We have yet to host a large Thanksgiving dinner. With family and friends all in various states, and everyone’s crazy work schedules, we decided to stay in Arizona for Thanksgiving. This year though, my sister was with us which was super special and also Rob’s birthday just so happened to fall on Thanksgiving this year too — so a double celebration was in order!

We started the morning off watching the parade (a favorite tradition of ours!), Rob opened some birthday presents, and then we started getting all the food ready. Whether you’re setting a table for 30 guests or just four, a festive table is always a fun way to celebrate and gather with loved ones. It really sets the tone for the day. I always remember my mom setting the table the night before a holiday…extending the table with the leaf my dad would get out of the garage, getting out all the special glassware and formal dinnerware, folding the napkins just right and sliding them through napkin rings. It was a way for her to save time before the crazy amount of cooking that was about to go on in the kitchen the following day, but it was always my favorite part…the anticipation and prep of the holiday and the big celebration with everyone…and I did the same thing this year.

Pasta Bowls | Dinnerware | Silverware

I hope we look back on these photos 20..30 years from now and crack up sharing them with nieces and nephews…The madness that went on in the kitchen yesterday. Ha!

Goblets | Serving Plate | Table Runner

Setting a table has always been meaningful to me. I’m a big believer in gathering around the table not only on holidays but for weekly meals as well, even if it’s take out. It’s the time where our phones are away, TVs/computers are off, and you can hear about everyone’s day, what’s been on everyone’s mind, etc. I feel like that is growing increasingly more important as technology advances, and somehow every part of our homes and accessories are “plugged in” to social media, the internet, entertainment, emails, texts, etc. Anyway, rant over. 😉 I love pumpkins and gourds just as much as the next person during this time of year (you could check out a fall tabslescape we did here recently), but for Thanksgiving this time around I wanted to do something different.

I was inspired by a cozy fall barn wedding…it may sound kind of crazy, especially if you’re planning a small Thanksgiving you’re probably thinking — what?! wedding inspiration?!, but I love the sweetness and delicateness of it all, mixed with a variety of textures. To start, we went with classic white dinnerware. Neutral dinnerware that is great for everyday and can still be dressed up for holidays or special occasions gets an A+ in my book. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: versatility is key and I think gone are the days of reaching in the cupboard, china cabinet, side board, buffet (oh my gosh…there are so many names for a china cabinet — we fell down the rabbit hole talking about this last night) for those plates with the gold trim or Christmas trees on them. 😉 The Artesano collection by Villeroy & Boch is modern and elegant which makes setting the table easy. We spiced things up a bit with the Boston Colored glasses, which made things feel extra fancy and whimsical.

More pretty glassware below:

This picture makes me smile so much. What a couple of hams! 😉 We were feeling super happy with our bellies full and coming up with the funniest dance moves at the table. We were too full to even stand up and dance. Ha!

Here’s another peek at the table before we dug in. Atop each plate we added a linen napkin and tied it with simple brown string for a little harvest feel.  I love how it tied in (no pun intended) with the table runner and is a super easy alternative to napkin rings.

Dinnerware:

We kept the centerpiece simple and affordable, because let’s be real…once all the food is on the table, the floral arrangement gets moved, at least in our house it does and did. During our last Trader Joe’s run, we scooped up several bunches of flowers in purple and pink hues with some soft whites. With a bit of greenery we added a few stems to a classic glass vase. The burlap table runner was a great anchor for the rustic tablescape vibe and kept things cozy feeling.

Feeling really thankful we got to spend Thanksgiving with my sister this year and celebrate Rob’s birthday together! It also was our one year anniversary since moving into this house. It was a smooth, easy day playing Parcheesi, eating way too much food, and finishing the evening off with a movie. Can’t help but think about what next year’s celebration will be like. Maybe we’ll get more east coasters out this way. 😉

What did you guys do for Thanksgiving? We’d love to hear what you all were up to, also what you call your (or your family’s) china cabinet, and thoughts on eating dinner around a table together. Please share them with us in the comments below!

PS: If you’re loving this table set up, we put together a “Get the Look” for your next celebration. Check it out!

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*This post was made in partnership with ShopStyle and Villeroy & Boch. As always, all thoughts and opinions are our own. 

 

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