Every year I host the entire extended family for Thanksgiving. But, the next day, Black Friday, is Friendsgiving! That’s the day when Brittany hosts 25 or so of our closest friends. It’s a lot more relaxed than the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Instead, since a lot of her friends don’t cook or have special diets, the meal is all over the place. There’s everything from Vegan and Gluten Free to a leftover pecan pie one of her friends rescues from their family Thanksgiving dinner. Because it is mostly young families, small children abound. No one has time or energy for complicated tablescapes, but a special tablescape adds to the atmosphere and makes guests feel special. This Easy Elegant Friendsgiving Tablescape can be assembled in around 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how many people you are having for dinner.
This is a partnered post with Oriental Trading. All opinions are my own.
Easy Elegant Friendsgiving Tablescape
This year the Friendsgiving theme is casual elegance. Instead of planning with my china and flatware as I usually do, I went with disposable. Instead of using plain white plates, I added an upscale touch with Birch Paper Dinner Plates, Gold Plastic Cutlery and white napkins with gold foil. I started with a white linen tablecloth (found at the thrift store) and topped it with a Gold Organza Table Overlay. Once the basics were in place the fun could begin.
The Centerpiece
This started with a natural pine wood box. I needed some height to make the filler stand out so I added an old dish towel to the bottom of the box. I covered the cloth with large fall craft leaves. I added a holiday Floral pick to each end and placed a plastic pumpkin in the middle. Easy peasy! I placed the pine box in the middle of the table. On each side of the pine box, I added three gold doilies. I topped each doily with a gold-flecked mercury votive holder. I plan to add gold battery operated tea lights. There’s no chance of fire if kids or cats knock them over!
The Tablescape
For each place setting, I added a birch paper plate, a white napkin with gold foil and the gold cutlery in Sweet Fall Silverware Holders. For coasters, I used small natural wood circles and topped them with wine glasses. An extra touch would be placeholders. I think mini pumpkins with a name written on them or perhaps a Fall decorating leaf with a name written on it would be an adorable final touch. Tip: Before you begin, have all your supplies in one area. That makes prepping the table a snap! I ordered almost all of my supplies (minus the pumpkins and white linen tablecloth I found at a thrift store and the floral picks I picked up on clearance at an after Christmas sale last year) at Oriental Trading.
The Kids Table
Remember the Kid’s Table and how it always looked like it was thrown together as an afterthought? Probably because it was. All the energy was used preparing the meal and the adult table. I wanted the kids to have their own cute tablescape, but I wanted it to be unbreakable. I started with a plastic Thanksgiving tablecloth that’s easy to clean up if anyone spills something. And you know they will. I used the same centerpiece idea from the adult table but substituted two small pumpkins instead of the one large pumpkin in the center. I used Thanksgiving dessert plates (smaller plates for smaller appetites) that I placed on gold doilies. I used the same flatware, napkins, and coasters but used plastic cups instead of wine glasses. They have their own cute table that provides me with easy cleanup.
Creating Tablescapes doesn’t have to take a lot of time and really does add to the ambiance of the day. And won’t the kids feel special when they see you have made them their own tablescape too? If it’s like our family Christmas dinner at my in-law’s the people who sit at the kid’s table range in age from 25 to 13. Except for the baby. At our last holiday celebration, I noticed she had been given a place setting beside me at the adult table. Do you plan a Friendsgiving celebration for your friends? What are your best tips to make the day a success? If you would like more Friendsgiving ideas, check out this lovely Friendsgiving Dinner ideas post by Missy and Kristen of Sweetly Chic Events and Design.
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Loving the tablescape. I was just mentionng to my friend about his annual Friendsgiving!
That does look quite nice for being plastic utensils. Great way to make an easy dish choice look elegant.
What a beautifully decorated table. I loved the decor you choose. It looks so elegant and festive.
We were just talking about our lack of plates yesterday and what our plan was for the holidays. There’s some really nice disposable dishes available now, yours look great!
That’s just gorgeous and looks so festive. I need to up my game with decorating my table for Thanksgiving.
That is really pretty! I love the gold accents.
I LOVE your tablescape!! You can’t go wrong with gold and pumpkins!!
Setting the table doesn’t have to be complicated. Thanks for these smart tips on making a beautiful table!
Love those center piece that you made. I have yet to try making one like this, thanks.
A pretty table will always set the mood for the meal. And sometimes, the simpler, the better.
I am just loving how cute, simple but yet elegant this tablescape is, I wouldnt mind putting something like this together
Such a cute idea. I love that it’s simple but still adds a nice touch.
Oh I just love this. I totally need help styling my table!
What a gorgeous set up. Fall is such a fun time to decorate and what’s more perfect than a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner!
That sounds like such a fun get together. I love that you guys don’t have a real plan for the meal. Just winging it!
You guys have a super cute setup! I wish I was creative enough to make my table look like that.
Yay! I love Friendsgiving. We do it over the weekend after turkey day! You chose some beautiful items for your table. OT has everything
Both tables look great! I have never done Friendsgiving before, but it sounds like a lot of fun. I mean, on one hand you have a forced family gathering with people you can barely tolerate, then on the other you can have a second day with your chosen family. Sounds like a win to me!
I am always looking for new tablescape ideas. I love the look of the Friendsgiving theme. I will have to look for some new decorations so I can try to recreate it.
Love that you shared your tips! I could use these design ideas for Thanksgiving. I’ve never tried preparing for Friendsgiving before. I’d love to do that in the future.
We don’t celebrate Friendsgiving but it’s awesome that you shared these tablescape ideas! I love the adult table and I think the children’s table is adorable!
I don’t really do Friendsgiving or I haven’t done it ever. I think it would be a nice thing to do with friends though! I love the idea.
This is really pretty. I’m just not one to take the extra steps to make up a table look so nice and inviting. So I always appreciate going to homes where they do.
This is an adorable friendsgiving tablescape idea. I am in love with fall decor and colors so this would be the perfect set up for gathering with friends.
Cute. The colors are perfect for Harvest season and love that you didn’t forget to decorate the children’s table. Oriental Trading has so many wonderful items for every season.
That is such a beautiful table setup. I can’t wait for Thanksgiving.
What a lovely tablescape I love the gold and the Orange together and it is good to see pumpkins still in use.
Those are really nice pumpkin themed tablescape. It looks easy to do and can make a great decor.
I LOVE this table! It’s the perfect combination of classy and convenient. The plates and tableware are awesome!
This tablescape is so pretty. I need to go out this weekend and find a new centerpiece for our table.
Seen more and more people setting table scares with paper everything. Looks pretty and clean up is simple. Still love the look of real plates.
This is such a gorgeous table! I really should do mine up even though we have Thanksgiving at my parents’ house.