I just wrapped up a quick Christmas shoot yesterday so my house seems to have skipped Thanksgiving entirely this year. But not so for most of you, I’m sure.  Crazy, complicated tablescapes are gorgeous and fun but most of us don’t have time for that (plus, when your table is full of gourds and wheat bundles, where does the food go? Stuffing and other various carbs is more important to me than a basket full of miniature pumpkins covered in gold glitter). So my advice? A simple flower arrangement (cabbages and dahlias look lovely) and some cool place cards add just enough cheer without overwhelming your table.  Here are some fun place card ideas:

Get some gold spray paint, a few fallen dried leaves and a paint pen and whip these up!

Or skip the gold spray paint and use a white paint pen on darker dried leaves:

How SWEET are these rosemary wreaths??? Simple too– and they’ll work great for Christmas tables!

Write down what you are thankful for about each person at your table along with their name on these great letterpress cards.

OK, seriously? Who has the time and the hand/ eye coordination to do these? But they are SO SO COOL. If you can pull this off, a tip of my hat to you.

Simple wheat stalks tied with metal frames paper tags.

Hire a calligrapher to do some for you on Etsy!

How friggin’ ADORABLE is this for the kids table?? Just a small paper bag wrapped around some candy, apparently.

A single sprig of rosemary wrapped with a small banner shaped name tag.

A die cut paper leaf and green wire added to a small white pumpkin. (Reminds me of this hysterical McSweeney’s article. A classic.)

Blank wood leaves are simple but substantial. Practice your best handwriting!

This is also amazing for the kids table- use big maps as tablecloths and little ships as place cards. How to HERE.

I used miniature pears and gold tipped tacks as the place cards for my wedding! Also great for Thanksgiving tables, as is the idea of clustering old family photos as a centerpiece.

Little walnuts with tiny banners! Also cute when spray painted gold (but what isn’t?)

Rustic but modern wood and air plant place cards make a KILLER take home!

Here are some favorite Thanksgiving entertaining finds!