Fall is a lovely season for hospitality. There’s something comforting about gathering friends and family around a warm meal, enjoying good conversation and the feeling of being seen and welcomed.
I have a special announcement and a giveaway to share today. My friend Bre Doucette of the blog Rooms For Rent has published a beautiful book on tablescapes called The Gift of Gathering. Bre brings both a heart for hospitality and a creative eye to setting tables that make guests feel cherished. Her approach is never about showing off; it’s about creating a space that honors the people who gather there.
When I think about tables that truly welcome, I always think of my mother. She made our holiday tables and everyday gatherings feel intentional, warm, and beautiful. As a child I remember walking into the dining room and being delighted by the thoughtful details and atmosphere my parents created.
In The Gift of Gathering, Bre emphasizes the value of planning ahead. Preparing in advance reduces stress for the host and allows more focus on welcoming guests and creating a relaxed, comfortable environment. That kind of forethought makes hospitality more enjoyable for everyone involved.
While a pretty table isn’t required to be hospitable, it can add a meaningful touch to a celebration or simple meal. Thoughtful linens, meaningful details, and layered textures help set a tone that honors those around the table.
The Gift of Gathering is a full-color hardback filled with tablesetting ideas, hospitality tips, recipes, and inspiration for creating thoughtful, creative tables. I’ve already taken away several useful ideas from the book, and I think others who love hosting or want to start will enjoy it as well.
You may remember I wrote a book on hospitality called Simple Gatherings a few years ago. It’s a small, high-quality softcover filled with color photos and practical hosting tips, including 50 ways to encourage 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. Visit other stops on the book tour for additional entries.
These items are inspired by the Summer Elegant Gathering featured in the book and include thoughtful pieces to help you style a special table.
Included in the giveaway:
4-piece antique silverware set
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 for items shown above: Turkish towel (great as a tablecloth), teal matte dinnerware, Simple Gatherings book, wood pedestal with handle, two-tiered wooden tray, matte porcelain dinner dishes, bamboo rattan cup with handle, brass taper candle holders, sage green pedestal, blue-and-white ticking napkins, white marble acacia cheeseboard, stainless steel gold flatware, farmhouse ceramic pitcher, marble and acacia cookbook/serving board, woven rattan napkin holder, white porcelain pitcher, blue taper candles, gray-and-white striped cloth napkins.