Photo & design by Helen Olivia Flowers, Alexandria, VA
Thanksgiving is upon us and that can only mean one thing, besides the turkey of course… centerpieces! The beautiful flower arrangement taking front and center stage on the dinner table. But therein lies the question, how many Thanksgiving dinners actually include flowers as part of their setup and decor anymore? Hint…they should! I can think of endless possibilities when it comes to creating a thanksgiving table scape! Its a great way to reveal your personality and style. There are countless table linens, napkins, assorted china patterns to choose from to enhance your atmosphere. I love collecting serving pieces for the holidays. Not to forget my novelty salt and pepper shakers I have in the shape of the festive turkey himself. I change my table each year to keep the experience exciting and new for my family and guests.
A traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece might be a low, oblong design with tall candles, orange roses, yellow viking mums, green wheat, seeded eucalyptus, sunflowers, and gourds — or any number of Fall seasonal flowers. Another popular traditional arrangement is the cornucopia, meaning “horn of plenty” and symbolizing abundance and nourishment, often filled with fruits, vegetables and flowers signifying the harvest. These additions to the elegantly set dinner table bring freshness, beauty, and a welcoming feeling to those celebrating together.
Rust, rich browns, burgundy, gold, yellow, and shades of orange adorn the traditional Thanksgiving table. Following the end of Halloween offers unique opportunities to repurpose the available supply of pumpkins, simply hollowing them out and placing Oasis in them makes for an inexpensive, but perfectly themed holder for an arrangement of your favorite stems. Another great idea is to hollow out artichokes, and baby pumpkin gourds so you can place a small votive candle in each one. I love the addition of candles to any table scape, they help illuminate and add an intimate ambiance to your gathering.
In addition to the traditional selection of fresh blooms, many floral designers will enhance their arrangement with lotus pods, dried cattails, preserved oak leaves and even loops and streamers of fall ribbons. With such timeless elegance, how could you not consider the traditional centerpiece to join your turkey and pumpkin pie?
Enter the modern Thanksgiving. The what? Yes, the modern Thanksgiving is not just the younger generations discarding their parents’ traditions of food, place setting and decor — it’s the idea that a relaxing and stress-free celebration is preferred to the day-long cooking marathon complete with meltdowns prior to the feast.
Along with this fun atmosphere comes a change to the typical decorations previously mentioned, all the while no less formal an affair. The modern centerpiece might be a grouping of white pumpkins, rose gold votives with candles, intricate vines and several small clear glass cubes overflowing with all white flowers. A modern twist could include a monochromatic pallet, pheasant feathers, dried hydrangea blooms, and winter pinecones, or perhaps a giant mass of white tulips.
Think modern farmhouse style, long wooden boxes over flowing with white hydrangea, white garden roses, silvery succulents, lacy dusty miller, and silver brunia. Simple grey and white checkered table runner, decorative antlers, soft grey linen monogramed napkins, white china with an inlaid harvest setting running around the plates edge. A row of white candles in chunky crystal holders running the length of the table at varying heights on either side of the flower centerpiece.
I am also obsessed with place cards for assigned seating! It’s a great way to create conversation matchups that may not otherwise materialize. Perhaps you could make a simple sprig of rosemary into a wreath and use a piece of natural twine and attach a craft paper leaf with each guests name in gold ink. I also like the idea of using pears, pinecones, pumpkins, small individual framed chalk boards, so many possibilities!
It’s your Thanksgiving, however you decide to decorate — either traditionally or modern — be sure to make it beautiful and festive with a fresh arrangement of flowers that your family and guests are sure to remember.
About your author…
My name is Angela McCauley, I have been a Sales Manager at Potomac Floral for the last two years, but I have been in the floral industry for over 20 years. I absolutely love flowers and always have since my dad first introduced me to his Dutch tulips that he imported and grew in our yard. While I have never met a flower I didn’t like, some of my favorites include ranunculus, dahlias, garden roses, sweet peas, and lisianthus.
