Thanksgiving Tablescape with NFocus Magazine 2020

Holiday Tables
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Thank you to Pomegranate Inc. and Well-Kept for sponsoring this post.

Wow y'all...when I started planning my Thanksgiving table in August, I never imagined it would end up on the cover of NFocus! Thank you so much for all of your kind messages; it’s because of the Mrs. Southern Social community that I have some of these wonderful opportunities. This fun cover shoot is part of their “At the Table with NFocus” feature, which is all about holiday entertaining. There’s a lot of great advice from event, floral, and food experts, and you can read my Q&A here. NFocus is kindly offering 20% off their annual subscription with the code “MrsSouthernSocial” (code is good through the end of November); you can place your order at ShopNFocus.com. I grew up reading this magazine religiously so it’s all very surreal!

Now, let’s dive into this fabulous table! I started the design process by selecting linens from Pomegranate Inc., a wonderful resource for all things tabletop. I’m working with them this season and love that they offer a wide range of products, from tablecloths to napkin rings and serving pieces. The one-stop shopping is great, and their linens are perfect for mixing and matching. This block print tablecloth and coordinating napkins are from the “Sagar Blue & Marigold” collection. The navy and marigold is a departure from the traditional Thanksgiving palette and keeps things interesting – don’t be afraid to break the rules a little! Block prints are definitely having a moment and the beauty is that you can dress them up or down. Since this is an outdoor affair I went with a more rustic vibe, but these linens would be equally beautiful in a formal dining room with different place settings.  

I staged this on my porch because I think a lot of families will opt for outside gatherings this year, weather permitting. The place settings are fairly organic and a nod to the outdoors. Dark wicker chargers, earthy ceramic plates, and wooden cutlery and candlesticks bring natural color and texture to the table. Stamped, amber glassware reinforces the marigold. I filled the clear water glasses with apple cider – I love the color and it’s always fun to do a seasonal cocktail. Spike with rum for the adults and serve it plain for kids and non-drinkers. No need to offer a million choices – keep it easy!

I'm especially proud of my 2020-themed place cards. I’m working with Well-Kept this season and absolutely love their wipes, which remove germs from phones, glasses, and electronic screens. The packaging is fab, and in a year when we’re extra germ-conscious, these chic little packs are begging for a spot on the table. My friend and very talented calligrapher, Kate Fabling wrote all the names for me, and I adhered pieces of cardstock with the names and voila! The perfect 2020 party favor.

Aren’t the florals amazing? Christin Porter of Mint Tulip hit it out of the park, and I love that the yellows and peaches complement the table without being too “matchy matchy.” The sorghum adds an organic vibe and accents all of the wood and wicker. Note that the arrangements are low enough for people to see each other and chat easily. That said, height is always an important element (it adds more depth) so I incorporated slim pillar candles in that amber/marigold hue to tie everything together. Lastly, I must mention my pumpkin display in the fireplace. Since my porch is very neutral, I wanted an extra punch of happy color and decided to do an arrangement of pumpkins and gourds. This is something your kids can help with and why not give those porch pumpkins a final moment in the sun before we pivot to Christmas?

I truly can’t believe it’s already November 1. My goal for 2020 holiday content is to provide inspiration for festive and joyful celebrations while also accommodating the realities of the pandemic. I think the table setups play a unique role because they’re an opportunity to bring a lot of festive spirit into your home AND make some strategic choices that keep everyone safe. I absolutely love how this Thanksgiving table turned out and hope that it gives you some fun ideas for making the holiday season extra special.

All images courtesy of Daniel Meigs for NFocus.

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