A Holiday Wood and Linen Tabletop
What’s an important tidbit you think everyone should know about entertaining? Mine is that it takes courage to entertain!
Sometimes we have to face our fears about our surroundings, capability, culinary skills, etc. and just make it happen!
I love this quote: “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway”. — John Wayne
Today I’m sharing an easy idea that my friends Heidi and Maria put together for a recent mini retreat. It’s the perfect setting for a Thanksgiving or holiday table, especially if you are hosting a large group and need to use more than one table! (The gals setting the table: Heidi, Maria, Dara, Gina, and Amanda .)
How many times do we stress about the number of people coming to our home, how we’re going to fit them around the table, do we have linens that match, how do we keep everyone together (to keep the conversation going for hours) … the list of questions go on and on.
Then we get stressed. And then it really takes away our joy of entertaining!
Brilliant idea: Push two tables together to make one giant table.
One side, the natural wood, the other side a beautiful white linen tablecloth.
Heidi used flowers from Whole Foods and cut down branches for the beautiful tabletop.
And of course candles make the ambience perfect and cozy for everyone who’s gathered.
My favorite herb: Rosemary.
Tie a twig around the napkin and silverware.
Rosemary is the symbol of friendship!
I’d like to encourage you today (as John Wayne would say, Saddle up, my friends!), to think outside of the box for your Thanksgiving or holiday table this year, and don’t forget to enjoy the process!
Remember, it does not have to be perfect. It can be unique, different, a little less-traditional than normal.
Just make it beautiful. Make it you. Make it something your guests will enjoy.
I like to be reminded of what’s most important around our holiday table.
What kind of conversation will take place? Words of encouragement, courage, and love?
That’s the goal for my entertaining this year. And may it be yours as well.
Have you thought ahead to your holiday table? What do you think about the natural wood/linen table side-by-side?
(Photo cred for top and bottom photos: Heidi.)
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
Oh, what a beautiful table! This is just how I like to do my tables. Candles and nature. Who can improve on that? We are planning on 24 in a couple of weeks. I am hoping that the weather will hold because I can fit 24 people outside. I am planning on bittersweet, pumpkins, pinecones and lots of candles on my wooden tables. I have a random question that I am hoping that you or your readers may be able to help me with. Tablecloths. I am searching for preshrunk cotton or linen tablecloths that will come out of the dryer looking casual. I don’t want to iron to achieve a starched look but don’t want creases either. Just a lovely rumple. Is there such a thing? Anyone have any recommendations?
Barbara, I have found some great tablecloths at Target! Also, I love to use drop cloths, which you can buy 2 in a pack at Home Depot or Lowe’s. This idea may be exactly what you are looking for. :) 24 sounds fabulous!
What a GORGEOUS table! I love the idea of using rosemary…it’s so simple and beautiful!
Lovely, Lovely!
But, I agree about the phones. I don’t think life will ever be the same again, now that we are all so “connected”. Ironic, isn’t it, how they take us away from those right there around us. :(
Thanks for the reply – can you point me to the post you mentioned? I tried a few searches, but didn’t find it on my own. Thanks!
The table setting is beautiful. I love how it can be done relatively inexpensive. Branches, flowers, candles, herbs, most of which you might already have in your yard. But I do agree the one distracting factor is all the cell phones. It would be nice when friends or family are able to gather together, in this busy life we all lead, to disconnect with cyber space and truly connect with each other. Is it possible?
This was a blogging event, Madonna. The post is to give readers ideas of a unique way to set their holiday table bringing nature in! :) Thank you though, and you are so right! :)
It is so beautiful, Sandy! I love the rosemary napkins!
I like it except for the cell phones out at the table :( Have you ever addressed this issue on your site? When I have friends over, I’m dismayed when they pull out their phones…aren’t they there to see me? If they’re checking in w/a babysitter or something, ok, but otherwise, can’t FB, Twitter, whatever wait a few hours? :(
Otherwise, things sure look beautiful – I like the natural tones/look!
Hi, Catherine. The idea for this post is to give ideas for setting the table for the holidays. If you click over, this dinner was a blogging event :) But totally agree with you, and yes! I have done a post on cell phones. This was just a shot from above (actually after the dinner was over!) :) Thanks for your caring comment!
Sandy, this is beautiful, like everything you do. :) Pinning this to my Hospitality Decorating Board!
I love it! Love the flowers, the branches, the candles, the wide table(s).
I’m not sure how many will be coming for Thanksgiving – we may just have to use plates on laps for some. But I’m bringing our small folding table up from the homeschool room to stick on the end of our dining room table to fit as many around it as we can! If nothing else, we’ll just pull the coffee table up to the end of the homeschool table and let the couch be the “head” of the table. I’m going to check out the Home Goods stores around here for tablecloths, runners and place mats to mix and match around our eclectic collection of tables. I’ll do simple centerpieces to tie it all together – I’ll probably copy these!
I absolutely love your ideas on decorating the table. Could you please tell me the name of the company that the chandelier is made by or where you found it? It would be perfect over my table. Thank you!
Sarah, I do not know because it was a rented house. I emailed you. :) It’s beautiful, I agree! :)
It was a rental in Park City, Sarah. So not sure … but I love it, too!
Love the recap Sandy. The only thing I would have done differently, now that I”m looking at the pics, is to add some white placemats to the wooden table portion, to give an anchor to those place settings so they aren’t so lonely. But who cares? The dinner and friends was the main event and like you say, don’t sweat the small stuff.
There are always things that I look at later and think “I could have done this or that,” but you are right, Heidi. No one even notices! :)
The wooden table is much too pretty to cover up.
I’m having seven college students over for dinner next week Saturday. At the moment, I’m toying with the idea of baking mini loaves of pumpkin bread for each of them, wrapping them in pretty colored cling wrap and ribbon, and using them along with some greenery and candles, as my centerpiece.
Hi, Diane. And that is why we didn’t cover it up! I agree with you! :) I love your idea of the mini pumpkin breads. They will love the gift, too!