Cozy Tips for Thanksgiving Gathering

One of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is to create a pretty tablescape to enjoy while we’re preparing the meal and gathering around the table. Typically we like to host a Thanksgiving meal in our home for our family, and while we have had to scale it down a bit in the past couple of years, I am so excited to get back to gathering around the Thanksgiving table this year and meaningfully connect with family. To get you ready for gathering and hosting Thanksgiving this year, I hosted a Thanksgiving Live event with Williams Sonoma! I gathered along with some special guests and friends, including my friend and Co-Shop Owner Abby, Jose filming, and my assistant Taylor helping us read all of your viewer questions. If you were not able to make the Thanksgiving Live, here are some of the tips that we discussed!

1.

Bring the outdoors in! This is one of my cozy tips for every season, and Thanksgiving is no exception! Whether it’s faux, real, or a mixture of both! Tonight we are using greenery from my friend Abby’s garden! Try to keep your florals low for communication. For the purpose of this live event we didn’t keep our florals low, but keeping your centerpieces low can make contact and communication across the table easier.

2.

If you don’t need your dining table for prep space or other meals, decorate it the day before so you don’t feel rushed on thanksgiving day. Prepping your space a head of time can help ease through Thanksgiving day. Turn on some music and enjoy the day!

3.

While you are gathering and setting up your decor and place cards, think about each person who will be joining and why you are grateful for them. This can spark conversation when everyone is gathered around the table.

4.

Consider the table for all ages! If you have a lot of kids at the table, consider faux candles instead of real ones. Have items at the kid’s seating that will entertain them like coloring pages or little ramekins of candy.

5.

Think about the spaces in and around your home. Is there one space in your room that would serve better for gathering than others? For tonight’s live, we actually used our front living room! Don’t be afraid to move furniture and create cozy spaces. Do you live in an environment where gathering a table outside would be an option? A cozy gathering on a patio that is conveniently near a kitchen may be a great environment for everyone to gather.

Bonus Tip!

If you are not hosting, don’t be afraid to offer your assistance. Bring a dessert or side dish, come early to decorate, or stay later to help with cleanup. The coziest part of Thanksgiving is allowing ourselves and our loved ones to be present and taking the time to count our blessings. Abby brought up a great tip tonight and that was to not ask if you can help or bring something, just do it! 9 out of 10 times, your host isn’t going to ask for help, but do it! They will appreciate you!

For more Thanksgiving and Gathering tips, check out my new book Cozy White Cottage Seasons, available now for preorder and on bookshelves everywhere November 23rd.

Do you host a Thanksgiving meal in your home? Remember if you are hosting, don’t be afraid to ask for help! When everyone contributes not only does it take the burden off of one person, but it allows everyone to share and enjoy their gifts. Thank you all so much for joining us as we talked about Thanksgiving and the importance of gathering. I would love to hear your favorite part of the live! Let’s talk about it on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks for coming to the live and for stopping by the blog!

xx Liz Marie