Gobble Up These Fun and Festive Friendsgiving Table Ideas!
by Stefanie Michaels
Friendsgiving is one of my all time favorite holidays. Halloween runs a close second to Thanksgiving. Each celebration makes for such a festive time, while these annual markers makes us think what it is we are all thankful for.
Entertaining for friends during this season, means coming up each year with Friendsgiving table ideas for me.
I come from a large Italian family. My grandmother on my Mom’s side was one of 11 children. So, imagine the holidays growing up with all those great aunts and uncles, their spouses, children, their spouses, plus their children. It wasn’t unheard of to have at least 60 people converging around the food table for a holiday dinner, sometimes brunch.
My family instilled in me that family friends are just as important as family and should always be included when holidays come around. So, add in our family friends to any occasion, and the vibe was more party and celebration than just a sit-down meal.
I now carry on this tradition for Friendsgiving, inviting friends who can’t get home to spend it with their relatives or prefer to celebrate with my husband and me.
Let me note that I can’t cook. No one who knows me and my non-cooking prowess want me to cook. So, one of two things happens for the meal. Either we order it from Whole Foods or, for the past few years, one of our friends makes the dinner. One more thing to be thankful for!
Each year, I try and come up with table ideas so I can theme the table–also considering how many people I’m hosting and how much clean-up on the backend I will have.
This year’s Friendsgiving table ideas came from a theme that grew out of a faux pumpkin with decorative feathers on top around the stem.
I had run to Marshall’s to see what I could find to inspire me. It’s one of my favorite places for unique finds and inspiration from their homewares area. All it took was a few minutes in their decorative seasonal area and bingo, my holiday decor of pumpkins with accent feathers was born.
I also found synthetic fur table runners and only two placemats that matched. That’s ok. I knew I could add them at the table ends. Perfect for adding a touch of texture.
The other items I found that fit my glam-farmhouse style were a variety of textured pumpkins, lanterns, wood beads with tassels, tree trim, wheat stems, and gold-colored wine glasses. I added my vintage turkey salt and pepper shakers, leaf plate, and water pitchers.
Each holiday, I make sure guests leave with a bit of memory, last year I gave apple butters from Smuckers.
This year, I handmade small, decorative pumpkins. I used leftover material, saved from another project. The top feathers were from a pillow that my dogs had destroyed. I carefully washed and dried them for sanitary purposes, then added them to the tops of each one with fabric glue.
I used some glitter glue pens for an additional design option without using the feather motif for some of them. It’s an easy way to make them mix-n-matched, plus it’s a fun way to get creative.
These were this year’s gifts my guests could take away.
TIP: When coming up with Friendsgiving table ideas, It is ok to mix and match items, such as glassware, flatware and plates. Adding layers to the table’s centerpiece helps to give depth to the design.
Another one of my tips, is that I keep decor on the table runner to lower heights. This way guests across from each other can see one another without having to look around taller center-pieces. If taller items like candle sticks, floral arrangements or vases are placed down the middle of the table, those items get removed for dining time.
Happy Friendsgiving!
