An Intimate Al Fresco Tablescape: Cozy & Beautiful Fall Dining
Fall is starting out warm here in the Pacific Northwest, and the evenings are perfect for some outdoor entertaining with a beautiful al fresco tablescape! (In this case, it was just me entertaining my wonderful husband with a cozy and romantic dinner party for two.) (But of course, you could stretch it to any number of guests!)
In any case, our outdoor tablescape is part of the Welcome Fall Tablescape Hop! We get to do this several times a year, due to the tireless efforts and organizational skills of Rita from Panoply, our lovely host. Thank you so much Rita! Be sure to scroll down for the links, and lots of additional fall inspiration!
The Al Fresco Tablescape Centerpiece
Like for most of my tables, the inspiration for this one came from the centerpiece. When the season starts to change, I notice it first by the changing of the leaves. I love the beautiful colors and the way the leaves flutter down and make piles on the grass. I also love to clip some branches, and use those beautiful leaves to decorate.
Since our leaves are just barely starting to change, I decided to use these beautiful faux ones instead. I got them quite a while ago and they’ve held up really well. I was originally going to use the leaf garland as a base for green hydrangeas or yellow roses (which are the flowers we still have blooming in the yard at this time of year,) but I liked it so well by itself, that I took out the hydrangeas and went with just the leaves. Sometimes simple is just right.
Candles for Height and Beauty
I wanted to use the new crystal candle holders I’d gotten recently.
These are so pretty and are just the right size to fit under the new hurricane sleeves I’d also gotten. I was really excited to use these, and since it was a breezy day, I thought this was a perfect occasion for their first outing.
They performed really well, even at the very beginning when the flames were just barely inside the sleeves. As the candles burned down, the flames got even straighter. The glass got really hot though so I wouldn’t recommend these if there are small children around, or any chance they could get knocked over. For this cozy table for two though, they were perfect!
Green & Gold China
Since the candles were gold, I wanted the place setting to use gold too! I thought our everyday gold chargers and this beautiful set of marbled green china with stunning gold borders would work beautifully. I offset each of the plates in the stack so that we could see as much of that wonderful gold rim as possible. It’s definitely not a traditional way to put the plates on the charger, but what the heck! It actually looks kind of cool!
The gold accents of flatware and napkin rings finish off this reasonably elegant al fresco tablescape.
Linens for our Al Fresco Tablescape
This tablecloth isn’t strictly Fall, but it’s the first one that comes to my mind when I think Autumn. It’s really for a rectangular table, but I often use that shape on a round table. I kind of like the extra drape, (as long as the ground is dry, right?) and you can put two of the chairs under the short sides.
The napkins are a beautiful brown linen and match beautifully with some of the leaves in the centerpiece, so we’re all set!
Al Fresco Tablescape Inspiration
I hope you got some fall table inspiration from our al fresco tablescape. As always, you can use these ideas inside too, and for any fall-ish occasion like a birthday party, an anniversary, Halloween, or even a Thanksgiving table setting! If you want to switch out the gold for copper, that would look great this season too.
I’ve set a couple outdoor copper tablescapes in the past, like Is there anything better than eating outside at a beautiful fall table?
If You’re Still In Summer Mode For A While Yet –
Take a look at the Summer Peach Dinner Party Plan! It’s a complete pdf luxury magazine-style guide to hosting a peach inspired dinner party – from the tablescape and the menu, right down to the prep timeline and playlist.
The regular price in the Mantel and Table shop is $27, but if you purchase through this link A Summer Peach Dinner Party Plan To Make It All Easy or click on the picture below, you get a 15% discount, so feel free to do that, and get an immediate download of your plan. Happy Hosting!
Barbara’s Boutique Reccomendations
Click on the pictures of the pieces I used in this post. If the exact item isn’t available any more, I chose a similar option.
* This post includes affiliate links for your shopping convenience. If you click on a link and buy anything from that site during your visit, I get a small commission and there’s no extra charge for you! It really helps toward the cost of publishing Mantel and Table, and I seriously appreciate it. (You can read the whole disclosure policy here.) Thanks so much for shopping with me!
And remember, a portion of anything you buy from MANTELandTABLE.com goes to Habitat for Humanity and Proud Ground. With our purchases, we get to help people build homes for their own mantels and tables!
Now on with the hop!
Click or tap on the links below to get even more fabulous fall tablescape inspiration!
- Panoply – Shuffling Seasons with an Early Fall Tablescape
- Home is Where the Boat Is – Woodland Friends and Harvest Plaid
- Everyday Living – The Colorful Bliss of Autumn
- Hyacinths for the Soul – On the Cusp of Autumn
- Celebrating Everyday Life – Welcome Fall with a Cozy & Elegant Tablescape
- My Thrift Store Addiction – Curated Charm Autumn Breakfast Table
- The Bookish Dilettante – Welcome Fall with Neutral and Yellow
- Thrifting Wonderland – Thrifting for a Welcome Fall Tablescape
- The Cat’s Whiskerz – Hydrangeas, Sunflowers, and Pumpkins for a Fall Tablescape
- Red Cottage Chronicles – A Cozy Autumn Dinner
- Dinner at Eight – Leaves of Green – and Gold, Crimson, Rust and Bronze
- Life and Linda – An Enchanted Fall Faerie Tablescape
- Me and My Captain – Another Fall…Another Turned Page…in New Mexico
- Corner of Plaid and Paisley – A Little Taste of Fall Tablescape
- Mantel and Table – An Intimate Al Fresco Tablescape: Cozy & Beautiful Fall Dining – You are here!
Pin the Fall Al Fresco Tablescape for Later
Shared with
Barbara, your al fresco fall table is dreamy! ✨🍷 The twinkle lights, cozy layers, and intimate setting feel so romantic and special. I love how you captured the magic of dining outdoors as the seasons shift—absolutely beautiful! I’m absolutely smitten with your napkin rings!! Love, love them! Such a joy to welcome fall with you!!!
Hi Jennifer – Aren’t those rings fun? I was so lucky to find gold ones. Thanks for your sweet comment – I love sharing a hop with you too!
Beautiful Barbara, and I love the contrast between the elegant china and candles and the rustic leaves!
Thanks Jenna, I’m so glad you like it! Always so fun hopping with you! Happy Fall!
Barbara, this is quite an elegant tablescape for al fresco dining in the garden! I love everything about it, from the softly patterned tablecloth, to the eye-cathching candles, to the pretty leaves winding their way across the table. I’ve always admired the Fitzgerald china and would love to have a few pieces, especially since it looks so striking here. I grinned when you talked about how you positioned the plates — but they do look cool that way! I think this would be a lovely table for one of the competitions you join. Have a wonderful autumn!
Hey Sandra – that’s a brilliant idea! You’re not supposed to enter any table you’ve entered before, but they never said anything about ones you’ve had on your blog before! 🙂 I’ll keep that in mind – thanks!
Barbara, how fun, romantic, and elegant all rolled into one! The table is beautiful. I love the faux leaves (even ours have not started to turn) paired with the gold-rimmed teal plates. And I love how you offset them too to show the gold rim – it does look cool. The gold flatware, napkin holders, and candles are perfect too. Love the new hurricanes and what a great idea. The tablecloth has a subtle hint of pattern but does not detract from the beautiful place settings. I hope you and your husband had a wonderful meal here and happy almost fall!
We did have a lovely dinner, and those hurricanes really did their job – I was hoping they would! We’ve used them several times, and I can see them being the standard for outdoor tablescapes from now on. It’s so nice not to have to worry about the candles dripping because of the wind anymore.
I’m so glad you like the table – it’s so fun to share the hop with you! Take care till next time my friend!
This is beautiful Barbara! I’m eagerly awaiting our temps to cool down to enjoy some alfresco dining. I love the soft colors of your tablecloth paired with your leaf garland. Pretty crystal candlesticks and hurricanes too! As always, it’s a treat to join you at the table and hop with you. Happy September! 🍂🧡
Hi Mary – it’s funny how I have to wait for it to warm up and you have to wait for it to cool down to dine al fresco – different climates. I love sharing the hops too. Hope your fall is going great!
Love this alfresco setting to welcome fall, Barbara. That opening photo is so striking! Love the way the sun shines on the plate stacks and the moody colors of the linens, leaves and wood chairs against the muted colors of the tablecloth. Only upon further photos did I observe the china had that teal green rim, very nice! I love being able to have cloths that are versatile enough to use how both you & I did this time around. Those glass hurricanes for the tapers are fantastic, great for any breeze that should come your way while dining. Thank you so much for joining in the celebration of welcoming fall in this hop! Happy September!
Thanks so much Rita, I’m honored to join with you all! Sorry I’m just now responding to you – the month has been crazy, as fall often is around here. Isn’t it fun how you can see something new each time you look at a picture? And it’s great when you can catch the light just right too – that seems like magic to me! Thanks so much for hosting this fabulous collection of inspiring tables. I’m sorry I’ll have to miss Halloween, but can’t wait to see what you all do! Take care till then!
Barbara, your alfresco table is lovely. The autumn muted tablecloth is perfect with your styled table. The runner of faux leaves makes quite the statement. Love your green marbled china with the gold borders. The way you offset them is fabulous! Your new crystal candle holders are beautiful with the gold candles. A lovely alfresco table to welcome fall. A pleasure hopping along with you.
Thanks so much Linda! It was great to get out the green china again – I’d almost forgotten about it, and it was so fun to style it in a different way. The old “shop your home first” strategy really works out! A pleasure hopping with you too – I’m so glad you stopped by!
Such a lovely table, Barbara. The tablecloth with its muted autumn colors is the perfect backdrop for the formal setting outdoors. Loved the simple fall table runner that pairs so well with the golden highlights of the setting. The green border is a nice contrast to all the oranges and reds. Always a pleasure to hop with you.
Lynne, Thrifting Wonderland
Hi Lynne! Isn’t it fun to do these hops? If for no other reason than to set a table that evokes the season. It’s great to share them with you too – I always love to see what you’re up to! Take care till next time, and Happy Fall!
Barbara, I totally agree about beautiful tables set alfresco. They are the perfect dining experience. I love the chairs, your table for two, and the colorful leaf swag across the table. All of your details are exquisite. The faux marble design of the plates is stellar. Who makes that pattern? I also like your candles w/ hurricanes. I learned the hard way about open flames at the table. I will only use real flames within a hurricane now. I was pouring coffee and my sweater sleeve went up in flames. I wasn’t harmed, but it certainly taught me a lesson.
Thanks for sharing the beauty. I wish you a beautiful autumn with many opportunities for alfresco dining.
Oh wow Sarah! I’m so glad you weren’t hurt! (No fun to lose a sweater though!) It was good luck finding the hurricane sleeves – they are super handy, and I love the way they look too. The china pattern is Fitzgerald by Noritake. It is a lovely one. Hope you’re having a lovely fall! Take care till next time!
Barbara, I love your table for two, it is fall perfect and romantic. The leaves set the mood for autumn and your beautiful marbled green china with the gold border is so lovely. An alfresco setting in the early evening with candlelight is always a winner! It is a pleasure to be invited to your table.Happy Autumn!
Thanks so much Pam! It’s cooling off quite a bit now at nights, so we eat out with our little chiminea provideing even more glow! Fall is so fun! I always love to share these hops with you! Hope your fall is lovely down there! Take care –
This is beautiful, and I love how your table sparkles in the waning light! Very intimate, and very pretty. I hope you have a lovely autumn! It looks like you are off to a great start.
Hi Ricki – Thanks! I love that lowering light too – it looks so much like fall! Hope you’re having a lovely time as well – always great hopping with you!
Barb your table is definitely screaming Fall with those colorful leaves across the center of your table. How romantic is your table for two. I am sure the hubs loves these kinds of dinners. I also like how your gold is showing on each of the plates . I love your choices of tablecloth and letting it drape is really a thing now. Thanks for joining our hops as you are always inspiring so I look forward to each of your tables. You have a gift my friend. Hugs and Blessings
Haha – yes he likes that we have more opportunities to eat at a real table instead of on our laps on the couch watching movies! 🤣 Sometimes he’ll ask me if we’re really eating or I’m just taking pictures! Thanks so much Kari – you’re so nice! Happy Fall my friend!
Barbara, what a beautiful way to celebrate fall!! Your table is lovely – your wood chairs outdoor with the pretty tablecloth cascading to the ground makes a wonderful photo! It is all so pretty.
Thanks so much Ann! It’s fun to move the indoor things outdoors and really relax with the nice weather. So nice hopping with you – take care till next time!
Barbara, your tablescape is lovely. I really like that gorgeous tablecloth – alas it is sold out. But I’d need a very long one for my super long dining table. Happy September!!
Hi Michele! Oh, I’m sorry the tablecloth is sold out – maybe it’ll come back into stock at some point, then you can buy two and sew them together! 🤣 I’ve always wanted a really long table – you must love yours for lots of people to gather. Thanks so much for sharing all this with me – you’re a true inspiration!
Update – I just found some more of those tablecloths, so you should be able to get them now! Thanks for letting me know!
Barbara, your lovely outdoor setting is perfect for welcoming the new season! I love the look of fallen leaves you have created and would love to pull up a chair to your pretty table! Blessings, Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction
Thanks so much Cecilia! It’s so fun to use leaves in the fall. Cliche, I know, but still … ! I always enjoy sharing a hop with you. Hope you have a lovely fall until we do another. Take care –