Light the Way to Elegant Dining

Do you really want to spend hundreds of dollars on decorations this year for your Thanksgiving table? Take a look back at your Grade School years. Wasn't making it yourself lots of fun? For the right artist it can also be very fashionable. Obviously, I don't mean for you to pull out your scissors and glue and make bunch of childish fantasies; we are adults now after all. You can have fun making your own decorations which will see your guests impressed, and leave you with a sense of accomplishment.

Lighting is very important at special meals and celebrations. Who doesn't know the ambience of the romantic candlelit dinner; the flickering candlelight shying away the shadows of your partner and altering your perception of awestruck love. This is probably not the feeling you want your family to feel, but light can add or alter the mood of your celebration and brighten spirits for a more pleasant gathering.

Try to remember that candle flames are very hot, so keep them away from the kids, and away from where the turkey will be carved. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure after all. With candles, always remember that less is more. You don't need 15 candles on and around the table without any house lights to set the mood. The house lights and a single beautiful candle sets the mood better than a bunch of candles without house lights creating 10 blind guests. Most importantly, you don't want to hide the wonderful smells of your home cooking. If things really smell and the mix is making your guests sick after the meal then light a scented candle after the meal. During and before dinner you want your guests to smell your cooking to whet their appetites, so keep the decorative candle unscented.

A single taper on the table is simple elegance. This would be an awesome place for a homemade cornucopia, with the taper carefully seated among the squash and fruits or securely placed in the curl of the horn. You can also place a gorgeous fall bouquet of flowers, sunflowers and black-eyed-Susan's with an orange or gold candle in the center. Cover this candle with a bell or flute lamp and you have a gorgeous centerpiece. Don't want to spend a small fortune for decorations? Just go out and find some leaves in your yard or a local park. I suggest you pick through them carefully to be sure there is no mold, bugs, and to ensure that you get a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. In many areas there is a tight limit on the type and colors of leaves but your local craft or hobby store should have artificial leaves you can purchase rather inexpensively. They can be easily saved to decorate your table year after year. Sprinkle them along the table and pile them against a candleholder. Just be certain your candle doesn't burn closer than one inch of the leaves!