On a brisk fall night, a handful of friends in Northern Michigan’s event industry come together to unwind after a full season of weddings and big soirees. What resulted was a Northern Michigan Thanksgiving table decorated with style, warmth and place at its heart. Pull up a chair and gather decor ideas for your Thanksgiving celebration.

Nearly 20 of Northern Michigan’s top event vendors collaborated to create a fall harvest dinner party at a winery in the heart of Old Mission Peninsula. The idea for this occasion began with a phone call between Melissa Conradie of Conradie Event Design, a boutique event planning company in Traverse City, and Amy Hendrickson of Amy Kate Designs, in Elk Rapids.

Says Melissa, “Two hours and a few cups of coffee later, we had dreamed up an extravagant, winding serpentine table draped in plush velvet linens, weaving through a canopy of chestnut trees. It was an unforgettable evening, sipping local wine next to a roaring fire, listening to acoustic music, sharing exquisite cuisine. And being present in the moment with a group of event-industry professionals who are more often on the other side of enjoying these experiences.”

While the event pros represent widely varying products and services, from music to menus, they share one common trait: a passion for delivering unique, unforgettable events to their clients—and their clients’ guests. Listen in as they share their ideas—just in time for Thanksgiving.

GATHER

A thoughtfully organized gathering starts with creating a sense of togetherness. We focus on creating a mood. We want the guests at our table to feel the passion that we put into our design.

Design Ideas:

  • When hosting, be sure to honor the traditions that are near and dear to your heart, while sharing with your guests your individual sense of style.
  • Thoughtful little touches create fond memories so guests want to revisit the day over and over again. Something as small as cork labels stamped with the     word “gather,” tied around freshly baked rolls wrapped in cheesecloth and leather roping—it is these details that leave a lasting impression.

Event Curator: Melissa Conradie, Conradie Event Design

ADORN

Having grown our own flowers for three decades, I have great respect for mother nature and I take pride in preserving our Michigan woods and waters. I like to share these gifts as much as possible.

Floral Ideas:

  • It is a passion of mine to incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetation that I grew or foraged from our woods, and autumn is by far my favorite time of year for this. The opportunities for flowers, fruits, foliage and berries are boundless. For this gathering, I selected concord, pinot noir and cabernet franc grapes to take up residence next to Bosc pears and apples.
  • Add a focal point to your tablescape, such as a tall glass-and-wrought-iron candelabra filled with handpicked apples and moss.
  • Use flowers to create movement in your floral design. Dahlias provide an array of colors and textures.

Florals, Tabletop Decor: Amy Hendrickson, Amy Kate Designs

 

INSPIRE

We breathe life into our clients’ ideas to make each tablescape as unique as possible. Design with pieces that inspire you. Have fun playing with colors, textures, patterns, and vintage and modern choices.

Tablescape Ideas: 

  • Find inspiration from a multitude of sources. Start your search for ideas with a piece of clothing, a magazine advertisement, nature, a book cover or a bowl of jellybeans. Learn to trust your eyes.
  • When accenting with modern elements, look to the mainstream for textiles, dishware, textures and adornments: perhaps a black-and-white buffalo-check print, monochromatic tiles or a unique ceramic vase. Finalize the tablescape by adding an unusual feature—perhaps a find from an antique store or gift shop—to surprise your guests.

Dish Rental and Tablescape Design: Holly DeBoer, Gigi & LeClede

CHERISH

I’ve always had a love for all things old and have spent years as a treasure seeker. More than a decade ago, I started selling things at the local flea market as an excuse to keep collecting. That business eventually morphed into a rental company when a customer wanted to buy something to use at her wedding. Knowing she only wanted it for a day, I told her, “Pay me $5, and bring it back Monday.” The realization that I could generate revenue and hang on to my stuff was the epiphany that created Serradella. Although vintage is only one of the vibes we do, it is where we got our start, so it has a special place in our hearts. The first upholstered piece we added to our rental collection was a brocade settee I bought at an auction.

  • When fall rolls around, vintage is the ultimate go-to, with deep, rich colors and heavy fabrics that perfectly complement the cooler weather, changing leaves and shorter days.

Vintage Rentals and Decor: Kelly Newell, Serradella Vintage

SNAP MEMORIES

For the past seven years, I have been photographing weddings in some of Northern Michigan’s most iconic landscapes and locales—from the lush vineyards of Leelanau and Old Mission to the sweeping vistas of Sleeping Bear Dunes, and many a secluded grove and secret beach between. Born and raised right here in the upper reaches of the mitten, I have a lifelong appreciation for the Great Lakes and have spent years exploring the best our region has to offer.

Photo Ideas:

  • With our long winters, Northern Michigan has several months of no color each year. Take advantage of fall’s riot of color: Look for a landscape that highlights the reds and oranges of the changing leaves.
  • An overcast fall day is like a giant soft-box in the sky. You can get some really dramatic shots in the middle of the day. The even light, without the harsh shadows that come with sunshine, is especially suited for portraits.

Photography: Josh Hartman, Josh Hartman Photography

COOK WITH HEART

The best foods for any event are those made with care and technique. The energy and wholeness you put in is the energy and wholeness you get out. These days when so much information is flying past us so quickly, when we are connected and yet distracted, it is so very important to remember the old, slow stuff. Put the phone down, get your hands dirty with your friends and family, and remember to drink, feast and talk like we used to.

When I think of Thanksgiving, I imagine a golden-kissed turkey breast and crispy leg skin (find out how to cook the perfect turkey), rich creamy gravy, flaky piecrusts and warm, freshly baked bread. The trick is to keep it simple so you can do it right. Embrace the journey of making the meal, not just the fast and furious face-feeding.

Cooking Ideas:

  • Baste your turkey with fat to crisp the skin, and cook it in a large enough oven for good air circulation.
  • Make your pie crust by hand, and use fresh fruit—skip the can of goo.
  • Bread is not as scary as it sounds, it just takes time between steps.

Cuisine: Chef Henry Bisson, Smoke & Porter

A FEW FRIENDS TO THANK…

THANKSGIVING RECIPE

Haricots Verts Salad

Yep, there are our nostalgic family-favorites that have to be on the Thanksgiving table, but we can always welcome a fresh salad packed with flavor. This one comes courtesy of Chef Henry Bisson at TC’s Smoke & Porter. Slender French green beans get to dance in the pan with a classic warm bacon vinaigrette—use your favorite recipe. Chef Henry adds a splash of truffle oil to his.

Ingredients (to plate per serving):

  • 1  ounce haricots verts, blanched and shocked, about 8 pieces
  • 2  ounces bacon vinaigrette
  • 1 ounce farmhouse cheddar, large crumbles
  • 1⁄2 ounce Marcona almonds
  • 1 ounce watercress, stems removed
  • 8 slices radish, shaved paper-thin
  • sliced apples or pears, optional

Using a small sauté pan, heat the haricots verts with the bacon vinaigrette. Do not overheat; you only need to warm enough to loosen the solid fat in the bacon vinaigrette.

Place the warm vinaigrette and haricots verts in a bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients, season with salt and pepper, and toss. Gently place the salad on a plate, and serve.

Featured in the November 2019 issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine. Get your copy.