The Dinner Party Guide: Thanksgiving Edit
This isn’t your typical Thanksgiving blog. If you’re looking for recipes and checklists, Martha’s got you covered— she’s the queen. Need a little help with prep? Our Thanksgiving Apéro is perfect for welcoming guests as they arrive or as a beautiful addition to the turkey on your table.
But if you’re here for tablescape inspiration, you’re in the right place. Britt and I are sharing our dream Thanksgiving tables. Lets goooo
THE MOOD
Britt: The mood of my table is a color pop friendsgiving. Bright and bubbly, maximalist decor, inspiration from 1950s/1960s quirky food advertisements, traditional Thanksgiving food set on an untraditional table. Party party party. Let’s get weird. No need to have a turkey for dinner— my partner’s family is having a Greek dinner with lamb, pastitsio, dolmades and avgolemono, etc.
Sarah: Like Britt, I’m also leaning into setting an untraditional table! This year I like the idea of red wine as the theme— probably because after my Summer of Rosé, I am ready for red! The boldness of this theme is a step outside my comfort zone— I usually prefer things simple, elegant, and minimal. But, to me, a red wine tablescape is doing the same a red lip— it’s dramatic, it’s chic, it’s bold.
THE TABLESCAPE
Tablecloth—
B: I like a runner or patterned tablecloth. We have a beautiful Danish teak dinner table (we’re slowly replacing all of our Ikea furniture), and I’m always debating whether to use a tablecloth to protect the wood or keep it bare and show it off :)
S: I love a simple white linen tablecloth— nothing fancy, just something inexpensive and natural. Spills? Cute. Wine glass rings? Even better. The table is there to be used, so relax and have fun.
Placemats—
We’re both fine skipping placemats, but if we have to use them, there’s one rule: no circles— rectangular only.
B: I like a pop of color.
S: I like something embroidered.
Napkins + Placement—
B: A folded linen set underneath the forks.
S: Linen, obviously. No napkin rings— just a simple fold on the plate under the menu.
Plates–
B: I like a large plate on Thanksgiving to hold all the food. My preference is usually white or white with a little pattern/pop of color. I do love a side plate for salad and bread, but that also adds more dishes to an already overworked dishwasher.
S: I prefer a big plate paired with a small side plate. Normally, I stick to simple white plates, but for this red wine theme, I’m leaning into Asian porcelain. The intricate designs and vibrant colors add to the table’s drama. They’re easy to find in vintage shops or on Etsy and eBay, which makes collecting mismatched pieces even more fun. Plus, I love when guests debate who got the best plate and maybe even trade :)
Silverware—
B: My Grandma Pat’s silver silverware. Hopefully I remember to polish it.
S: Antique silver is classic, otherwise a simple silver set is always timeless (just make sure it has some weight to it). I like setting a big fork, a little fork, one spoon, a steak knife, and a butter knife.
Glassware—
B: My partner’s mom gave me all her wedding china, including Waterford crystal wine glasses that I use whenever I open a bottle. Also be sure to set out water glasses — a short stubby water glass + a water pitcher on the table. This is my fave right now.
S: I have one rule for wine glasses: no colored glass. I love the look of one Burgundy wine glass (Reidels) per setting, but pairing a white glass with a red always looks best— and then you can have two wines at once :). For water, a small, cute textured glass that doesn’t take up too much space.
Place Cards + Menus—
B: No place cards or menus for me because the table is relaxed and it would feel too formal. Also everyone wants to sit in the middle — or by whoever they want to catch up with — so people can fight for their spot.
S: Place cards are cute, but only if they’re handwritten. Same goes for menus. For mine, I’ll have Chase (my partner who is a tattooer & incredible artist) draw a little turkey on each menu— and he’ll roll his eyes because I have most certainly forgotten to ask him until the last minute. Oops! But that personal touch turns a simple menu into keepsake.
Candles, Flowers, Centerpieces—
B: Bright candlesticks and candle holders or bud vases with little clippings of flowers — but nothing too tall. For family style dining, it’s important to have enough room on the table so everyone can set dishes down instead of holding them while waiting for someone to clear a spot.
S: The vibe of this red wine table needs an abundance of candles. Beeswax or red tapers in brass candlesticks with burgundy ribbon bows at the base. The candles are the centerpiece, with the florals woven in for texture. Anthuriums paired with hanging amaranthus are a total mood.
Platters & Vessels—
B: Pedestals, gravy boats, platters, casserole dishes, butter on both sides of the table, and trivets for hot food. Carve the turkey in the kitchen (there’s no need to parade it to the table unless it’s a smaller bird), arrange it on a platter, and bring it to the table. Don’t forget your serving utensils.
S: A linen-lined bread bowl or basket is a must. Use pedestals to bring height to your table. Simply thrift your platters—I ’m partial to brass and silver. For serving utensils, I stick with wood. And I agree with Chef Britt about turkey etiquette.
THE FLOW OF THE EVENING
Welcome Cocktail–
Prepare a batch cocktail that guests can serve themselves as they arrive. Bottle it, use a punch bowl, or go with one a beverage dispenser for easy pouring.
B: Bloody Mary’s. My partner’s family does this and it helps me not over-snack as the cocktail is the snack.
S: I do the cooking, so my partner Chase is in charge of coming up with a fun, festive batch cocktail. Without fail, he whips up some rosemary-cranberry-gin concoction that’s both cute and perfect for sipping the stress away.
Dinner: Family-style or buffet?
Family-style: We both prefer a family-style flow for Thanksgiving. Here, the food is the decor, and the act of passing and sharing creates a sense of connection. To keep the table from feeling too crowded, we start with a relatively sparse tablescape and use each place setting to introduce style and decor.
Buffet-style: The food isn’t on the dining table, which means you can have an elaborate centerpiece! Go nuts! But keep the cranberry sauce, butter, salt, pepper, and gravy boat — and of course the wine — on the table so guests don’t need to get up. Tip: Keep the centerpiece low enough where guests can see each other when sitting across from each other.
Dessert—
B: Wait an hour (or two), pull out amari, and serve pie with cordials.
S: Wait until someone breaks and says they want dessert— then it’s time! And, yeah! Drink amari! Duh!
our extra tips
Wine—
B: Put your wine bottles directly on the table so guests can help themselves and nobody needs to get up.
S: I like setting up a small side table with a big wine bucket for all the open bottles, plus water pitchers and sparkling water. Of course, the wine bottles always end up back on the table anyway.
For the Host—
Pull out all of your serviceware early: platters, serving spoons, wine key, matches, extra candles. If it helps, label your serving platters with post-its to plan what goes where. Go to a restaurant supply store if you need anything for the kitchen or table. It’s cheap and it’s relatively good quality. (Roasting pans, pots, pans, etc.)
B: It’s okay to ask your guests to bring a side dish— just be specific which dish. Thanksgiving is all about sharing and the work-load shouldn’t fall on just one person.
S: I cannot overstate the importance of making lists. And it’s never too early to have a glass of wine (that’s just life advice!). And, if you need help, delegate!
For the Guest—
B: Text the host an hour before you should arrive to see if they need anything: ice, serving utensils, matches, or for you to be late :) If you plan on drinking, bring something to share.
S: Bring a bottle of wine, bring flowers (but they have to be in a vase), don’t ask the host questions. Make a point to take a group photo during or after dinner and make sure the host is in it.
What to wear—
B: Know your clothes! Dress well but note comfort and stretch in your fabrics.
S: Dress up— it shows the host you appreciate their efforts and that their home is a destination you were excited to visit.
xo,
Britt & Sarah
