Eat, drink, and be thankful!

Welcome to my home! :) Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it brings everyone together- friends, family and loved ones. I started hosting five years ago because I felt homesick for my family in New Hampshire, and I wanted to do something for others who felt the same way. We have friends in California who can’t travel to their families, so every year I try to make them feel at home and really special.

I always make the flower arrangements and tablescape because it adds a personal touch. And you know how much I love a good arts & craft project!! This may sound a lil’ crazy, but I think setting the atmosphere is just as important as the food! Creating a beautiful gathering will make your guests feel warm and welcome.

I know things get really busy around the holidays and setting up a tablsecape can sound super overwhelming. But don’t stress! You can make your own flower arrangements and custom place settings in about an hour - promise! See how I created a simple yet beautiful table below.

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Choose your colors

Ever since I moved to the beach, I’ve gone with lighter tones like blush and rose gold. Then, I add a pop of burnt orange with roses. This makes the pallette feel fall-ish but also elegant. And I LOVE white pumpkins. I kept some of them white and coated others with copper spray paint. I also spray painted the bottom of mason jars for a subtle touch to tie it all together. There’s nothing a can of spray paint can’t do!! ;)

Perfect place settings

Make your own chargers (aka the bigger plate you put your dinner plate on top of) with, you guessed it…even more spray paint! You can grab inexpensive chargers from a craft store or even gather old Christmas plates. A bit of paint transforms them into something brand new! I also added a leaf to each plate. Confession: I faked this one a little. I missed the New England foliage but I couldn’t find real leaves in Cali, so I bought an artificial plant and broke out the spray paint again. For all you East Coast and Midwest girls, you can just head outside and grab the real deal :)

The copper flatware is from West Elm right HERE! It's gorgeous and works year round :)

The Macrame Table Runner is from Anthropologie and I've been using it for 5 years! It washes easy too!

Bring on the blooms

Making flower arrangements is one of my favorite things to do! It’s a great form of meditation. I could seriously do arrangements for hours without checking my phone or email :) For Thanksgiving, go for a mix of greens and your favorite seasonal flowers. I love peonies, roses, and dinner plate dahlias. You can do a few large arrangements or several small ones in mason jars or single rose vases.

It’s fun to make smaller arrangements and send each guest home with one at the end of the night. Just pick up a bunch of mason jars from Target, spray the bottoms with Rose Gold and fill with flowers.

Raise your glass

I usually create place setting cards, but this year I decided to try something a little different. I hand drew guests’ names on champagne glasses with a copper metallic marker and then went over it with a little paint and a thin paintbrush. These will make guests feel super welcome, plus they can take them home as favors!!

Lighten up the table

Mix tall candles and shorter tea lights in cups or votives. A package of tea lights goes a long way and you’ll always be able to reuse votives. I’ve been using the same milk glass ones for 5 years! You can also weave a strand of small twinkle lights around the table for a little extra sparkle!

They're available everywhere- the craft store, Urban, Home Goods. I picked them up from Anthro HERE!

Add natural touches

Don’t be afraid to use succulents and natural elements on your table so it’s not too monotone. I spotted artichokes in the grocery store and they looked gorgeous! Plus, we ate them the next day :)

The centerpiece quartz board was a gift from my mom, but I've seen a similar one on Anthro! It's so gorgeous for any occasion. You could also make your own by picking up a scrap piece of quartz and paint the edges :)

End dinner on a sweet note

For favors, you can buy cute burlap baggies at Target or a gift store and fill them with goodies. I always do a jar of dark chocolate espresso beans (I did this for our wedding, too). You can add a small pack of gum or little tokens like a seashell. This way, guests get to bring a little bit of the party home with them!!

Share pics of your table scape with the hashtag #TIUthanksgiving!

xxxo Kat

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Be sure to check out my Healthy Hosting tips HERE too!

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