Raise your hand if you’ve ever served Thanksgiving on disposable plates. I won’t judge, but let’s be honest: the food is only half the battle on this holiday. How many people have a dining table that seats 20 or matching china, flatware and crystal for a crowd? I don’t. This year, I decided to rent the essentials. In this post, along with 29 mouthwatering holiday dishes curated from my archives and favorite bloggers, I’ll share stunning table-setting ideas to elevate your Thanksgiving.
I recently learned our local party rental company offers far more than tables and linens. At a recent Holiday Glam event hosted by Heather McMechan of Local Mom Scoop and Kelly McCleod of Bloomingdale’s, I met the team from Atlas Party Rental and came away with four good reasons to rent your tablescape this Thanksgiving.
- Make a statement. Choose a look—contemporary or traditional, sophisticated or relaxed—and give your table a fresh personality. If you only own one set of china, your table tends to look the same every year; rentals let you change it up.
- Provide ample seating. Instead of squeezing guests onto mismatched chairs or a wobbly card table, rent the proper tables and seating so everyone has a comfortable place to sit.
- Skip the dishes. This is huge. Most rental companies only ask that you scrape food from plates and return items boxed or crated. You don’t need to wash or polish every piece—someone else handles that.
- Save money and look elegant. Renting placesettings can often cost about as much as buying premium disposable plates and is a far more refined option.
With those benefits in mind, I’ve paired this roundup of festive recipes with images of gorgeous tablescapes to inspire your holiday table—just be sure to save me a seat!
THE SALADS:
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad by Green Healthy Cooking.
Anjou Pear & Blackberry Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette by Home and Plate.
Blue Cheese Wedge Salad with Bacon by Veggie Balance.
THE SOUPS:
Creamy Lobster Bisque by Garlic & Zest.
Miso Squash Soup with Brussels Sprouts and Apple by Food Nouveau.
THE MAIN COURSE:
Spatchcock Grilled Turkey by Garlic & Zest.
Parmesan Apple Stuffed Turkey Tenderloins by Garlic & Zest.
Maple Mustard Ham by Green Healthy Cooking.
THE VEGETABLES:
Roasted Butternut Squash with Maple Pecans by Culinary Ginger.
Orange Dijon Haricot Verts with Crispy Shallots by Garlic & Zest.
Roasted Parmesan Potatoes by Girl Gone Gourmet.
Holiday Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Cranberries by Savory Tooth.
THE SIDES:
Sweet Potato Casserole with Molasses Candied Nut Crunch by The Organic Dietician.
Vegetarian Slow Cooker Stuffing by Killing Thyme.
Sausage and Currants Stuffing by My Kitchen Love.
Cranberry Jello Salad by Dinner At The Zoo.
Twice Baked Sweet Potato Gratin by Garlic & Zest.
Hard Cider Cranberry Sauce by A Nerd Cooks.
Italian Sausage Stuffing by Savory Tooth.
THE ROLLS:
Anadama Rolls by Garlic & Zest.
Rosemary Rock Salt Dinner Rolls by My Kitchen Love.
THE DESSERTS:
Fall Apple Cream Cheese Rustic Pie by A Side of Sweet.
Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake with Bourbon Maple Whipped Cream by What A Girl Eats.
Apple Fig Crostata by Lavender and Macarons.
Lemon Chess Pie by Meg Is Well.
Bourbon Pumpkin Pie with Black Sesame Crust by The Road To Honey.
Pumpkin Tiramisu with Molasses Cookie Crumb by The Seaside Baker.
Pumpkin Creme Brûlée from Foodtastic Mom.
Persimmon Pie by Forest and Fauna.
Bon Appetit!
Tablescapes by Atlas Party Rental. I was not compensated for this post.
Want more holiday roundups? Check out these 16 Last Minute Valentine’s Recipes.