thanksgiving and focusing so heavily on all the beautiful, seasonal bounty β I like to keep the table decor somewhat simple. Simple might not be your style, so if youβre doing an elaborate table, be sure to start well in advance, adding flowers at the last minute. Itβs also nice to add some touches of eucalyptus down the center of the table and a few white pumpkins for a festive feel. If you need a little more inspiration, watch this video!
I hope these tips will help inspire you to host your dream fall gathering this season! For more holiday entertaining tips, see this CBL Blog Post!
I love the idea of giving guests a piece of paper to write down what theyβre thankful for. Everyone can share their list over dessert!
This table is certainly not simple, but very beautiful!
Great idea for a dessert buffet!
One last tip, if youβre hosting a large group, ask your guests to chip in, but be specific about what you would like for them to bring. Otherwise, it probably wonβt be helpful at all because youβll end up with something that doesnβt go with your menu. Itβs perfectly fine to ask for help!