Effortlessly Beautiful Friendsgiving Outdoor Fall Table Setting

Follow these table setting tips and decor ideas to create an effortlessly beautiful Friendsgiving outdoor fall table!

This post is created in collaboration with Christmas Tree Shops. All opinions regarding their cute and affordable products are my own!

Friendsgiving Outdoor Fall Table Shopping

In preparation for hosting a casual Friendsgiving get together, I first spent some quality time CTS’ing. What exactly is CTS’ing you may ask? It’s a fun verb used to describe the act of shopping at Christmas Tree Shops! It’s turning low prices on cute decor into priceless memories with good friends around the dinner table. In a nutshell, it’s getting it all without spending it all, and it completely aligns with my mission here at Home Stories A to Z where I strive to bring you attainable and affordable home decor and styling ideas! Click here to receive $10 off your $50 or more purchase at Christmas Tree Shops for first time sign-ups.

To see exactly what I found while CTS’ing versus how I styled it on the table, click play on the video below!

Shop the House Then Shop the Store: What I Purchased for the Outdoor Fall Table

Whenever I plan a dinner party, I first “shop the house” to take stock of what I currently have on hand, and then I head to the store to shop for the rest! Here is a list of products I purchased at Christmas Tree Shops for my Friendsgiving table:

Fall Wreaths
Plaid Tablecloth (used as a table runner)
Amber Melamine Glasses and Pitcher
Taupe Melamine Plates
Small Patterned Dessert Bowls
Plaid Cloth Napkins
Wood Cutting Board
Fall Squirrel Salt & Pepper Shakers
Gold Candelabra Centerpiece (originally silver and spray painted gold)
White Taper Candles

I previously owned the cute pumpkin bowls with lids, but I found very similar bowls sans lids in my store in a variety of colors, including white, orange, blue, and green. I also already owned the flatware and wine glasses; however, these items can also be found in a variety of colors and styles at Christmas Tree Shops!

1. Fall Wreaths

Christmas Tree Shops has a beautiful selection of faux florals at great prices, including these faux eucalyptus and berry wreaths. I hung two wreaths on my barn doors to set the backdrop for my Friendsgiving table. To see even more of their beautiful fall faux florals, click here to see my Cranberry and Blush Fall Porch.

2. Plaid Tablecloth

Truth be told, I’m not the biggest fan of using tablecloths in my tablescapes. I prefer to see the rustic texture of the wood on the table and utilize it as a design element. For this table, I loved how my gray-green tabletop complemented the eucalyptus berry wreaths. Instead of using the plaid tablecloth in a traditional manner, I opted instead to fold the tablecloth and create a table runner! Never be scared to think outside the box and try different looks on your table.

3. Amber Melamine Glasses and Pitcher

I was thrilled to find this coordinated collection of amber-colored melamine drinkware at my CTS! Melamine is lightweight, durable, elegant yet affordable—making it perfect for outdoor parties. The ombre colored glasses looked beautiful on the table and held a generous amount of water.

Speaking of a generous amount of water, passing a full melamine pitcher across the table is so much easier than passing a full glass pitcher! The lighter weight of the the melamine works great when entertaining. I love to fill my outdoor tables with a mix of melamine, glass, and ceramic elements.

4. Taupe Melamine Plates

These taupe melamine plates look just like ceramic or porcelain plates but are more durable and virtually unbreakable! My CTS carried these plates in a variety of colors, and I particularly loved the taupe. I’ll be using these plates all season long.

As an added bonus, I love how melamine reflects light in photos just like porcelain and glass. Until you touch it, you aren’t able to tell the difference!

5. Small Patterned Dessert Bowls

When shopping for this table, these adorable fall-themed dessert bowls were amongst the first items to go in the cart! They come in a set of three and each bowl is unique with a different fall theme. I used my bowls to serve up some cheesecake baked apples, but they can also be used on a shelf or coffee table as decor.

6. Plaid Cloth Napkins

My table settings almost always include cloth napkins. I love how cloth napkins instantly elevate the look and add an additional layer of texture and pattern. CTS has beautiful and affordable cloth napkins which wash up great!

7. Wood Cutting Board

You can never have too many wood trays and cutting boards! Admittedly, I might have a bit of a tray and cutting board addiction, but I find them so useful in decorating not only the table, but the home. This wood acacia board from CTS was perfect for stylishly serving up a loaf of fresh focaccia bread!

8. Fall Squirrel Salt & Pepper Shakers

These adorable salt and pepper shakers add a touch of whimsy to the table!

9. Gold Candelabra Centerpiece

The candelabra was originally silver, and I opted to spray paint it gold to better complement the warm tones on the table. I’m not afraid to spray paint it back to silver if needed in the future! Again, think outside the box when decorating your table.

Friendsgiving Table Tips: Choose Your Location

We live on a couple of acres of beautiful land in the country and my outdoor table resides on our pergola-covered patio. However, I love how a slight change in scenery can create a different mood for a party! I moved my outdoor table in front of our barn shed to create a more fall mood. Our foliage in the south don’t change until late fall, so creating the ambiance of fall takes a little more creativity.

Tip: Move your table to a place outdoors that better suits the backdrop and theme of your dinner.

In place of my outdoor chairs, I opted to use some second hand ladder-back chairs that I had in storage. The worn country chairs were perfect for this cozy fall table!

Friendsgiving Table Tips: Keep Your Menu Simple

In the spirit of CTS’ing, I wanted to indulge my friends while keeping the evening within my time and budget! Entertaining shouldn’t be a burden or stressful! Keeping your menu delicious, yet simple, is a wonderful way to have a cozy evening together that keeps you out of the kitchen and focused on your guests. I love to serve a hearty crockpot soup, alongside breads, mixed green salad, wine, and baked apples for dessert.

I’ll share my recipes in a separate post, but many of these dishes can be bought ready-made and the rest take little to no preparation! My Christmas Tree Shops items created the beautiful setting for a beautiful night!