Friendsgiving is all about being with your close friends while eating a delicious spread and sharing stories. And who doesn’t love a party with pumpkin desserts, sparkling cocktails, and plaid blankets to cozy up with all your besties?!

This thanksgiving styled evening was inspired by what makes the fall season so warm and inviting – plaid and pumpkins. I decided to design a rustic family style table with festive decor and delicious comfort food. We began our spread with laying down crisp fall colored leaves as a runner on the rustic wooden table. Next we added in candles, pumpkins, squash and corn, and finished with a fresh full sunflower arrangement centered on the table. Each guest was greeted at their seat with a small wooden placecard holder and their name written in beautiful calligraphy with golden details by SL Calligraphy. We chose simple white enamel plates from Anthropologie and paired them with copper chargers and harvest yellow colored napkins. To finish the look we tied in different shades of orange throughout the table, dessert table and lounge setting.

We played up the plaids and warm golden tones to really give our gathering that inviting feel and of course to make people hungry! The food consisted of a butternut squash soup, braised short ribs with carrots and mashed potatoes. For dessert, we served walnut chocolate chip cookies and a seriously delicious pumpkin spice cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

We closed the evening curled up with blankets by the fire and hot maple bourbon apple cider topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with nutmeg. Yum! It was a beautiful evening to celebrate beautiful friendships!

A Rustic Friendsgiving

Credits

Place Cards: SL Calligraphy

Furniture Rentals: Pleasanton Rentals

Photography: Kelly Nordine