What says autumn more than apple cider?  Nothing could be more appropriate at a beautiful, Fall inspired affair.  I knew I wanted cider to take center stage on my table and I achieved that by presenting it beautifully in 2 gallon glass jars with pretty wood ladles.  I always think it’s important to tell guests what they’re drinking so I personalized each jar with a cute label and some velvet ribbon.  To up the festive factor another notch, I decided to include both traditional apple cider and a more adult appropriate version that includes Calvados, a yummy apple brandy.

Here’s my favorite recipe for what I like to call {really} spiced apple cider (via Epicurious).  You’ll need to multiply these ingredients by 4 in order to fill your 2 gallon jar.  Just combine in a very large stockpot with your apple cider and it’s that simple.

• 2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3 whole allspice berries
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 4 whole cloves
• Two 3-inch cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces
• 1/2 cup Calvados, or to taste

Cinnamon definitely came up in my brainstorming session but rather than present it traditionally inside the mugs, I decide to take a more playful approach and used a vase filler I found in the candle aisle at Target to create a fragrant bed for my mugs.  Simple, low cost and a really cute result (if I do say so!)

{NOTE} Download the free font Artistamp Medium to get the same look as images above.

As with any project, I think it’s always important to start with a good sense for the elements that will inspire your overall design.  For me, a single trip to the farmer’s market sealed the deal – APPLES!  They are so abundant this time of year and their colors provide the absolute perfect color palette to draw from.  But challenge yourself to think beyond color.  Get out a notebook, close your eyes and brainstorm a list of textures, flavors, and even scents that you associate with your main inspiration (I’ll be sharing my brainstorm “sketch” in a later post).

For my Fall inspired table, my brainstorm list looked like something this:

Textures – burlap, baskets, straw, wheat, galvanized metal, weathered wood, velvet

Colors – chocolate brown, caramel tan, reds, golden yellows, plaid

Food & Flavors – wheat sheaves, apples, cranberries (I grew up near the Ocean Spray factory…fall will always mean flooded bogs and cranberries to me!), peanuts, apple cider, apple pies, cinnamon, caramel

Don’t worry about your list being “right”!  This part is all about idea generation.  Just let your mind run wild and get your ideas down.  You’d be surprised how you can incorporate some of your inspirational brainstorm elements into your table.  If you’re like me, you’ll have way more inspirational elements then you need.

And now for the #1 thing I want you to take away from this post:

THE KEY TO A BEAUTIFUL, MAGAZINE-WORTHY TABLE IS PICKING 2-3 ELEMENTS (COLORS, TEXTURES, SHAPES, ETC) AND USING THEM THROUGHOUT.

Once you’ve generated your exhaustive list, you’ll be tempted to use everything you’ve come up with on your table.  RESIST! Repeating patterns, textures and colors is pleasing to the eye and will lend a cohesive, professional look to your table.  More tips on how to achieve “the look” coming up in a later post.

I cannot tell you how excited I am to finally share this project with you guys!  Does anyone else come up with an idea and then obsess over it incessantly until it comes to life (or get distracted by another fabulous idea)?  Is there a medication for whatever it is that we have?  Well regardless, that is exactly what happened to me with this table scape.

The autumn season brings with it an inspiring harvest as farm stands and markets shift from tomatoes and corn to pumpkins and apples, apples, APPLES!  Originally I had envisioned this project shot on location at a gorgeous apple orchard in western North Carolina.  Things were all set to go when I got sidelined with a nasty cold.  Enter plan B (which is really too awesome to ever be anyone’s plan b!) – the magical Fearrington Barn.  And just when I thought my little dream couldn’t get any better, Nancy Ray stepped in to photograph the whole affair!

I’m a true believer that with a little bit of planning, creativity and a few foolproof tips, you CAN create a magazine-worthy food buffet at your wedding (or any event for that matter).  Stay with me all day as I share the full project then breakdown the individual elements complete with free, downloadable templates and instructions.

What a great week I’m having on White Thread and it’s only Tuesday!  Yesterday I got to feature one of my all time favorite real weddings, tomorrow I have a monster day of posting with my first DIY feature and today, I am so excited to announce White Thread’s first ever giveaway!

Whitney English is offering a fab giveaway package that includes 50 flat personalized stationery cards, 50 calling cards and 80 return address labels.  That’s over $200 of free stuff.  YAY!  I love free! Whether you need to announce a new address after your wedding or want to personalize with your new surname (or both?), believe me you WILL find a use for these cards and return address stickers.

So…interested?  Head over to their flat stationery designs and peruse the cuteness for yourself.  Then come back and leave a comment on this post and let me know which design is your favorite and why.  One winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Tuesday, Nov. 24th.

Following that picture perfect ceremony, the couple welcomed their guests to a tented reception on the property.  I absolutely adore how the farm’s silo and barn elements become the perfect “decor” elements themselves with just some strategically placed lighting.  Such a brilliant idea.  Otherwise, night would fall and these beauties would disappear with it.  Instead they take center stage.  Assorted wildflowers and “farmhouse chic” containers complete the tent’s lush look.

From Genna:
My aunt collected wildflowers from her farm in Bladen County which we combined with organic flowers from from Fishing Creek Flower Farm, out of Edgecombe county. We used lots of zinnias, gerber daisies and golden rod, and my aunt and two of my mom’s friends arranged them instead of hiring a florist. Everything was displayed in her collection of dozens and dozens of old pitchers, watering cans, mason jars, beat up galvanized tins, etc. that she’s acquired over years of flea market scouring. We even used some old stools and ice cream parlor chairs for flower stands.  We did however use a great florist out of Louisburg, Flowers by Henry, for the bouquets and boutonnieres.

And now for what is DEFINITELY my favorite part of this wedding – the “guest” appearance by the bride & groom’s basement band, the Funk Ninjas (yes…you read that correctly).  I’m sorry, but this is just hilarious!  Bravo Genna + Clark for going the extra mile to entertaining your guests AND having fun with it.

From Genna:
Clark and I lived in Asheville, NC for a little over a year, and we formed a little “basement band” with our best friends, Zack and Willy. Once we got engaged, we decided we’d have to perform a couple songs at the wedding to surprise our guests! So we practiced for a few months, named ourselves the Funk Ninjas, asked my friend Nick to play drums, and performed “Ease Back” by the Meters, “Use Me” by Bill Withers and “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson. The guys all wore hilarious ‘fros, and the crowd LOVED it!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this wedding as much as I have!  Genna has been so gracious and open with all her background info!  Check out her and Clark’s latest venture – FindMeSpecials.com a great site that let’s you find, rate and share unique specials and deals happening now in your city (or any city for that matter).  I totally found like four things I need to check out (anyone want to join me for $5 mimosas at Alivias in Durham?)

And of course a great big THANK YOU to Poiema Photography for sharing this wedding with White Thread.  This was truly a special event!