Setup & Décor

When prepping for any party, begin by cleaning your space then set the scene by putting your decorations in place. For a step-by-step clean-up guide, simply download and print our Fall Party Prep & Clean-Up Checklist.

1. Furniture Migration: Before you decorate, create your furniture setup out back. You can search for inexpensive tables and chairs at thrift stores, but to save money and time, simply transport your kitchen set to the backyard. Look for a sheltered spot under a tree and surround the area with additional chairs for seating and décor displays.

Tip: If you have multiple tables to choose from at home, opt for the most muted and simple one so that your décor can pop. Black, dark brown, white and natural wood all work beautifully.

2. Prime Your Tablescape: Add a touch of colour and texture by laying a runner across your table. Unlike a tablecloth, we love how it lets portions of the tabletop shine through, creating a rustic, layered look.

Tip: Depending on the colour and material of your table, choose a fabric that contrasts the furniture and helps build your colour palette. Think cranberry on black, burnt orange on brown or mustard yellow on cherry maple wood.

3. Hang Paper Leaves: Bring more hues into the mix by hanging this darling, delicate Autumn Leaf Garland across the front of your table, or strung from the branches above.

Tip: When crafting your paper garlands, use papers in the colours of your choice. For this outdoor setup, start with brown, orange and yellow, then add an unexpected accent colour like robin’s egg blue or light green.

4. Perfect Your Place Settings: Make each of your guests feel special by seating them at pretty, personalized place settings. Start with a plate, then add a casually folded linen napkin in a contrasting shade. To create a place card holder, curl one end of an 8” piece of wire with round-nose pliers, then insert the straight end into a small tree puck, available at your local craft or hardware store. Tuck a decorative place card into the wire curl. Complete the look with a thoughtfully placed acorn or berry.


5. Rustic Touches: In the centre of your table, add an understated autumnal bouquet in a glass mason jar. Above your table, continue to bring the indoors out by hanging a chandelier from a sturdy branch overhead. Visit a local flea market or thrift shop for an inexpensive find, then use spray paint to give it a quick facelift.

Tip: Use caution when hanging your light fixture—visit your local hardware store and consult with a specialist to find out what materials you’ll need to do it safely.

Food & Drink


Once your table décor is in place, turn your attention to the menu and discover quick, easy ways to serve it in style.

• Dip-It-Yourself Candy Apples: In the spirit of your Autumnal Harvest Party, serve up a few fall essentials, like apple cider in carafes and yummy caramel apples. Set up a station in your yard where guests can dip their own, then add the toppings of their choice. Try crushed peanuts or stripes of white and dark chocolate.

• Sweet Somethings: Fill out your tablescape with small decorative dishes of treats like candy corn, dried apricot and ginger and Cinnamon-Sugar Apple Chips.
• Easy Gourmet: For a taste of the savoury side, consider an easy, family-style cheese plate, filled with rich, earthy cheeses like smoked Gouda and white cheddar, plus assorted breads, nuts and our Mango Chutney.

Tip: Roasted pumpkin seeds are another simple snack that’s perfect for a party. Learn how to make them and discover other ways to cook with pumpkin this season.

Easy Activities

Encourage friends to roll up their sleeves for fun, easy crafts and gardening projects.

• Designer Pumpkins: Instead of carving, show your friends creative new ways to dress up pumpkins this season. From miniature ones dripping in glitter to large varieties gilded in stripes and spots, there are lots of ways to update the ordinary pumpkin.
• Bulb Planting: Prior to your party, pick up a terracotta pot for each of your guests. Paint the entire pot, aside from the rim, with black chalkboard paint and let dry. On the day of your party, set up a craft table with soil, gloves, shovels and fall-blooming bulbs. Your friends can plant their own bulbs to tote home, then personalize their pot with chalk.