Most of our Thanksgiving travelers arrived a day or two in advance of Thanksgiving. For our pre-turkey festivities, we had a head count of 10 and expected an increase to 16 for the official celebration. Considering Thanksgiving Eve was the 2nd most important meal of the weekend, I wanted to set an inviting table for our guests.
In preparation, I was seeking a casual, relaxed vibe that combined traditional elements with more upbeat colors. Here’s a peek of what I arranged for our Thanksgiving Eve tablescape.
The base is a rectangular jute placemat topped with an acacia wood charger. There’s a turquoise napkin placed over the charger for a pop of color. A Mr. Turkey salad plate is layered atop a nutmeg Spice Route dinner plate. The glassware is a recycled glass stem with a blue-green tint.
The flatware is ValPeltro’s Collezione Hotel, an unusual pattern consisting of a different design for each utensil. ValPeltro pewter is handcrafted in Italy near Lograto, Brescia, and uses traditional methods to craft reproductions of original articles. The flatware is as functional as it is beautiful; it’s substantial in weight, fits well in the hands, and is dishwasher safe.
For a more festive mood, each place setting has it’s own miniature pumpkin. The original plan was to create place cards using these, but time got away. Here’s a view looking down the table.
The centerpiece was assembled and gifted to me by one of my oldest and talented friends, Marie. A special thanks for your generosity and coming to my aid when I needed it most.
We enjoyed a lovely dinner and noshed on baked ham, sweet potato medallions and roasted brussel sprouts. There were three generations sharing a meal together and catching up. After many glasses of wine, port and bourbon, we waited for the last stragglers to arrive. Then off to bed before the neighborhood Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot in the am.
Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Thanksgiving Eve Tablescape Sources
Placemats – Walmart
Napkins – HomeGoods
Acacia Chargers – ebay
Nutmeg Spice Route Dinner Plates – Pier 1
Mr. Turkey Salad Plates – World Market
ValPeltro Pewter Flatware – Horchow