15 Ideas for Thanksgiving at the Beach

It's always a bit of a challenge to bring a coastal feel to your Thanksgiving celebration, especially when all of the retail stores and decorating magazines show a more "traditional" look, but as you all know when you live at the beach some of the "traditional" looks don't really apply.

For instance, where we live in Northern California, we are famous for our pumpkins, (and our dungeness crab!) but there really is no such thing as fall colored leaves, so you have to be a little creative when putting together a look that reflects our coast.  Seashell candle holders, fish net, etc....

Here are 15 ideas that we've been collecting that we think have used some cool inspiration for a beach themed tablescape for a Thanksgiving dinner party.

1. From Coastal Living Magazine: Photo: Jim Franco , Styling: Amber Furst and Linda Hirst

Love the large koi centerpiece and candlesticks combined with gold and beaded place mats from Kim Seybert.  Gorgeous!

2. Why not plan the party outside on the beach?  This would be so fun, would just need to make sure that your table setting was not in danger of blowing away!  Love the little succulent pots for the place settings - everyone could take theirs home as a tiny thank-you gift.

 Cool idea found in Sunset Magazine

3.  Natural colors and textures of the beach... so pretty, and so simple. Love the feathers - could possibly use found feathers from your local coast?

Source: Ciao Newport Beach

4. Dress up your linen napkins with flora from your neighborhood, and maybe a shell or two! Think rosemary springs, or cypress or maybe even palm fronds?  So easy to be creative with this idea.

Source: Abeachcottage.com

5. Blue Willow, is always a great choice for the coast.  So fun to mix and match with other colors and motifs - 

Source: Celebrating Every Day Life

6. Use your seashell dishes - a good reminder that they are not just for summer! 

Source: From Wendy at H20Bungalow

7. Coastal Blues and  Autumn Yellow are the perfect partners to create a pretty Thanksgiving Table

Source: Sand and Sisal

8.  Just add starfish, and keep it colorful!

Source: Starfish Cottage

9. Make sure to use what's right in your back yard.... and don't forget the candlelight

Source - Everything Coastal - Caron's Beach House

10. Why just stick with orange pumpkins?  Try a new color - blue

Source: Jennifer Rizzo

11. Why not Turquoise? So pretty! 

Source: Completely Coastal

12.  Aqua tints added to traditional "corn" to create a beachy feel.  Mermaid Corn!

Source and Directions: Breezy Designs

13. Combine Orange and Aqua -

Source

14.  Sand, Shells and Orange Candles - absolutely says Fall and Harvest!  Would be super easy to create this look.  Personally, I would use my vintage aqua blue mason jars to give it an extra "beachy" feel.

15.  Love love love Justina Blakeney - Her brunch centerpiece of tropical fruit is not only gorgeous, but your guests could even snack on it!

Source - The Jungalow

Would love to know what you think!  How do you decorate for your stretch of the coast?  Would be fun to see some tropical ideas!

Last Minute Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas!

What can I say?  I have a dish addiction, and absolutely love the creativity of coastal tablescapes!  I have been collecting ideas for the past year on one of our Pinterest boards for inspiration, and thought I would share a few of my faves with all of you.   These are all ideas that I think would work if  your gathering is at the beach this year, or if you only wish it was!

 All sources can be found on our Pinterest Page - Thanksgiving Celebrations at the Coast.

From ..a quiet life (one of my favorite coastal blogs!!) 

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving with with family and friends! We will be attempting our first brined turkey, and enjoying a drive up to Tomales Bay this weekend for lunch at Nick's.

Autumn Table Scape Ideas for the Coast #7 - Oysters

As you all know... I am not a fan of eating oysters, but I do love their beautiful shells.  (I have the scars to prove it!)  Oyster season is at its' best during the fall and winter months - plump and juicy for Tom, pretty mother-of-pearl shells for me.

We've just added these fun Linen Table Runners with Oysters and Orange Coral  to our site this week - I think they would be perfect for a beachy Thanksgiving table!

Add some polished silver pieces, coastal glassware, pretty plates and serve some oyster stuffing and you will have a party!

Might need a few of these elegant polished oyster salt cellars for your table too.  (love them!)

Yes, believe it or not, I will eat oyster stuffing. I actually made some last year with our local Hog Island oysters. (Click here to read my recipe!)

Create the look at your house!

A shiny sea shell shaped bowl!

Oyster Table Runner

Maybe some pretty red-orange coral bowls...

or maybe just a large white faux oyster-clam shell for your centerpiece? Think about filling this with silver and orange fall decor!

Sea Shell Glassware

This could be a really fun party!  What time can we expect you?

Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas for the Coast

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday!  I get to cook (I don't clean up)  and I get to hang out with my family.  I have so much fun getting out all of my grandmothers' china and silverware, then mixing it all together with a few choice coastal elements to create something very festive.  It's a pretty low stress holiday for me.  Love it.

This year, there has been rumors of a trip up to Tomales Bay for Tom's favorite oysters and champagne for brunch....  I will skip the oysters, but will be sipping the champagne!  (Starfish Flutes available on our site)

Here are a few ideas that I have been collecting for inspiration - Enjoy!

From one of my all time favorite holiday articles from Coastal Living Magazine - I actually kept this pinned on my bulletin board long before I figured out how to find it in digital version.  A simple driftwood twig piece,  orange fall-toned dinnerware, mixed with rustic raffia and gorgeous stemware.  Yep, this would work for me!

Wouldn't this rustic table decoration be fun for an outdoor Thanksgiving celebration?  That is, if you are lucky enough to live where it will be warm this year!  So simple, just natural fall leaves and red berries slipped into a large glass vase filled with green hedge apples.  I have no idea what those are, so I would use "green" somethings that are local to our area ie: Granny Smith or even Gala apples would look great.

Here's the rest of the pretty table from Sweet Something! Harvest Apple

Just take a look at this spectacular arrangement! How fun - I especially love the branch coral silverware and the mix of coastal themed dinnerware. The amber glassware is just divine!

You must pop over and see all of the details at Rattlebridge Farm!

Simply fabulous from Home is Where the Boat Is!  Who says Thanksgiving tables have to be orange and gold?  Love the crushed shells and the pretty greens.....

Oh, a travel destination table scape! Now isn't that a fun creative idea??  You could use maps (or nautical charts) for parts of the world that your family has traveled to.  Mix in a few white and brown seashells and you've created something coastal and very special!

Can you just imagine the fun memories and conversations this would start around the dinner table?

Here's the rest of the story - Cabin and Cottage

Simple and easy to create this orange beachy table setting!

White plates, rattan charges, clear vases with sand and starfish - very modern and festive.   It has a Thanksgiving feel without being kitschy.  I like it.  (sorry - not sure of the source!)

Stunning flower arrangement mixed with colorful dinnerware and non-matching glassware.  All presented beautifully on a rustic plank table with very simple table linens.  So pretty!  I think the plates might be Vietri...

Here's another idea - use coastal themed table linens in fall colors!  Add a some fall elements, like tiny pumpkins, and you've got a pretty beachy Thanksgiving table.

From my Gourmet White Wine Steamed Clam post - here's my experiment for another fun "nautical" themed tablescape.  Nautical charts, rope, a vintage lantern and driftwood all create a fun atmosphere for a holiday table.

P.S.  This clam recipe is totally scrumptious!


Have a great weekend everyone!  We are off this afternoon to see James Bond - can't wait.