This time last year, we were standing in the middle of a vineyard in the wine country working on a chapter for Inspired Gatherings.
This particular table was inspired by the beauty of harvest season in the wine country. When the grapes are full and heavy and the vines and leaves turn a delightful golden yellow.
This shoot was also quite special because it was at my brothers home in Calistoga. My husband and loaded up the truck with table setting elements, folding chairs and a few buckets of flowers and headed up to the wine country for an overnight stay right on the vineyard.
Since it was September- we were all about harvest inspiration. From clipping grapes from the vines to wrapping fresh baked brioche with paper. There was an abundance of delicious food for the shoot- it was hard not to nibble while working.
My twin nieces Elodie and Willa were my right hand girls. They just turned 7 – something you might not know about them is that they were micro-preemies – they were born super early and weighed just 1 lb each. They spent months in the NICU before they came home.
When they got home from school- I had so much fun showing them how to take style and take photos for the book while we worked- and they helped set the table and made sure that all the photos I was taking in the vineyard looked good. 🙂
How to Create a Harvest Party
This setting was inspired by the vineyard it was set in- but you can create a beautiful harvest party right in your own backyard.
Harvest parties are inspired by harvest season. The fruits and veggies that have been growing all year are finally ready for harvest and enjoying the rewards of the work with a celebration or gathering is a fun way to come together.
I am sharing a couple of tips for what we used for the centerpiece and details that can easily be used wherever you decide to set up your own harvest party. A picnic on the lawn, a table in the backyard or even right in your own dining room- an inspired gathering can be anywhere you are inspired to set up.
Centerpiece Elements
I mixed fruit and greens on the tabletop. The squatty peaches were in abundance at the market- along with fresh figs- and I loved the rosy tone they have.
I wandered into the vineyard and clipped fresh grapevines and grapes- but you an use any fresh greens and table grapes just as easily.
The Flowers
Natural welcoming elegance- to me that is what the wine country embodies. So I used a vintage bucket for the flowers and a mix of fresh market finds.
White roses, Craspedia, Stock, Baby Eucalyptus and a few grape vines tucked in.
The Food
There is nothing like fresh baked bread dipped in fresh ground peppered olive oil for nibbling on. So lots of artisan breads long with several different cheeses and crackers.
Sweets on repeat. Another good thing in my book. We had some sweet treats to enjoy after dinner- mostly fresh baked fruit filled pastries. Favorite wine country casual dinner would have veggies like artichokes or eggplant. Pasta or squash. And bread and vino. And of course a rich dessert.
Creating a beautiful gathering inspired by harvest season at home is something that is fun and easy to do. Think about pumpkins and the other flowers and foods of the season. Use those inspirations to create your own beautiful gathering with your family. You can see more of this setting and more in my new book Inspired Gatherings
Don’t miss the gatherings that my friends created this week that are inspired by gatherings in the book- and stay tuned for another Behind the Gathering tour tomorrow.
and stay tuned for another post tomorrow.
Beautiful and the vintage bucket with flowers are lovely. Fall seems to be coming. Yeah!
Love how you wrapped each bread in brown paper and added a piece of greenery. So special!
An awesome post