Yes, this is kind of a weird title, and I admit that this gold and white table setting wasn’t for an actual dinner. What I was really doing, was planning out the decor for our annual fall party! But I was loving the colors and textures so much, I just had to set a table. And that way, I could share a sneak peek of my party decor with you as well!
Shopping links and affiliate notice
Before we get started on our table, I wanted to let you know about a slight change to our post formatting. As I’m sure you know, I’m an affiliate for Amazon and several other brands and sites. This means that when you click on a link and buy something I’ve recommended, (or anything else on that site) within 24 hours, Mantel and Table earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.
All affiliates are required to have a statement to this effect near the links, and I usually have mine in the shopping section down at the bottom where the product pictures and links are. Usually I link to the item I used or to something similar if my exact piece isn’t available anymore.
In today’s post though, we don’t have a shopping section. I’ve sprinkled the links throughout the post wherever I talk about the item I used. This text linking may become the new standard. Let me know what you think of links throughout, vs pictures and links at the bottom.
And with that bit of housekeeping out of the way – onward to the table!
The gold and white table setting started with a bay tree
This tablescape started with a bay tree. Years ago, we planted a small little tree in the corner of our yard because we like to cook with bay leaves. We figured if we had our own bay tree, we’d have all the spice we wanted. Little did we know how true that was!
Over the years, that tree has grown to be a monster, and was actually pushing up against the power lines! You can see it in the picture below, at the far right of the photo. That’s only about 1/3 of it showing! And see? It’s super tall. We could have supplied our entire neighborhood with bay leaves!
Greenery for the base layers
We had some tree people come and take off the top portion, and I asked them to save the branches for me. I went to look for them as soon as I got home from work, and at first, in the lowering light, I couldn’t find them. I sadly figured the crew had forgotten to save them for me, but then I saw a huge stack at the edge of the back lawn. It was so huge, I’d thought it was a bush!
So, I set about cutting all those branches into manageable pieces. It took way longer than I had planned, but I ended up with 2 1/2 of those jumbo paper yard bags full of bay sprigs of varying sizes, and a pile of sticks for the fire pit.
Then, I thought it was only right that I use some of that bay as the base layer of greenery for my fall party decor!
I’ll be decorating the mantel and the food tables for the party. And also I’ll have a few flower arrangements here and there, which could use some greenery. I think the bay leaves are so pretty, and they smell wonderful too!
Party decor sneak peek
So here’s the gold and white table setting. You could imagine it as a mood board for the party decor.
The white part of the gold and white table setting
First, we’ll have white. It’s the background for this table, and it’ll be the background for the mantel garland, because my fireplace is white brick. I’ll put a white tablecloth – this very one! – on the food table. The plates and napkins give us more white on the table, and I might get some white roses to add more white to the party decor.
Lots of bay greenery
Then of course, we’ll have the bay greenery. It really smells fabulous when you’re up close, but it’s not overwhelming. (Which is nice because I’m using a lot of it!)
We’ll have a garland on the mantel, and one in the middle of the food table, that will actually probably look quite a bit like this one.
Then some gold!
As you can see, there’s lots of gold on this table. For instance, I got this lovely gold faux eucalyptus garland, and I just love it! It’s so sparkly, and makes no pretence of being real. It’s a beautiful decoration.
I also found these gold pears at a wonderful shop not too far from me. Aren’t they so pretty?
Add in the gold mercury glass votive and pillar candle holders, and it’s gold galore!
The actual gold and white table setting
The actual place setting is all white and gold and bay too. I’ve gone off about these chargers probably 8,792 times, but we can add one more to that, with this post. I love these! They’re super durable, inexpensive, and look great under all kinds of plates.
The dinner plates are my everyday white ones, and the salad plates are from a set that I got for my very first tablescape competition.
Pretty Gold flatware frames the plate stack.
My favorite cut crystal water glasses and Riedel wine glasses.
Then a bit of copper for our gold and white table setting
When I brought the bay branches into the house and corralled them in the copper pitcher, I liked the look so much that I wanted to add a little copper to the party decor too.
I got these beautiful glass ornaments at the same daring little shop as the pears, and they’re perfect to add a little color to the gold and white table setting.
You can get a better look at their shape from this overhead shot. I think I’m going to hang them from the ends of the mantel to complement the garland on top. I found some round ones in the same beautiful deep color at Amazon.
I don’t have any on this table, but I think I’ll add a little ribbon to the party decor to make it more festive. It would fill in any bare spaces in the garlands too.
Place cards for fun
Then even though this is just a mood board table, I thought it would be nice to have some bay leaves on the plates. That’ll break up the white expanse of the place setting, and add a little texture.
Plus, place cards are just fun! I made these really quick with some white index cards, a hole punch, and some kitchen string.
So that’s it!
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing this table, and figuring out my party decor with me! I’ll share the finished product in a post very soon.
Happy Table Setting till then!
Pin the Gold and white table setting for later
This is SO gorgeous and elegant, Barbara! gold and white #ftw ! But I’m still stuck on you GREW a bay tree??? I’m so jealous! I’ve grown all sorts of herbs but bay leaves never occurred to me, and now I’m off to research if thats a viable option in the new england climate! 😂 I love the look and the smell and the possibilities….
Ha! Well, keep your loppers handy, or a good tree person on speed-dial! Those things GROW! It really is worth it though, to be in the middle of soup-making and just run out to the yard for a couple leaves. Plus miles of boughs for decorating! 🤣 Or I suppose you could plant it in a pot and bring it in in the winter. That would keep it smaller too … So many options. 😊 So glad you stopped by Janet! Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving, my friend!
What a gorgeous table. I love the gold pears and gold eucalyptus. I’ve never seen that before. Looks straight out of a magazine. Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks Andrea – you are so encouraging! I’d love to be in a magazine someday – then the fame and fortune start rolling in, right!? 🤣 Hope you’re having a lovely Thanksgiving week so far!
Gorgeous Barbara! The bay leaves certainly make a statement, and combining them with the gold eucalyptus garland and copper baubles has made the most striking centrepiece!
Hi! I think I managed to transfer the table centerpiece concept to the mantel – and to the actual food table centerpiece too. I can’t wait to share the party decor post with you. I always forget to take many pictures after the party gets started, but a friend took some for me this year, so with any luck, I’ll have some nice ones to share. Thanks so much for stopping by, and Happy Holidays! See you soon!
Your table setting is beautiful, love the touch of copper with the golds, white and bay leaf greens…it’s all perfection! Awesome that you could use the bay leaves from your tree. Your blog is beautiful Barbara, everything is so pretty here….thanks for sharing your talents!
Thank you so much Christie – I was so happy to find your blog the other day too! Isn’t it fun to share the things we love? Take care and hope you have great Thanksgiving!
What a gorgeous table, so festive! I am pretty sure that your guests will feel truly welcomes. I also like the gold/copper combination. It is always nice to have a vision , and to see that vision come to fruition.
Thank you so much Edmee! My vision doesn’t always work, so I’m glad it did this time! 😊 So sweet of you to stop over – take care and Happy Holidays!
Oh what a gorgeous tablescape, B!!!! And your Bay tree? Holy cow, girlfriend! WOW!!!!!
If you have any more you could dry those leaves and pack them up in brown paper bags and offer them up on Craigslist, or send to friends or I don’t know – those who cook would love them! I had no idea those trees got so big.
Anyway it could certainly be a nice little free Christmas gift, seems to me.
Love the table. Have a wonderful party tomorrow. All will go well, it’s tradition! ♥
Hi Michele! You hit the nail on the head. Everyone is getting bay gifts this year – wreaths, bouquets, and bottles of leaves galore! Oooh – advertising is a good idea! Maybe I’ll ask my wonderful husband to put the word out on FB and folks can just come over and get some. It really is a particularly aromatic leaf, and perfect for cooking. 💛 Yes the tradition held, and the party was wonderful! Hope you’re doing well over there and enjoying the beginning of the holidays. See you around and about!
This is beautiful, Barbara! The metallic gold and coppers really carry the table, with the whites serving as the sturdy backdrop. I hope you continue to enjoy this before the party. That’s a wonderful story abut the bay tree — I had no idea they grew so large, or were you the lucky one with a micro-environment that was just perfect for it?
Hi Sandra! I’ve now learned that bay trees can grow to 60′ tall, which we certainly didn’t realize when we bought it. And apparently our growing zone is right at the edge of where it’s comfortable, so with any luck, and a lot of trimming, it won’t get that tall! It did look lovely with the gold and copper, and when I take the party decorations down, we can add some to a pot of soup. Actually everyone in town could add some to their soup – I have no idea how I’m going to use it all up! 🤣 If you want any, let me know and I’ll send a box over! Happy Thanksgiving Week my friend!
This is beautiful, Barbara! Well done, my friend! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! XO
Thank you so much Holly! I hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving too – so happy you stopped by!
Barbara, your white and gold table is gorgeous! You always set the prettiest and most elegant tables. I had no idea about bay trees, but I’m guessing that the smell is wonderful. Love the god pears and copper ornaments – such a lovely addition to the garland runner. I hope you have a fantastic time at your party. Enjoy!!
Oh thank you Kim – you’re so sweet! Glad you like the copper and gold – I was into the different metal shades this year. Trying to decide if I’ll keep the same concept for Christmas. The party was great. If you feel like traveling next year, you can come too! 😊 Hope you’re having a nice week my friend!
How fortunate you were to have all of those gorgeous bay leaves! They make a lovely centerpiece! Those gold pears are stunning! Another lovely table from you!
Hi Chloe! I know – I’m so lucky to have basically unlimited greenery! They’re lasting longer than I would have guessed too. And aren’t those pears beautiful? Sometimes you just have to buy something when you see it, and I’m glad I grabbed these. Thanks for visiting, and hope your Thanksgiving week is starting out great!
I love your table Barbara. The bay leaves are fabulous. I can’t believe the size of the tree! I bet it smells wonderful in your dining room. Have fun at your party, it sounds like lots of fun. XO- MaryJo
Thanks MaryJo! I sure had fun with the table. 🙂 The party was great, and the bay did well for itself. Can’t wait to share the mantel with you – that was my favorite part! Hope you had a lovely weekend too. Thanks so much for popping over. Happy Thanksgiving week!
So pretty, my friend. The place cards are the cutest. Hugs to you.
Aw thanks Renae – so glad you like it!
Your gold and white table is gorgeous Barbara! I loved your bay leaf story, I had no idea you could grow bay leaves in your yard. The garland is stunning, and I bet it smells wonderful! Beautiful!!
Hi Jenna! I know – we were so surprised that our little bay tree just kept growing and growing! We probably should have done more research before just snapping it up and planting it! 🤣 It does smell great! So glad you like the table, and thanks so much for stopping by!