Fall is a wonderful season to practice hospitality. Gathering friends and family around a thoughtfully set table brings warmth, conversation, and a feeling of belonging.
I’m excited to share an announcement and a giveaway today. My friend Bre Doucette of the blog Rooms For Rent has published a lovely book about tablescapes called The Gift of Gathering. Bre approaches hospitality with a generous heart and a creative eye, showing how a table can be arranged not to show off, but to welcome and bless those who come together.
When I think about welcoming tables, I always return to memories of my mother. She made holiday and special occasion tables a priority, creating settings that felt beautiful, warm, and intentional. As a child I remember walking into the dining room and being delighted by the ambience she and my dad created for our family gatherings.
In The Gift of Gathering, Bre highlights the benefits of planning ahead for gatherings—for both the host and the guests. Preparing in advance removes stress and makes it easier to focus on hospitality so guests feel relaxed and cared for. I agree completely: preparation allows you to be present and hospitable.
A beautifully set table isn’t required to offer genuine hospitality, but it adds a meaningful, memorable touch to special occasions. Thoughtful details can make guests feel cherished and set the tone for connection.
The Gift of Gathering is a full-color hardcover filled with tablesetting and hospitality advice, recipes, and creative inspiration for hosting special gatherings. I’ve already picked up many helpful ideas from Bre’s book, and I think you’ll enjoy it too.
You may recall that I also wrote a book on hospitality called Simple Gatherings a few years ago. My book is a compact softcover with color photos and practical tips, including 50 ideas to encourage more meaningful connections among guests. Fun fact: Bre’s book and mine were published by the same publisher, Harvest House.
Enter the giveaway below to win some of Bre’s favorite tablescape items, inspired by the Summer Elegant Gathering featured in the book.
Prizes included in the giveaway:
4-piece antique silverware setting from Anthropologie
Marble cake stand
Weathered wood bread board
4 blue goblets
Set of 6 mercury glass votives
4 blue linen napkins
Farmhouse pitcher
16-piece dinnerware set
a Rafflecopter giveaway
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
Get additional entries at the following blogs:
Monday 9/30 – Bre @ Rooms For Rent blog
Wednesday 10/2 – Traci @ Beneath My Heart
Friday 10/4 – Melissa @ The Inspired Room
Monday 10/7 – Lucy @ Craftberry Bush
Tuesday 10/8 – Karianne @ Thistlewood Farms
Order your copy of The Gift of Gathering HERE
Click here to find my entertaining and tabletop decor favorites on Amazon!
Sources referenced above: Turkish towel (a versatile tablecloth option), Teal Matte Dinnerware, Simple Gatherings Book, Wood Pedestal with Handle, 2-Tiered Wooden Tray, Matte Porcelain Dinner Dishes, Bamboo Rattan Cup with Handle, Brass Taper Candle Holder Set, Sage Green Pedestal, Blue and White Ticking Striped Cloth Napkins, White Marble Acacia Wood Round Cheeseboard, Stainless Steel Gold Flatware, Farmhouse Ceramic Pitcher, Marble and Acacia Wood Cookbook Holder and Serving Board, Woven Rattan Napkin Holder, White Porcelain Pitcher, Blue Taper Candles, Gray and White Striped Cloth Napkins.