Welcome to the season of colorful leaves and scents of cinnamon wafting from the kitchen. For my latest seasonal celebration with Target, I invited my coworker besties to join me for a cozy Friendsgiving meal around the table. This fall celebration is dripping in rich jewel tones, warm metallics, and organic elements like wood, berries, and pinecones that brought all those seasonal outdoor vibes in. And to make my life a little easier, I made it a potluck! As the first holiday gathering we hosted in our new studio space, I can’t imagine a better way to say “welcome home.” Watch the video right here, and keep scrolling for all the details, including all our favorite fall items that are available to shop right now at Target.
*photos by Ashleigh Amoroso, flowers by House of Margot Blair, food styling by Mackenzie Smith
First things first: I set a welcoming tone at the front door by hanging this Threshold Felt Feather Wreath. I love it on so many levels, but especially the fact that its beauty won’t fade and I can get it out again year after year.
Tip #1: Cozy up the living room with tons of throw pillows and blankets.
To make the house feel extra inviting, I tossed around lots of pretty throw pillows in a luxe mix of textures, plus a big fuzzy blanket over an armchair to make it a comfy place to curl up after dinner. One of my favorite things about the holidays is that they provide uninterrupted time to lounge around with family and friends, and this fireplace area became the official area for extended hanging out.
*shop the look: linen chair, plaid pillows, faux fur pillows, throw blanket, marble side table, pinecone garland, small ceramic vase, antler candelabra, kilim pillow, kilim pouf, felt basket, tasseled pillow, floor lamp
Tip #2: Reinvent the cornucopia!
I found this cool cornucopia at Target and we gave it a modern twist by filling it with vibrant fall flowers, leaves, and branches. My friend Carly Blair designed the gorgeous florals for this gathering, and I’m still swooning.
We setup a self-serve punch and appetizer station on our Warwick Wood and Rattan Cabinet, which lives in the studio all the time and was the perfect stand-in for a bar. I love the mix of natural wood, marble, and warm metallics throughout Threshold’s collection this season — they made this table feel so luxe.
*shop the look: tall ceramic vase, medium ceramic vase, wood inlay cutting board, marble and wood cake stand, thankful platter
Tip #3: Stir up a party punch!
If there’s one item I’d recommend adding to your entertaining collection this season, it would be a great punch bowl. It’s the prettiest addition to any bar setup, and sets an instantly festive tone to a holiday party.
My punch was super simple:
- 4 cups chilled pomegranate juice
- 2 cups vanilla vodka
- 1 bottle prosecco
Stir it all together, and add a pretty ice ring! If you like your drinks a little sweeter, add a cup of simple syrup to the mix. Click over here to find out how easy it is to make this jaw-dropping fruit-filled ice ring.
*shop the look: punch bowl, glassware, tall ceramic vase, eyelash runner
The beauty of a self-serve bar is that guests can help themselves while I do a little last-minute prep. As long as there are good drinks and a few things to nibble on, everyone’s happy.
I garnished each of these pretty glasses with a sprig of thyme and citrus slices.
*shop the look: glassware, eyelash runner
Tip #4: Set the table the night before.
I like to get a head start the night before to keep party day stress-free. Carly brought over the flowers, and I set the table and put out my serving pieces to make things easy breezy. I decked out the dining room with my favorite Threshold pieces for fall, and things got real cozy, real fast.
*shop the look: dining chairs, dining table, eyelash runner, dough bowl
How gorgeous are these feather wreaths above the table? We swapped out the bright-colored art that normally hangs there, and it totally transformed the space with all the fall feels.
*shop the look: camille’s bell sleeved dress, chanel’s chiffon blouse
In the fall, I love to bring the outdoors in with beautiful leaves, berries, and acorns in my centerpieces. It was love at first sight when I spotted this wood dough bowl that I’ll be filling with different flowers and produce throughout the year, and its low profile makes it the perfect addition to the center of the table.
Tip #5: Make it a potluck!
When party time arrived, I actually didn’t have much cooking to do, because everyone brought their favorite holiday dishes to share. I love the idea of a potluck for casual, laid-back meals — it makes everyone feel like they’re part of the gathering, and it’s a great chance to swap favorite family recipes.
*shop the look: copper serving tray
I made the main course, then I assigned each guest an appetizer, side, or dessert. I had plenty of serving dishes and garnishes at the ready to create a beautiful, cohesive spread with everyone’s contributions.
*shop the look: wood salad bowl, plaid coat
Simple white plates are great to have on hand for every season. They’re a simple canvas that can be reinvented with colorful flowers and table linens, and I love that they let the food take center stage. These plates have a subtle speckle design that gives them a handmade, earthy feel that worked so well with the autumnal napkins.
*shop the look: speckled plates, fall leaves napkins, red wine glasses
Click here for the recipe for my Butternut Squash, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Pasta!
Everyone’s potluck additions came together to make such a delicious menu:
- Brussels Sprouts with Radishes & Bacon
- Butternut Squash, Spinach & Goat Cheese Pasta
- Roasted Beet, Avocado, & Pistachio Salad (recipe coming soon!)
- Plum, Ginger, & Thyme Tart
shop the look: copper serving tray, marble and wood cake stand, wood serving bowl, eyelash runner, speckled plates
Tip: Give guests a tangible way to count their blessings.
During dessert, we passed around cards and asked everyone to write down what they’re thankful for. Once everyone had read their cards out loud, we packed them up to create a Friendsgiving Time Capsule that will be so fun to dig up and read again next year.
Don’t forget dessert! I shared the recipe for this Plum, Ginger, & Thyme Tart last week, and I have a feeling it’s going to be your new holiday party best friend. It has all the flavor and cozy feelings of pie, but is waaaay easier thanks to a dough made of store-bought puff pastry. And the layered plum slice design on top is such a stunner! I served mine with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.
*shop the look: wood serving board
Don’t miss the video we made of this whole unforgettable day, and hop right over here to shop the entire Target collection we used to deck out the party.
Hope your fall is filled with family, friends, and lots of delicious feasting!
