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Gather 'Round the Table: 3 Stylish Tips for Thanksgiving

The air is crisp, the leaves are turning, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. There’s nothing better than gathering friends and family for a day of food, fun, and fellowship. But if it’s your turn to host this year, a little preparation goes a long way in making the day feel special — and stress-free.

 


A seasonal centerpiece that proves pumpkins aren't just for pie — they're for petals too! Florals by Barri Thompson Interiors
 

Start by planning your menu and prepping anything you can ahead of time. Iron your linens. Rinse your serving dishes, crystal, and silver. Consider making the turkey the day before. Don't be afraid to delegate or ask for help. And always be sure to stock the bar! Whether your guests are sipping and celebrating or drowning in their sorrows over Thanksgiving Day football, a good cocktail always helps! Serve guests a festive cocktail like the Turkey Feather as they arrive to keep spirits bright!

 

A cocktail so good, your turkey might just ask for a sip.

 

Tips to Seat All Your Turkeys — Without Ruffling Feathers

Now, let’s talk seating. How do you prepare for the plus one — or two or three extra guests — that may show up with some of your nearest and dearest? Do you have seating for everyone? If not, don’t fret. Everything will fall into place — it always does! These three tips will keep you from going crazy while making sure every guest has a seat at your Thanksgiving table.

1. Get Creative with Seating

No need to limit yourself to traditional dining chairs. Take a look around your home and think outside the (buffet) box!

  • Benches are your best friend. They will seat more bodies than chairs, so pull that carved Provençal bench in your mudroom up to the table. It will seat all your cousins from Maine. Even better is a pair of benches. They’ll seat the same (or more) as eight chairs.
  • Os de mouton chairs? Perfect for the king of the house and guest of honor.
  • Giltwood stools, leather ottomans, and hall chairs will make a wonderful perch for the newlyweds next door.

Don’t be afraid to mix styles. It adds character. Pull in a Country French ladder back chair or two, and voila... everyone has a place at the table! 

 

2. Break Things Up

If every little prince and princess simply doesn’t fit at the dining table, use multiple tables and create separate moments around your space. Kids tables aren't just for coloring!

  • Set up a Kiddie Corner for all the wee ones to gather and celebrate. Give them their own table, puzzles, and place cards.
  • Let older kids or teens gather at the kitchen counter — stools welcome. 
  • Consider smaller satellite tables for side conversations and second helpings. Set out a deck of cards, puzzles, and some board games to occupy them long after the last dish is washed and put away.

3. Buffet Style = More Room + More Fun

When seats are scarce, ditch the formal plating and serve buffet style instead. Not only does it free up elbow room, but it turns your Louis XVI buffet into the star of the show.

 

Encourage guests to pile their plates high with all the Southern staples — turkey and dressing, rice and giblet gravy, deviled eggs, mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, squash casserole, asparagus casserole (we love casseroles in the South), Sister Schubert rolls — guilt-free and with gusto.

Because the table can only hold so much...
 

Full of Food, Full of Thanks

Things may be a little more crowded some years than others, and how you choose to seat your guests or serve up your meal may vary, but one thing is for certain — Thanksgiving is a day for giving thanks! And once the blessing is said, everyone is just thankful to be able to gather ’round the table, share some laughs, make some memories, and eat some delicious food. Hats off to you for hosting this year!

 

À Bientôt!

Thanks for contacting us. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Mimi Montgomery

When this self-described Francophile is not reading or writing about all things French, she's dreaming up charming new ways to showcase Lolo French Antiques et More or traveling to France with Lolo to buy delightful treasures for their store. Mimi, Lolo, and their French Bulldog, Duke, live in Birmingham, AL.

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