The Perfect Outdoor Thanksgiving

Via the "Celebrating Everyday Life" blog - photo by Jen Fariello 

By Penny Munoz

With predicted temperatures reaching as high as the mid-twenties throughout the month of October, dinner party hosts are heading outdoors this Thanksgiving Day.

The look: See above!

Lighting

Though we can be thankful for the uncharacteristically warm weather, the sun still sets on a regular schedule. If you’re planning an outdoor celebration, here are a few creative ways to brighten up the ambience:

Lanterns:

Lanterns are a great option because not only are they affordable, but they can be placed just about anywhere. Feeling inspired? Customize your own lanterns using mason jars, tin cans and pumpkins!

Create a fun, fall mason jar lantern by collecting colourful leaves from your own backyard and pasting them around the exterior of the jar. The translucent nature of the leaves will create a soft glow in the highlighted areas of your yard. Bend flexible wires around the rim of the jar, looping them through each other to form a handle. Attach ornate chains to hang them from nearby trees for charming canopy lanterns.

Using colourful spray paints, you can decorate pumpkins and tin cans to match your chosen fall theme. Using a drill, carefully puncture tins to create stylish patterns that will shine vibrantly throughout the night!

Candles:

For an original twist, try carving out the top of an apple (or mini pumpkins and squash) and fit a tea light into it for a posh, little centerpiece. You can attach wire to either side and hang them around your yard too!

If you’re going with holders, you can decorate glass jars with fall vegetables like tri-coloured corn, lentils and beans.

Reusable pumpkins:

Let your guests know they’ve arrived by carving your street number into a pumpkin and setting it up on your front lawn. This display will look beautiful as the sun begins to set and can be combined with other seasonal decorations throughout the month of October.

Pumpkins are more than just jack-o-lanterns! You can use a hollowed pumpkin as a vase for festive floral arrangements, decorating it with seasonal colours and flowers of your choice. If you’re going with a rigid colour scheme, try spray painting the pumpkin for an innovative twist.

Place settings and seating arrangements:

For those overly organized hosts that go above-and-beyond, welcome your guests to VIP seating by printing (or handwriting) their names on your favourite textured paper and pin it to a pear.

Layering plates is always a good idea for outdoor dinner parties, making each course change a quick and easy process. For a festive touch, try backing your dishes with seasonal charger plates.

If your table is over-crowded with all your delicious sides of stuffing, compotes and jams, set up a station nearby with beverages and extra place settings so that you aren’t running back into your house every time someone drops a fork! … And whatever you do, don’t forget your turkey in the oven!

The affordable wreath:

Looking for a wreath that won’t break your budget? Using a glue gun, carefully attach long, thick pieces of ribbon to the bases of pinecones and tie the ribbon at the ends.

Aside from straying away from mom’s traditions, hosting Thanksgiving outside comes with the unparalleled perk of a 100% organic fall setting. Let those red, yellow and brown leaves fall, simultaneously adorning the backdrop to your evening. Keep a bonfire going nearby and allow the smoky aroma of burning wood to set the mood that will invite your guests to transition from dinner to a more relaxed setting.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!