A Guide to Thanksgiving Day Festivities

Hello Loves,

With snow not yet layering our blistery Minnesota streets, the aroma of pumpkin spice still lingers in the air. The flavor fills our coffee mugs and homes with warm candle light.  At the same time, Christmas decorations seem to be showing up earlier and earlier each year. In the midst of the ornaments and warm spice fragrance, Thanksgiving gives us a few short days to remind us that life is not about the hustle and bustle of each day. It’s about being thankful for the moments we’ve been given. Those sacred moments of a sweet kisses from your significant other, the “I love you” spoken from your little ones or unspoken affections shown from a furry friend. These are just some of the many reasons why we come together for Thanksgiving.

We love celebrating the holidays with our friends and family but know it can also become a time of frustration planning the right menu, the perfect tablescape and keeping the party fun and interesting. We want our newlyweds to have one to remember fondly, not one filled with pressure to have everything just perfect. We want it to be inviting and memorable for you and your guests. The phrase “easier said than done” pops to mind, but we have some of the hard work taken care of for you, so sit back and relax. Keep the cider flowing and the conversation full of laughter.

Take a look at our impromptu Thanksgiving dinner for six of your family and friends, together with mouthwatering foods and stunning décor. All done without breaking your bank. Here are some simple ideas for food, food presentation and decor. We went shopping at Aldi and Whole Foods for our menu. They both have great value on seasonal foods, so we shopped around in order to get the best value for quality food.

Elishia Robson, owner of Lakeside Floral created us some cost efficient floral arrangements to brighten up our tablescape. The table runner is with magnolia leaves to save on cost and creates a very full look to the table. By adding the low floral arrangements, we are able to add pops of color that accented the beautifully patterned napkins.

Décor was both purchased and rented from World Market and Rudy’s Refined Rentals. As a newlywed, it is that time for purchasing some traditional pieces that you will keep for a lifetime and pass down through generations. World Market has a unique variety of décor and by renting you can cut the cost of big ticket items. Rudy’s table and chairs offered additional seating and space for the entire family to gather together. If not wanting to spend any money on decor, look around your house for fun ways to incorporate what you already have or received as a wedding gift.

As we enjoy Thanksgiving with our familes, we hope you have somewhere warm to celebrate with your family and friends too. Happy Thanksgiving from our families to yours.

Our Menu

Appetizers:

Assorted Cheese (Brie cheese, Rolled goat log, cranberry white cheddar cheese, cheddar cheese ball, Vermont cheddar), fruit  (honey crisp apples, red grapes, picked beats, yellow tomatoes, pomegranate) & cracker (bagel chips, wheat crackers, pretzel slims) platter

Drinks:

Apple Cider Sangria (honey crisp apples, pears, apple cider, pinot grigio, brandy, club soda) Recipe found here

Sparling Cider with fresh cranberries

Entrée & Sides:

6 Cornish Game Hens Recipe found here

Wild rice avocado salad Similar recipe found here

Asparagus garnished with dried cranberries and crushed pecans Similar recipe found here

Dessert:

Assorted Baklava

Ferrero Rocher chocolates

Chocolate dusted truffles

Jordan almonds

Photography: Jaimee Morse Photography | Floral: Lakeside Floral | Rentals: Rudy's Event Rentals | Food: Aldi | Decor: World Market