There are only about a handful of occasions where my guest list exceeds my table's seating capacity and this Thanksgiving dinner party is one of those occasions. So the question became, where to seat my overflow of attendees?
I spent a lot of time researching various table options (fold outs, party tables, rentals, etc..) and in the end realized that the most practical option would be to convert my coffee table into a separate dining space for three. This seating arrangement would not only keep the living room/dining room walkways cleared and seat my remaining guests perfectly, but also save me the added expense of ordering/renting an additional dining table. Such a beyond perfect solution!
A lot of thought went into designing this table and figuring out who would sit here. I wanted to create a table look that was harmonious with the bigger table and felt just as thoughtfully put together. In addition, I needed to decide on 3 individuals who would be best suited for this table. After much deliberation, I realized that this table would be the perfect dining setting for my husband, brother and brother-in-law. Why? Aside from the fact that they are probably the three most easy-going members of my family, this table is situated in front of the living room television (aka prime seating for thanksgiving football watching!). Yes, I know that sounds a little tacky to have the television going during dinner, but it will be on mute and most importantly, I want all of my guests to be comfortable and happy.
Mini Tablescape Details:
- Tablecloth- Brown Kraft Paper (Wrapping Paper Roll)
- Placemats- Chilewich Dahlia Pressed Vinyl Round Placemats, Gold
- Chargers- World Market Rattan Chargers
- Centerpiece- Nate Berkus Gold Geometric Votive Holder Centerpiece
- Place Card Holders- Williams Sonoma's Dome Place Card Holders, Bronze
- Place Cards- Small Fall Paper Leaves (Available in Stores)
- Salt and Pepper Cellars- See here and here
- See this post for all remaining tableware details not mentioned above.
Since this table still needs to remain functional up until right before dinner is served on Thanksgiving, I am not going to be able to leave this table set and ready to go (bummer). The bright side is that I have taken the time to do a complete dry run, make sure I have all necessary table accessories and document how the table should be set up the night of the dinner.
I am thrilled with the way this mini tablescape has come together. With all of the Fall accents, it looks thoughtful and cohesive. Of course the added entertainment (watching football during dinner) is really what has me feeling most confident that these three guys will love their seating assignments.
Now it's time to get cooking! Stay tuned for Friday's post, where I will be discussing my phase of Turkey Day prep. Lots of great tips to help you get prepped and ready for serving up a delicious feast on Thanskgiving Day!
