Thanksgiving certainly is going to look different this year, there’s no doubt about that! While I wish I was gathering with all of my extended family, receiving tons of hugs and kisses, and sharing delicious food off of each other’s forks, with Covid-19, of course those things just aren’t possible this year. Out of an abundance of caution, we’re keeping our Thanksgiving celebration tiny, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful! So it’s with great pleasure that I share some holiday tablescape tips with you so you can make your Thanksgiving table special too!
For my own Thanksgiving tablescape, I chose to use our Gramercy charger plates, paired with my favorite vintage china – a scalloped Limoges set that dates back to the 1940’s. The gold rims are 22k gold and the yellow floral pattern is perfect for Fall! To bring the table settings into this century, I added our Gold + Lucite Vanderbilt flatware and our clear, gold rim glassware. The holidays are the perfect time to break out the family china, but don’t be afraid to mix your family heirlooms with more modern pieces! Both Grandma AND your sister will love it!
Many people get flustered when it comes time to set the items on the table! When we deliver our rentals for weddings, dinner parties, or other events, we’re always happy to include a diagram that instructs you exactly where to place each item. As you can see above, the charger plate is the decorative base for the rest of the dinnerware (here, a dinner plate and salad plate). The bread plate is placed in the upper left corner. On the left side of the dinnerware, the dinner fork is closest to the charger plate and the salad fork is placed on the outside of the dinner fork. On the right side of the dinnerware, we have the dinner knife on the inside and the dinner spoon on the outside. The dessert spoon is above the charger plate. The glassware is placed in the upper right corner and the placement of each glass depends on the glassware you’re utilizing and what beverages you plan on serving. Here, our stemless water glass is closest to the flatware, the white wine glass is above the water glass to the left and the champagne flute (for our Thanksgiving toast!) is above the water glass to the right.
We always say that it’s all in the details and our Thanksgiving table is no different! Place cards at each setting add a personalized touch to your table and they are easy to DIY! For these Thanksgiving place cards, I found fabric leaves at Hobby Lobby and used mini rubber letter stamps to add each guest’s name to their leaf. I propped up each leaf with a gold sparkly pine cone (easily found at Michael’s, Homegoods, etc.). I layered a yellow striped napkin between the charger and the dinner plate, which should hang down past the table’s edge but not touch the chair. This is a simple napkin placement that adds dimension to the place setting, but we also love knotting the napkin or triangular folds!
Of course no tablescape would be complete without beautiful flowers and decor! We can always count on our friend Kate at William Penn Inn Floral for the most beautiful centerpieces and floral designs and this arrangement did not disappoint! We used a neutral table runner down the center of the table, adorned with real mini pumpkins, more of our fabric leaves, and mini plush pumpkins. Not into real flowers, have allergies or planning last minute? Little details like pumpkins, a decorative bowl of pine cones, or even a faux floral centerpiece will work too!
Looking to recreate a tabletop design as charming as this one? Let’s chat! In addition to weddings, our unique inventory of exquisite dinnerware, glassware, and flatware is available to rent for even the smallest dinner parties or private events.
Special thanks to Jessica Briggs Photography for the images included here!
Credits:
Tabletop Rentals/Design: @lovelyluxerentals
Photography: @jessicabriggsphotography
Flowers: @williampenninnfloraldesign
