This post outlines the best outdoor Thanksgiving dinner party tablescapes for your holiday party planning!
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If you’re lucky enough to live in a climate where you can celebrate Thanksgiving outdoors with your family, I hope you’re taking advantage of it! Here in South Dakota, a warm Thanksgiving happens once in a blue moon. There is nothing quite as enjoyable as a meal in nature with your family and friends, though.
For an outdoor tablescape, there are so many different styles of table decor you can run with! Choose a theme that suits your guests and your space best. Holidays give us an excuse to go over the top in our decor, and I will never miss that opportunity.
When it comes to planning an outdoor meal, there are a lot of logistics to think about! Factors like temperature, wind, insects, and amount of sunlight can change your needs in a flash. If you’re hosting an outdoor Thanksgiving dinner this holiday season, use this checklist to be on top of things for your guests:
Outdoor Thanksgiving Dinner Materials Checklist
- Tablecloth: Most likely your table has been outdoors for a while, or in storage. Provide a tablecloth for your guests to keep everything clean (and clean up easy!)
- Serving Dishes: The easiest way to elevate a dinner party is by serving food on nice serving dishes.
- Some Form of Lighting: Whether it’s candles or string lights, make sure your dinner doesn’t get cut short by the sun setting.
- A Heat Source: Depending on where you live, things could get chilly at night. Have blankets and firewood handy just in case.
- Weighted Decor: Decor that has some weight to it is a must to keep all the tablecloths and napkins in place on your table. The wind is the most common culprit for ruining an outdoor dinner party.
- Plates: Seems simple, but don’t forget to have enough plates for everyone.
- Drinkware: There are different glasses for different drinks so assess whether you need water glasses, wine glasses, or anything else!
- Utensils: Silverware is a must, but also don’t forget any serving utensils you may need. Pie scoops and serving spoons are common must haves.
- Themed Decor: The fun part, it’s hard to forget the decor!
- Gratitude Games: Have entertainment prepared for your dinner guests with these Thanksgiving gratitude games. Get everyone in a thankful mood and ready to enjoy time with family and friends.
Outdoor Thanksgiving Dinner
Now that you have everything you need, time for the fun part: dressing the table! The great thing about fall holidays is you can use a lot of things found in your yard as decorations. Whether it’s pine cones, acorns, cattails, pumpkins, gourds, or any other assortment of lovely things you can find.
Use these examples to help you find a theme so you have some place to start before heading to Home Goods. Because if you’re like me, going to any home decor store without a list means I overspend a ton. I hope your outdoor Thanksgiving dinner is as warm, beautiful, and full of laughter as you hoped it to be!
1. Classic Traditional
Keep things simple with a beautiful and classic table setting.
You can’t go wrong with oranges, reds, and yellows for Thanksgiving.
Stack the table and the ground with all the fun pumpkins and gourds for a pop of color!
2. Glam Neutrals
If your design taste leans more minimalist, check out this beautiful neutral tablescape.
The food will be the star of the table at your outdoor Thanksgiving dinner!
3. Elevated Elegance
I can’t get enough of these beautiful amber goblets for wine glasses.
This elegant theme will look so lovely with the fall leaves and trees as a backdrop.
A little greenery can go along way as a centerpiece!
4. Cozy Campfire
I’m in love with this cozy campfire vibe for a colder November evening.
Throw all of your cute blankets and pillows on your chairs to mix colors and textures.
Everyone will be snuggled up come nightfall and ready to sit around a bonfire.
5. Dark & Moody
Especially with the time change, I can definitely get behind a moodier theme for an outdoor Thanksgiving dinner.
A table full of maroon candles with brass accents is so dreamy.
Your guests will gasp when they see this unique tablescape theme!
6. Evening Romance
If your Thanksgiving guests consist of multiple couples, this romantic table might be the way to go.
Thanksgiving doesn’t always need to be a family holiday. Turn it into date night!
Plus, these linen tablecloths and fuzzy blankets can be used anywhere in your home to add a touch of cozy.
7. Cheery Daytime
How cute is this idea if you plan on having lots of littles at your meal?
Instead of worrying about sourcing chairs, just throw a bunch of pillows on the ground for a make shift picnic.
The kids and adults will all love the novelty of sitting on the ground for Thanksgiving.
8. Homestead Harvest
A harvest theme feels like authentic Thanksgiving to me.
Nature will be the centerpiece and decorate your table with fresh fruit, vegetables, and homemade cider.
I love these alternative dried floral bouquets. They are so beautiful and last so much longer than flowers!
9. Colorful & Cheery
Using a charcuterie board as a centerpiece is multi-functional.
Use it like above to place flowers and candles on, then add some fruits and chesses for a special touch!
Include these wicker chargers for a cozy cottage feel to your table.
10. Green Wonderland
How dreamy and magical is this pink and green tablescape?
If fall colors aren’t your thing and you’re still holding on to summer, utilize that energy!
Let’s make pink for an outdoor Thanksgiving dinner the new trend.
