I feel so blessed to be able to call these 3 ladies my friends! To think, if it weren’t for Social Media, we wouldn’t have met, is eye opening to the positive side of the internet. It’s amazing to step back and look at the year we’ve had here and all of the sweet friends I’ve been able to make a long the way of this crazy blogging journey. I’m so thankful! We started planning this day back in July after hosting our Southern Summer Garden Party, and am so delighted we were all able to make the trip to Tennessee to bring to life this Friendsgiving Dinner and styling tips for you to create your own perfect Friendsgiving.
Ok, so where do we begin! Usually the first three things I think about when hosting or attending a get together, is what will I wear, what do I want to make to eat, and what kind of scene/vibe am I going for?
Setting the Scene: So let’s start with setting the scenery, or your vision. Draw inspiration from an overall vision and color palette you want to go for. For this, we wanted to make a statement through simple elegance mixed with the rustic setting outdoors. Fall is such a great time to spend time soaking up the fresh air outside. One of my absolute favorite Fall colors is burgundy wine red. Whether it’s colored into the scene through a coat, lip color, or the floral centerpiece, this is the perfect Fall color that is easy to intertwine through your cuisine, beverage, fashion, and flowers. Think homemade cranberry relish, Cabernet franc, apple cake, and deep red dahlias. So we started with a vision of the tabletop and color palette for the florals and from there we planned the menu. These simple, yet elegant, based in North Carolina, inspired by Italian lifestyle, handmade white Vietri dishes, serving tray and classic striped olive napkins fit our vision perfectly!
What to Make to Eat: To keep within the color palette and traditional autumn menu items, Lauren made her grandmother’s tried and true apple stack cake! Whenever thinking of what to bring or make for a party, an old family recipe is a classic that will never steer you wrong. Get Lauren’s Recipe here!
How to Dress: Last but not least, what to wear. So I mentioned we started with an overall vision and color palette for the day. I decided to incorporate the color palette into my wardrobe too, pulling the burgundy color into my outfit via the blazer. The biggest struggle I find women have when dressing for a dinner party is what can they wear to feel beautiful, match the event theme or season, and all while still being comfortable. And let’s be honest, the food is always the main event of any Friends-Thanksgiving, so you want to be able to be comfortable after indulging in some delicious homemade food. That’s why I would opt for either a loose dress, or in this case leggings that look like jeans! That’s right, my talbots jeans are actually “jeggings'“ and pretty much the most comfortable pair of “jeans” I own right now. You’d never know they feel just as good as your favorite leggings so I highly recommend these.
Gather: Last but not least, time to enjoy! Hosting and styling parties and get togethers like this Friendsgiving Dinner, can be so much fun, but also exhausting to put together. My biggest advice is to be sure to be as present in the moment as possible, let the little things go, and save the clean up for later. Truly spend time enjoying conversation with your guests. Friendship and the laughter shared across the table over dinner was the highlight of our day. After all, that is what we came together for, right?
Shop our head to toe Talbots Friendsgiving Dinner outfits here and below!
Me:
Lauren:
Madison:
Emily:
