The Heart Of Gathering

Now, I know what you might be thinking. It may seem too soon to start thinking about and planning our tables for Thanksgiving and other seasonal get togethers. But, hear me out. Too many times, we wait until the last minute to put together our tablescapes for our holiday gatherings with family and friends. And then what happens? We stress out. A lot. So, I decided to put together an easy tablescape using items I already had and implement those copper candlesticks I made earlier this season. This is something that you could plan out in advance or something you could throw together quickly in a pinch if you have a few pumpkins and a few candlesticks on hand.

Before we get into the design aspect though, I think we need to have a chat about something first. There are so many times that we see these stunning and elaborate centerpieces online for the holidays that make us feel like we could never pull something like it off. I get it. I feel that way a lot too, like my tablescapes can never compare to the images I see on Pinterest or Instagram. Then I feel “unworthy” to even have people at my table, which sounds ridiculous, but it’s the truth. That’s when I have to remember my “why” when it comes to hosting. My why is this: I love seeing our families sitting around our table just enjoying being together. Seeing them smile, hearing them laugh, hearing stories of times long ago… that means something. And truth be told, those memories hold far more significance than our tablescapes ever will. So while I enjoy having beautiful arrangements for our families to enjoy, the true heart of gathering is the people who sit around those tablescapes.

I implore us all to keep that as our foundation when we get ready to share our tables and homes with those we love this holiday season. It’s about them, not us and our presentation. So with that said, let me share a few simple ways we can put together those beautiful tables that can add to the occasion, but should never control it. 

I truly didn’t do too much to create this centerpiece. I collected my white pumpkins, faux and real, and set them onto the table. Not a lover of white pumpkins? Use your favorite color! Whether it be green or orange or a mixture of all three different colors, use what you love most! I happened to have more of the white than the orange so this is what I used.

After I arranged the pumpkins the way I liked, I added in those copper candlesticks I shared about a few weeks ago. You can read more about those here. If you are using orange pumpkins, brass or wooden candlesticks will look the most cohesive (they look great with the white too!). Remember too, you can always buy different colored tapered candles. Some orange toned ones mixed with brass candlesticks? Perfection. You can add as much, or as little, color as you want!  

I had debated putting a big floral arrangement into the design. I REALLY wanted to. The reason I didn’t this time is that while they may look stunning in photographs, the reality is, they block our views of those across the table from us. And if my foundational goal is the heart of gathering instead of the art of it, then sometimes a lower laying centerpiece is what I truly need. In this case, I placed my colorful fall florals on the buffet table where I will still have enough space to place food and where I can still get that vibrant, beautiful floral effect. If you have a lower laying arrangement, you could easily place it in the middle of your centerpiece for added pops of color and texture!

While part of me wanted to share some “over the top” centerpiece, I felt led to share something simpler instead. Some of you may look at this and think this is elaborate itself. But in reality, it is simply a line of pumpkins with some candlesticks placed here and there. Design can be very easy, it doesn’t have to be complicated. I wanted to share a stress-free, simple layout that you can do in no time at all. The less time we spend fretting over the details the better. The truth is, sometimes we all need to focus less on the “perfection” of hosting and focus more on the people who we are hosting. And all I needed to create this was a few pumpkins that I picked up from the grocery store and a few tapered candles. It will be enough to make for a fun conversation centerpiece, but when we worry less about what is on the table and focus more on who’s around the table, then we have truly conquered the heart of gathering.

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing this easy holiday centerpiece. I may or may not be bringing some bits of Christmas decor out this week. I know it seems early now, but it won’t be too long before Christmas will arrive here on the blog, and I can’t wait. Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year, and I look forward to sharing all the festive content soon!