Centerpiece Ideas for Thanksgiving Table Decorations
As temperatures cool and leaves change color in Sonoma wine country, I’m testing out centerpiece ideas for Thanksgiving table decorations. Each year, I try to create elegant yet simple Thanksgiving table décor for the Jordan family’s holiday dinner at the winery, and I’m sharing a few different floral centerpieces from past years. Here are tips on how to create your own Thanksgiving table decorations with wine country style. Don’t forget to open a few bottles of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay to complete your elegant Thanksgiving dinner.
Centerpiece Ideas for Your Thanksgiving Table
Natural Fall Items
This floral centerpiece, which features fall persimmons, olives and ivy leaves, is a simple, elegant wine country garland table runner. Place bunches of olive branches, eucalyptus or bay leaves centered on the table in place of a fabric runner. If the olive tree branches still have a few purple olives on them, even better. Sonoma olive harvest season usually coincides with Thanksgiving, so olive tree branches are the perfect touch for a fall dinner table centerpiece in wine country. Because Jordan Winery is covered in Boston ivy, I like to place red ivy leaves across the table centerpiece for color contrast. Give your Thanksgiving table decorations a natural, rustic touch by adding bunches of Spanish moss as filler.
Pops of Color
Using my eucalyptus greenery table runner as a base, I incorporated grevillea, mini millet, millet bronze, leucadendron and zinnias. Add a pop of color to your Thanksgiving table setting décor by topping your garland table runner with pomegranates, tree leaves or other fall fruits and vegetables from your local market. (Persimmons, crab apples, small red kabocha squash, carnival squash or sugar pumpkins are other favorites.)
Subtle Succulents
As I increasingly forage around the Jordan Estate for inspiration, I’m always looking for those perfectly sized oak branches with a touch of soft green moss. For a more subtle centerpiece, I secured seeded eucalyptus, spanish moss and my favorite succulents to my latest oak branch discovery. Similar tips from my living wreath with succulents apply for this centerpiece. Sempervivums have thick, sturdy leaves and can tolerate more movement, like a wine glass brushing against it. Echeverias have soft, plump leaves that are more delicate; some varieties have tighter rosettes (imbricata), while others have vibrantly colored leaves. The only succulents I don’t recommend are sedums with trailing or hanging parts, because they can be delicate and difficult to work with. This long-lasting centerpiece can be kept for many months by simply submerging the entire piece in water for a few minutes.
To complete the fall-themed table, be sure to read our Thanksgiving and Fall Place Setting Ideas.
