Goodbye balmy summer days, hello a fresh fall season! While we loved all the summer events we attended and planned, Autumn has arrived, and with our favorite season comes a myriad of exciting new entertaining opportunities. We’re living for autumnal palettes and divine outdoor days in the cool air, and are looking forward to all of the upcoming celebrations that will center around spending quality time with loved ones. Here are some of our favorite ways to entertain during this time of the year.
In autumn, we brunch
Just because we won’t be seeing summer for a while doesn’t mean outdoor entertaining is off the table. Autumn is a fantastic time to host an outdoor brunch event since the mornings are cooler (and we’re keeping a keen eye on the fashion trends that come with Autumn brunching — share your ‘fits with us!). A seasonal menu with fall-inspired items pair perfectly with a brunch affair. For an Autumn brunch, consider including these delectable goodies on your menu:
Pumpkin spice lattes when guests arrive or to accompany dessert
Waffles with maple syrup pipettes
Persimmon parfaits
Apple crumb muffins
Slow-cooked pork mini crock-pots served in a little ceramic dish
Pretty-up some pumpkins
How about a “punch and pumpkin painting party” with your friends and family instead of carving pumpkins? We were so inspired when we stumbled across Mica May’s DIY pumpkin decorating workshops. The owner of May Designs hosts get-togethers where anyone, young or young at heart, can get creative with their pumpkins. From marble-dripped pumpkins to transforming them into decorative items, this is a superb way to get more use out of your seasonal decor and make your pumpkins last Halloween to Thanksgiving. We also love the idea of creating your own mod podge to transform pumpkins with dainty pressed florals for a more sustainable approach, like the ones we stumbled upon on Cariuma Planet’s Instagram. By choosing neutral or metallic tones, you will find that your pieces seamlessly complement both holiday occasions. And since no party is complete without a festive beverage, we recommend creating a delicious punch, which is having a moment BTW, to keep things entertaining.
Prepping for Thanksgiving & Friendsgiving
If we could offer one piece of advice for effortless entertaining, it’s to start early! There are several details you can prepare in advance, which will allow you to be more present during the holiday and avoid the stress that comes with being in a time crunch.
There’s no better excuse to freshen up your plate and flatware collection than when preparing for an elegant Thanksgiving event. By getting a head-start on purchasing accents to add to a flawless Thanksgiving tablescape, you can shorten your to-do list as the holiday hustle-and-bustle picks up, and these entertaining essentials can then be re-used for future intimate events.
To add a special and personal touch to your preparations, consider creating a charming digital invitation that you can easily send out for both Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving — we love using the HiNote app to do this! Their elevated, pre-designed templates are easy to personalize and a breeze text or email with the click of a button.
We also recommend creating your playlist in advance. This activity is an engaging way to get excited for upcoming gatherings and you can even make the playlist collaborative by inviting your friends and family to add their favorite tunes. For your Friendsgiving affair, opt for mellow acoustic background music and an oh-so-wholesome menu that can be enjoyed over lots of laughter and giving thanks. Then, to combat the tryptophan takeover, ramp up the energy with nostalgic classics that everyone will enjoy.
This is a special time of the year, which means events require special care when they’re being planned. Cassie LaMere Events is a team of seasoned experts in planning intimate events that pay tribute to all the things that are important to you. If you’re looking to host an autumn event that stands out from the rest, call us!