With long nights, there’s no better time to embrace the season of gathering. Whether you love Friendsgiving, a traditional Thanksgiving with the family, or are about starting your own traditions (around here we’re doing neighbor dinners), you’ll love this fall gathering.
Inspired by days in orchards and midwest falls, this table was set with the idea of abundance. Playing with a palette of rust, wheat, and merlot, there was a casual elegance and beauty to this table. Anchored by a classic and timeless runner of fresh seeded eucalyptus, the table held lanterns of wood and brass, providing lovely candlelight throughout the dinner.
The arrangement.
With a bit of foraging, some flowers from Trader Joes, this arrangement is the perfect nod to fall without being overly perfect. By doing some foraging on my apartment grounds, I was able to add wheat, beautiful orange maple leaves, and all the eucalyptus my heart desired. Filling in with red roses, amaryllis, and yellow button mums, it rounded out the palette. To carry the colors throughout the table, I added another smaller arrangement in a patina creamery cup.
Here are a few tips I’ve learned from arranging that will help as you build your own:
Think through the line you want to achieve.
With this arrangement, I wanted a fluid S-shape, starting in the bottom left and finishing at the top right with height. To achieve this I used tall button mums, and dried wheat for height. For the lower portion, I used flexible greenery like silver eucalyptus and maple leaves kept with longer stems that could curve down over the height of the vase.
Foraging goes a long, long way.
I’m a big fan of elevating supermarket bouquets with foraged greenery. (I’ve done it for large events here.) It can fill out bigger blooms you’re paying for with other elements of greenery, adding a great organic and more free flowing look to what might otherwise seem average. (P.S. Before foraging always make sure to ask and be mindful of what species you’re pulling, particularly as items will be near food.)
Add elements layer by layer.
With every bouquet or arrangement, to build height, think in layers. Start by adding greenery and low lying sprigs at the bottom. Then I add larger blooms to fill in space. To complete things off I add in smaller blooms to complete it and make sure there’s a clear use of direction.
The rest of the table.
To fill in the center of the table, worty guards, white mini pumpkins, and seeded eucalyptus rounded out a live runner. For plates, I used a favorite (found in our Fall Home edit collection) stoneware plate in an off white, paired with golden flatware, a chambray denim napkin, and classic stemware from Crate and Barrel.
The Menu
Starters
Roasted Kale and Mushroom Crostini
Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Gruyere Cheese Dipping Sauce
Main
Spanish Paella
Dessert
Apple Tarts with Thyme Brown Butter
Tell me, have you already decorated the house for Christmas? Hosting many for a Friendsgiving? Or do you head to someone else’s house for the big day?
We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below.