~ A Farmhouse Christmas Party ~

Hi Friends! I hope you enjoyed the weekend…

On Friday evening, we hosted a sit-down dinner party for 22 people. It was our first time hosting that many for dinner since moving here to our little farmstead!

So, the big question was… where do we seat everyone?

At our last house, we had an open living/dining room area. This gave us flexibility when it came to entertaining, since we could fit more people in one large area.

When it comes to every day living, I prefer the coziness of individual spaces like we have here at our current house. Yet, it poses a bit of a challenge when trying to accommodate a larger group!

We decided to seat people in three different rooms.

First, in the family room, we moved out our coffee table and brought in a table, chairs and bench. The wingback at the end of the table is normally angled by the sectional, so it was an easy move.

The second room we used for dinner was our living room. We set a table for 10, right down the middle of the room, by our Christmas tree.

We brought the outdoor vintage nativity inside this year. 

It was just the right height to fit on top of the cabinets. 

I love using lots of candlelight this time of year! 

The wood rounds came from the farm where we cut down our Christmas tree. Tree farms are usually happy for you to take them - just ask!

The candles, wrapped in sheet music, by each place were the favors (I didn't light these). They are so easy to make and compliment a neutral, vintage tablescape.

Here are the DIY Candle Instructions from when I made book page candles for my mom's Jane Austen party.

We also used vintage sheet music for the place settings.

I brought in pinecones and greenery for a simple, rustic touch.

The dining room was the third area for seating. We decided to only seat six in this room since the counter area would serve as the main course buffet (salads and desserts were served at each table) and we didn't want it to feel too cramped.

It was a cozy and joyful time, sharing life 

that evening with people we love and respect very much. 

And now I'm wondering, will you be hosting company this season? 

Any entertaining tips to share? I think we'd all love to hear!

xo

Sharing with:
Cozy Little House
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Ivy and Elephants
Savvy Southern Style

ps - A little "behind the scenes" picture, taken a few hours before guests showed up… I love seeing the world through our boys' eyes! Our littlest was completely lost in his imagination, without a care in the world! 

(That is a coon-skin hat he's wearing, minus the tail - thanks to our dog, Charlie. :)