Crisp air, cozy fireplaces, family traditions and gathering together with close friends and family are just a few of the reasons why I love fall so much. Before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season officially kicks off, I thought it would be fun to throw a Friendsgiving Dinner Party for a few of my closest girlfriends.
With an unexpected color pallet of bordeaux and blush tones, contrasting with natural stone and wood elements, the party had a rustic, feminine vibe to it. The tablescape was set-up in front of an outdoor fireplace that provided the perfect amount of warmth on a cool fall evening. I wanted guests to be able to mingle and walk around at their leisure, so I also set-up an additional seating area by the fireplace complete with custom pillows and warm, fuzzy blankets.
Party Table Glam
The dining table was set with vintage china and glass goblets paired with hand dyed napkins, custom menus and gold flatware. A hand lettered apple served as the placecard for each guest and a rose gold velvet table runner added the perfect pop of color and texture to the table.
I focused most of the party decor on fresh floral elements, which quite literally transformed the outdoor space and set the tone for the party. A lush greenery garland packed with deep red and café au latte dahlias spanned the length of the table. I draped the fireplace in amaranthus and set smaller floral arrangements around the different vignettes at the party. To accentuate the fireplace even more, I hung a custom gather sign that was made with a spray painted hula hoop and DIY Balloon Garland Kit.
Menu
I wanted the evening to be less formal and no-fuss, so there was no actual sit-down dinner. Instead, I created a heavy fall-inspired appetizer menu and asked each guest to bring a pot-luck dish to share at the party. The appetizers included cranberry brie bites, polenta crostini with butternut squash and prosciutto wrapped apples with blue cheese. I selected three wines to serve at the party, including a chardonnay, a pinot noir and a sparkling rose, each of which paired with the appetizers being served. I also created a honeycrisp apple sangria and served a non-alcoholic apple cider as well.
What is a party without desserts? Guests could choose from an assortment of sweet treats. These included a pumpkin spice cake adorned with fresh flowers, gourmet donuts, fresh baked pies and a homemade turtle cheesecake.
Guest Favors
As a parting gift for each guest, I created a small DIY wreath. I used fresh greenery that doubled as decor on the backs of the chairs during the party. My friends also surprised me with a thoughtful hostess gift. It would be perfect for anyone attending an upcoming thanksgiving or holiday event. The gift included a pair of fall coffee mugs, and a hand lettered fall sign. It also included a potted plant, gourmet chocolates, a bottle of wine. Oh, and a gift card to an online fine wine boutique.
The party was such a fun evening spent sharing delicious food, sweet treats and laughter with a great group of ladies. I can’t wait to make this all-girls Friendsgiving an annual tradition each year!
Vendor Credits: Photographer: Brittany Gidley Photography | Event Concept, Styling, DIY Balloon Garland Kit: One Stylish Party | Invitation, Menu, Napkins, Custom Pillows: Tiny Prints | Florals: Life in Bloom | Curated Wines: Vinley Market | Cake: Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes | Rentals: Borrow Rentals | Velvet Table Runner: Candy Crush Shop | Hostess Gift, Hand Lettering: Give Gifted | Menu & Food Styling: Casey Nickels | Donuts: Peace Love and Little Donuts | Pies: Gray House Pies.
**This post was created in partnership with Tiny Prints, however all opinions expressed are my own and I only work with brands that I personally love and support.
