The Ultimate Guide To Thanksgiving Planning

Life—and celebrations—may look a bit different this year, but we have more to be grateful for than ever before. Venus is the goddess of all things beauty, love, celebration, and joy—and with Venus at the core of all that we do, we’re celebrating her and that which she stands for with humility, gratitude, and joy. This year, we’re celebrating the gold of life—and of giving thanks—with a gilded and luminous celebration.

In honor of Thanksgiving and the eternal, infinitely potent power of gratitude, here are a few ideas for creating a gorgeous tablescape to celebrate all that you have and love in life.

 

Set the Scene: Eternal Golden Hour

For a stunning celebration, create a dim lighting scheme and light stunning candles—the flickering light is romantic, warm, and inviting. The intermingling scents of our ceramic Rose Blanche and Nue Tuberose candles will fill your home with a flower garden of intoxicatingly beautiful fragrance. Scent is the strongest tie to memory, and the scent from each of these candles will provide you with stunning memories of Thanksgiving and, in turn, of your many blessings. If you’re having guests over for a socially distanced Thanksgiving evening, you can send each of them home with a votive of the one or both of our candles. Place the candles throughout your home—on your mantel, front-hall table, and dining table. To scent your home even more, consider compiling an Autumnal potpourri with elements such as cinnamon sticks, rose petals, dried orange slices, rose hips, cloves, and juniper berries, and placing them in a glass or gold vase or bowl. Arrangements of flowers will, of course, make your home smell and look even more incredible. Our arrangements are ever-abundant, making them ideal for the festive evening.

As for the dining table? Set the scene for an elegant, luxurious, and seasonal Thanksgiving meal with more arrangements of flowers. Place one of our iconic Fleura Vases with gold roses at each end of the table, and at the center of the table, stun guests with a bountiful Serene Vase filled with Autumnal gold, orange, or burgundy roses. Buy a few small pumpkins and acorns, and find a few branches and leaves from outside—and then paint them gold. Arrange the handmade natural decor pieces around the vases of fresh flowers. Place a few seasonal fruits such as pomegranates, figs, pears, and cranberries in the assemblage as well—these will look especially luxurious if each is painted with richly-saturated gold. Put long, elegant taper candles in ivory, burgundy, and gold tones amidst the decor for a dose of romantic, luminous warmth.

On each plate, place a sprig of rosemary or thyme and/or a pomegranate or pear, and a hand-written place card. We also love the look of placing a gold painted or spray-painted fall leaf at each place setting, with the guests name written in black. The result? A rose and nature-filled cornucopia that radiates abundance and light.

Go for the gold when it comes to Thanksgiving decor details—think golden linens, a gilded leaf garland, gold-rimmed plates and glasses, and perhaps a hand-written menu that describes the gorgeous, produce-rich fall harvest for the evening, placed in a simple gold frame. If you choose to place a menu somewhere, be sure to mark options that are vegan, gluten free, and so forth, so that guests know which options suit their dietary needs.

Timeless Traditions

There are a few things that you can do to make your Thanksgiving evening even more memorable. First, bless the meal and your loved ones, with gratitude. Thank the gorgeous seasonal produce, the light, and your loved ones. Doing so will make the meal even more nourishing. Second, consider taking a stroll before or after the meal. Spending a bit of time outdoors will make the evening more textural and beautiful, and fresh air is always life-enhancing. For a break after cooking, consider watching The National Dog show—it’s a lighthearted and adorable form of entertainment. Watching a classic, Thanksgiving-y film such as Planes, Trains, and Automobiles or Hannah and her Sisters is another wonderful way to wind down with your loved ones after dinner. Finally, consider writing down gratitude lists. Provide guests with a gold or black pen and a piece of white or gold paper. Place the marked pieces of paper in a large bowl or vase. It’ll serve as a visual reminder of all that we have to celebrate.

 

Ignite the Senses: Three Elegant, Incredible Thanksgiving Recipes 

Golden Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Kabocha Squash

This recipe pairs the gorgeous, golden, seasonal kabocha squash with the flavorful powerhouse garlic and the incredibly fragrant rosemary for a dish that’s ideal for Thanksgiving, warming, filling, and filled with nutrients and fiber.

Ingredients:

• Kabocha squash, seeded, peeled, and sliced into half-moon wedges
• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• 10–12 sprigs of fresh thyme (dried thyme can also be used)
• 5 cloves of garlic, sliced
• 2 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds
• Edible gold flakes
• Optional: 2 tablespoons of aged Balsamic vinegar

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 395 fahrenheit 
2. Line a flat baking tray with parchment paper and arrange the squash slices
3. Drizzle the slices lightly with olive oil and sprinkle evenly with sea salt
4. Top with thyme and place in the oven, on the middle shelf, for fifteen minutes
5. After fifteen minutes (or longer, for a more roasted dish), remove the tray from the oven and sprinkle garlic and pumpkin seeds over the top
6. Drizzle with a tablespoon or two of balsamic vinegar, if using, and place back in the oven for eight to ten minutes 
7. Once the squash is cool, sprinkle a few edible gold flakes on each slice
8. Serve warm or cold. These are excellent as a side dish and can also be served on top of a salad

 

Truffle Kale and Brussel Sprout Salad

Brussel sprouts are a Thanksgiving classic—and this salad is an elevated, luxurious dish that everyone is sure to love. We recommend serving the parmesan on the side so that guests who don’t eat dairy can enjoy it.

Ingredients:

• One large package of shaved brussel sprouts
• Three tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
• Lemon zest
• One tablespoon of truffle oil
• Truffle salt to taste
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• Toasted almonds or hazelnuts, sliced
• One tablespoon of parmesan cheese (optional)
• One teaspoon of dijon mustard
• Capers, optional

Directions:

1. If you buy the brussel sprouts whole, chop them
2. In a large flat pan on a high heat, spread the brussel sprouts out evenly without oil and leave each brussel sprout to brown for approximately 10 minutes, tossing them occasionally
3. When they're ready, place them in a serving dish
4. Mix in the lemon juice, truffle oil, and some lemon zest, saving a little for the top
5. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, almond flakes, capers, and parmesan cheese. Garnish with lemon zest

 

Sweet Potato Toast with Caviar 

This is an exquisite appetizer that combines the autumnal sweet potato with the ever-luxurious and delicious caviar. Top each round with gold for an even more luxurious treat, and serve at cocktail hour. We also recommend that you place crudite boards and bowls of olives for your guests to enjoy as you have cocktails.

Ingredients:

• Two large sweet potatoes
• Creme fraiche
• Chives, sliced
• Sea salt and black pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Caviar
• Edible gold flakes

Directions:

1. Slice two sweet potatoes into 1/8-inch-thick rounds
2. Brush each round with olive oil and season with salt and pepper
3. Bake at 425 degrees fahrenheit until crisp, for about 15 minutes, and then cool on a rack
4. Mix two tablespoons of chopped chives with 1/4 cup creme fraiche
5. Place mixture on each of the rounds and top with caviar
6. Sprinkle each with edible gold and garnish with chives

 

Ginger Cranberry Margaritas with Ginger Sea Salt

This margarita is colorful, a bit spicy, and totally delicious. The recipe makes enough for many people, so make a batch and pour some over ice for each guest. Get creative with garnishes—rosemary sprigs, fresh ginger, and whole cranberries will all make the cocktail even more gorgeous.

 Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups 100% organic cranberry juice
• 3/4 cup fresh or bottled organic lime juice
• 3/4 cup silver tequila
• 1/2 cup orange liqueur, such as Cointreau or Triple Sec, or ½ cup elderflower liqueur such as St. Germain
• Ginger infused sea salt or flaked sea salt
• Ice cubes

Directions:

1. Stir all ingredients together until blended
2. Place each glass, rim down, in water and then dip it into a plate of salt to rim the glass
3. Pour some of the drink over ice in ginger-infused or sea salt-rimmed glasses
4. Garnished with fresh cranberries, fresh ginger, rosemary, or lime wedges

Honor Thanksgiving and all that you have to be grateful for with nothing less than gold. How are you celebrating this year, and what are you thankful for? Tag us on Instagram to show us your gorgeous celebrations—we love to share positivity within our community by reposting images.