A Casual Fall Outdoor Gathering

You’re invited to a casual fall outdoor gathering at the farm. On the menu, are White Bean Chicken Chili, Pumpkin Spice Cookies, and Orange Spice Cupcakes for dessert. The picnic table is set beautifully for fall, the desserts are being served on an extra special fall-tiered tray, and the fall checkerboard is out for some fun. Come grab a seat, get cozy, and enjoy the evening out by the pond. I’m so glad you are here!

Today, I am joining six incredibly talented bloggers sharing fall inspiration with you. At the end of this post, you will find links to their beautiful blogs. Be sure you go check out their lovely homes all decked out for fall. Their posts are filled with lots of fall inspiration you don’t want to miss.

I hope you are inspired by what I share here today. If so, I’d love for you to subscribe to my blog. I look forward to sharing more home decor, easy DIYs, and delicious recipes with your here. If you are joining me from Living Large In A Small House, welcome! Isn’t Lynn’s home decorated for Autumn gorgeous?! I’m happy you’ve joined me here on the farm for a casual fall outdoor gathering by the pond. Come on out! 

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Outside on the Farm in Fall

Spending time outside on the farm is my favorite. Whether it’s feeding the animals, tending to the garden, or just walking around soaking in nature. It’s as if time stands still when I’m outside. As many of you know, one of my favorite outdoor spots on the farm is the pond. It’s not only a beautiful spot to enjoy quiet time alone, but it’s also a wonderful spot to enjoy spending time with family and friends. The pond is extra special in the fall.

A Casual Fall Outdoor Gathering: Creating a Warm and Inviting Atmosphere

Building the picnic table out by the pond was one of the best ideas we had last summer. As fall approaches and the weather here in the south starts to get cooler, we love to eat outdoors. There’s nothing like a fall evening enjoying delicious food and good company, especially when it’s around the picnic table and by the water. This year I thought it would be fun to welcome my favorite time of year on the farm with a casual fall outdoor gathering by the pond.

Gather Around The Table:

Gathering:

The first thing I always do when preparing to entertain outside on the farm is gather everything up that I need from inside. Gathering things inside the farmhouse makes for fewer trips going outside to set things up. I start by gathering the table linens, dishes, drinkware, silverware, and serving pieces. Then I gather up the decorations for the table including centerpieces and candles. Lastly, I make sure I have things that will make the guests cozy and comfortable including throw blankets and pillows.

Starting in the center: 

With everything gathered up, it’s time to start making trips outside to set up the picnic table. More often than not when I entertain outside at the picnic table, I use my tried and true favorite outdoor tablecloth, a canvas drop cloth. The neutrality of the canvas along with durability and washability make a canvas drop cloth the perfect outdoor tablecloth. For this table setting, I draped the drop cloth down the center of the table and bunched it up a bit. I love the texture it adds as well as its casual look.  

Place Settings:

Chargers:

Next, it’s time to set the place settings. I start with setting out my favorite wood chargers at each seat. Wood chargers add warmth and texture to the table. They’re also a great neutral accent at each place setting. The scalloped edges of the chargers are simple and add just the right amount of visual appeal. The best part of these wood chargers is that they can be used all year round.

Dishes:

Atop the wood chargers, I place a shallow bowl. These bowls are great for serving chili, pasta, and soup in the upcoming colder months. I add a sweet fall leaf plate to each of the bowls. The leaf plates are ideal for serving appetizers, salads, or desserts on. They are also perfect for the fall season. The neutral design of these small plates makes it easy to add them to just about any style of tablescape.  

Drinkware: 

I get so excited when fall arrives because I get to bring out my amber glassware and my favorite pumpkin mugs. The amber glasses add a beautiful warm shimmer to the table, especially in candlelight. They also pair beautifully with fall floral arrangements and decorations. The pumpkin mugs are perfect for serving tea and coffee in after dinner or for breakfast and brunch. Every time I entertain using these mugs, at least one person asks me where I got them. They are definitely a favorite around the farmhouse in the fall.

Flatware:

With the dishes set, it’s time to add flatware to each place setting. Anytime I am entertaining for a casual gathering (which is most of the time), I use my favorite flatware. The pieces in this set feature a tumbled finish. They have a vintage feel and they add an eclectic and casual touch to any table.

Napkins:

I cannot tell you how many cloth napkins I’ve lost to stains that I could not get out. Please tell me I’m not alone! Hopefully, y’all are emphatically agreeing with me at this moment. If so, I’m excited to share my solution to this problem (which can get costly) in hopes that it will help you too. Recently, I discovered a far less expensive cloth napkin alternative that makes losing some of them to stains easier to stomach- flour sack dish towels. That’s right I said it, “flour sack dish towels.” They are incredibly inexpensive (especially when bought in bulk), they come in a variety of colors, and they are washable. Win-win-win. For this casual fall outdoor gathering, I used my DIY fall napkin rings to display the napkins on the table. I love adding handmade personal touches to any tablescape. They are not only thoughtful additions to the table, but they are also great conversational pieces. 

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Finishing Touches:

Now that the place settings are set, it’s time to add some finishing touches.

Centerpiece:

Using a large ceramic basin, a small flower pot, floral foam, faux white sunflowers, a glass hurricane, moss, and a candle, I created the centerpiece for the picnic table. Guess what!? It didn’t cost a cent. Everything I used for this centerpiece was items I already had. Don’t you love when you can do that?!

I placed a piece of floral foam in the bottom of the basin and placed the smaller flower pot on top of it. I covered the foam with some moss and then lined the white sunflowers around the rim of the basin. Inside the smaller flower pot, I put another piece of floral foam. I place the glass hurricane on top of it and covered the foam with more moss. Finally, I placed a candle inside the hurricane, and voila! A free and beautiful centerpiece for our casual fall outdoor gathering adorned the center of the picnic table. On either side of the centerpiece, I added faux fall leaves.

Fall Tiered Tray:

One of my latest DIYs is this fall tiered tray. It’s perfect for displaying cookies, cupcakes, and more! Wait until you see how easy it is to make too. The best part is that you can customize it to your style. Go bright and bold or subtle and neutral. Have fun making your own fall-tiered tray and filling it with goodies for friends and family to enjoy. It’s a beautiful and functional piece of serving decor that everyone will love. What a wonderful way to celebrate fall on the table, buffet, or counter! 

Candles:

Keeping candles lit outdoors can be a challenge, especially on a breezy day. That’s why I love these flameless taper candles. They add a beautiful glow and lovely ambiance when entertaining outside and you don’t have to worry about them blowing out. The candles come with a remote too! I love the way they look in these gold metal taper candle holders.

Rest, Relax, and Enjoy

Now that the table is set, it’s time to get out the DIY checkerboard for people to enjoy throughout the evening, spread around the cozy blankets and pillows, and check on the chili on the stove. It’s shaping up to be a beautiful fall evening here on the farm.

I’m so happy you could join me out by the pond today!  Be sure to check out my friend, Leen at Sand Dollar Lane to see how she decorated her mud room for fall. Enjoy the inspiration!

I hope you will join me on Instagram and Pinterest for more farmhouse inspiration and fun!

Pin this inspiration for later!

 

Peek Into the Fall Homes of Seven Talented Bloggers

How to Decorate a Mudroom Entryway for Fall // Sand Dollar Lane

Cozy Fall Home Decor Tour 2022 // Robyn’s French Nest

Simple Ideas For A Cozy Fall Family Room // Pasha is Home

Modern Neutral Fall Home Tour // This is Simplicite

Cozy Fall Home Tour with Vintage Farmhouse Style // Lora Bloomquist

My Home – Decorated for the Season of Autumn // Living Large in a Small House

A Casual Fall Outdoor Gathering // Cali Girl in a Southern World