A Wickedly Gorgeous Halloween Dinner Party

While Jenn was crafting our epic group Halloween costumes, I was busy planning my much less colorful (and a lot more sinister) take on our mutually favorite holiday. This all-black table is the stuff of dreams — er, nightmares — and even if you don’t love Halloween, there’s no denying the gorgeousness of this dark and moody scene. From the decor to the food, nearly every element is colorless, but thanks to tons of texture and natural light, the overall concept is still beautiful and inviting.

Want to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve in the most chic, adult way possible? Look no further than this to-die-for black-on-black dinner party concept…

*photography by Kate LeSueur; location SHDW Studios

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Each place setting was made up of a black dinner plate, black salad plate, a charcoal linen napkin, and mix-and-match flatware.

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Our centerpiece truly made the table. We arranged dark flowers and greenery in vintage apothecary bottles and scattered them down the length of the table. We then added thrifted black books to the mix, and wove more greenery through it all to create a garland.

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Of course, the design wouldn’t have been complete without some moody candlelight. These candelabras and these claw candleholders were the perfect solution for our old-world black-on-black vision.

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Carmen made these wax-dipped roses to place at each seat. The deep crimson made for the most amazing pop of color against the all-black details, and best of all, the wax preserves the roses forever, making for the perfect party favor.

To learn how to make your own, stay tuned for the step-by-step instructions on the blog next week!

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We knew our friends at Loot Vintage Rentals would have everything needed to complete this look. We borrowed these bentwood chairs from them, plus tons of vintage silver platters on which to serve our food.

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To really turn up the creepiness, I sourced some old family photos from the Austin Antique Mall and placed them in the centerpiece. Nothing’s more unsettling than feeling like you’re being watched!

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I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never met a cheese board I didn’t like, but this dark and decadent one might be my favorite yet. We piled the brie, salami, grapes, rye toasts, fig chutney and candied nuts onto a large silver platter for a wickedly delicious display.

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Did you catch Camille’s “Kitchen Sink” Halloween Chocolate Bark recipe? I love that it takes colorful kids halloween candy and transforms it into a dinner party-worthy dessert…

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These caramel apples were even more delicious than they look, and we made them using a healthy alternative to the typical sugary version.

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Let guests nibble on the cheese and charcuterie upon arrival…

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… then serve the main course family style.

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The perfect drink pairing for this menu? Red wine, of course. We served ours in these glass water goblets.

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Want more Halloween? Click here to see costumes, recipes, DIY projects, and more!