How to Host a Gratitude Dinner

A fun, new trend I am loving is the concept of hosting a Gratitude Dinner. A Gratitude Dinner is a dinner party where one can express gratitude and thanks to family and/or friends. Thanksgiving is traditionally centered around being thankful for blessings of family and friends, but expressing thanks doesn’t have to be relegated to just one day a year. Keep reading for my tips on hosting a Gratitude Dinner along with a gorgeous gold and white fall tablescape!

While my white and gold table features pumpkins, a Gratitude Dinner give us the opportunity to show appreciation any time of the year. But with my fall timing, I built my table around some gorgeous white velvet pumpkins and an easy floral arrangement using faux gold pumpkins. This tablescape is a quite different from the blue and white fall tablescape I shared last week. 

Ideas for Hosting a Gratitude Dinner

• Prepare a meal of favorite food and/or beverages that you know your guests love.
• Create a beautiful tablescape that will make your guests feel special.
• Write a note to express thanks to each guest, specifically highlighting a favorite quality you love about your guest.
• Print a favorite photo of your guest and their family.
• Provide a favor that expresses your gratitude. 
• Prepare a specialty drink or cocktail to commemorate the event.
• Make a donation to your guests’ favorite charity.
• Have everyone bring an item to donate to a chosen charity.

For my Gratitude Dinner, I invited five dear friends who have been so supportive to me. Whether it’s encouraging me as a mother, encouraging me as a business owner, or just being there in the good and bad times, I’m thankful to have a group of special friends in my life. I gave each guest a box of Merci Chocolates as a way to say express my gratitude. We all had fun sampling the different flavors and talking about our favorites!

Gratitude Dinner Place Settings

For my table settings, I used a gorgeous gold place mat and charger to set the stage, and layered Noritake Gold Dinner Plates. On top I placed this new set of Grateful plates. This set of 4 plates is so perfect for the holidays. The dinnerware is accompanied by gold colored flatware and sparkling crystal glassware. For the napkins I printed some paper “napkin rings” with a piece of clipart that fit the theme. 

SHOP MY TABLE SETTINGS

Beuatiful Centerpiece Idea

I created a centerpiece using some gorgeous ivory velvet pumpkins with a golden garland draped around the bottom. One each side of the table, I made a quick arrangement of white hydrangeas, white roses, and eucalyptus. You can learn how to create a pumpkin vase centerpiece with my DIY. 

SHOP MY CENTERPIECE

I hope these ideas inspire you to host your own Gratitude Dinner so we can all spread some kindness and love.  I love sharing my table settings and centerpiece ideas so if you are looking for more inspiration, don’t miss this Friendsgiving Tablescape. It is one of my all time favorites. 

Be sure to save this pin to your tablescape/ entertaining board.

Jennifer is a professional chef and mom of six who shares recipes, home design, entertaining, travel, and family. A Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker, Jennifer’s work can be seen in Better Homes and Gardens, Cottages and Bungalows Magazine, American Farmhouse Style, Oprah Magazine, Country Living Magazine, and At Home in Arkansas Magazine.

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