Not sure if it's the falling leaves or just the break from the crazy Texas heat (probably both) but there's something about this season that makes me want to gather around a big table with a full on feast. Having been indoctrinated into the Rainey family for about ten years now and witnessing their way of bringing absolute magic to the table during the holidays, this blog post is something I've been dying to do for so long.
As we begin to near the end of the year, I've put together your step-by-step guide to arranging an intimate and intentional dinner party. I've pulled in several experts to curate a playlist, the menu of course, and even a blend of oils to have diffusing during your gathering. All you have to do is create your guest list, divvy out ingredients / recipes (if you wish) and have fun bringing it all together.
Having people over is one of my favorite things to do and if you haven't checked out my post on the 5 Habits Of A Good Host[ess] feel free to give it a read!
And now, feast your eyes on this recipe roundup:
Autumn Feast
M E N U
|
Appetizer
Photo + Recipe Credit: Half Baked Harvest
Cocktail
Photo + Recipe Credit: Cake -N- Knife
Main Dish
CRISP ROAST DUCK WITH ORANGE POMEGRANATE GLAZE
Photo + Recipe Credit: Honest Food + The Spruce Eats
Side Dish
Photo + Recipe Credit: A Beautiful Plate
Side Dish
Photo + Recipe Credit: Low Carb Spark
Dessert
Photo + Recipe Credit: Southern Living
Dessert
HOMEMADE ICE CREAM
Recipe Credit: Taste of Home
Wine
RED: UNCAGED CABERNET SAUVIGNON
WHITE: HONIG SAUVIGNON BLANC
Photo Credits: Unsplash
How fancy is this?! Say hello to your curated Spotify Playlist brought to you by my lil' sis, CJ, who is killer on the piano and just has the best taste in music. I asked her to pull songs together that would be perfect for the occasion, so you'll see some tunes you know, maybe some new ones to *fall* in love with, a mix of folk music, acoustic and even instrumentals to play throughout the day while you're prepping, cooking or just hanging out having dessert. I'm obsessed! Be sure to "Add to Library" now so you can have it for the day of your event or even later on.
Pro tip: If you have Amazon Alexa, you can say, "Alexa, play Arrange Autumn Spotify Playlist." You can click any song below to give it a listen too. You're welcome!
Next up, I've curated a tablescape for you. When it comes to decorating for the holidays, I tend to lean towards a transitional / minimal look so that the focus is on the food and faces at the table. The other thing that a neutral style does for you, is allows you to begin building your collection of serveware and decor if you don't have an expansive one just yet. This way you can reuse the pieces throughout the year and mix in a fun new piece the following season. Hope you enjoy!
Side note, if you're like me and love a good DIY / hack, instead of spending on the bouquet of flowers shown above, you can certainly create your own by asking your local florist to order a few stems from this list: Garden Roses, Ranunculus, Scabiosas, and Anemones to give you that moody fall vibe with unique flowers that will have everyone delighted.
Alrighty! Last but not least, I've rounded it all up in a printable document for you and I'm calling it the Arrange Autumn Playbook. Here's a snapshot showing the index so you get an idea of all that's included:
I have truly put a lot of thought, time and resources into this and I hope it inspires you to have a meaningful and memorable gathering with loved ones. It's so important to celebrate life in the moment.
If I could ask a HUGE favor, it would be to get your thoughts on what I've put together. It's so valuable to hear what did / didn't work for you. Was it missing anything? What did you like the most? Feel free to comment on the blog post or shoot me an email! If you do host a fall gathering, I would LOVE to see pictures of it in my inbox or on social media, so SHARE AWAY!
Scroll down & sign up to get the Playbook emailed to you! Cheers!