In the Wolfe-Rizor household, Thanksgiving holds a lot of memories. Marking a time for traditions and family, this is their favorite holiday of the year. For decades, they have hosted dozens of their closest friends and family, with traditions to accompany the festivities. Here are some tips and tricks to help you plan the perfect dinner.
Use Natural Surroundings as Inspiration for Your Table
Your table should embrace the fall season while complementing your china and place settings. Stick to autumn colors, such as shades of brown, burgundy, and orange for an easy color scheme. We also like to use natural pieces, such as twigs and gourds to decorate our table. This year, Hattie has fallen in love with wooden and straw pumpkins, creating a large collection to accompany the festivities.
Create Good Chemistry
A good hostess knows how to create the right chemistry between her guests, to ensure the conversation flows throughout the evening. We pair our perfect seating arrangements with traditional place cards, and give it a holiday twist. Each guest has a quirky, alterative adjective paired to his or her name—such as Pumpkin Peter or Chatty Kathy. A lot of laughs go into these and it is always a great way to prepare for the day.
Set the Mood
Your home has been crafted to become a haven of comfort for your family and friends. So let your guests relax, and enjoy the evening with soft lighting and smooth music. Create an ambiance with some great music that is popular with all of your guests. Our family favorites include Frank Sinatra and Jimmy Durante, however we are adding a new CD to the mix with Leslie Odom Jr.’s newest tracks.
Incorporate Family History
Thanksgiving is a great time to participate in old traditions, as well as establish new ones. By using your family’s past, you can create a great table that holds countless memories. A Wolfe Rizor Thanksgiving dinner would not be complete without the use of Abby’s great grandmother’s china—which has been in the family for over 100 years. Alongside this, Hattie’s extensive napkin ring collection graces the table. Collected as gifts for many years, her antique napkin rings have been given to her by her children and grandchildren.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if your Thanksgiving is formal or informal—it is a great time to catch up with family and friends, and to build new memories.