5 Tips for DIY Thanksgiving Table Settings That Wow

Table setting ideas for fall and winter

Take festive food & drinks to the next level with custom cards, labels and tags

Thanksgiving table settings are all about warming hearts. That’s true whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving with a family dinner, showing out at the fall festival, or just enjoying the bounty of the season.

In this article, you’ll learn how to use custom cards, labels, and tags to add a real “wow factor” to any kind of Thanksgiving table setting. In fact, you’ll find tips and tricks for designing and printing, how to choose the right labels for food and drink, and more.

More ideas to help you plan a cozy fall get-together:

On the left is a festive fall table setting with a gold knife, fork and spoon atop a taupe napkin, a DIY printed menu with an orange pumpkin design, and a thick wooden trunk cutting, with two white pumpkins and other festive decorations surrounding it. On the right is a table with seven festive fall tent place cards, with a bouquet of pinecones, leaves, white pumpkins, and sage behind them.
Design personalized cards for your Thanksgiving table. Print them at home or have them custom-printed.

1) Create beautiful personalized cards for formal table settings and more

Postcards, business cards, and tent cards are perfect for dressing up any Thanksgiving table setting or display. Whether it’s a place setting, buffet-style party food, or even your table at the farmer’s market or fall festival. No matter what kind of Thanksgiving table your setting, pretty little details make your guests feel welcomed.

Menu cards. Formal Thanksgiving table settings look even more elegant and refined with a printed menu card. Print on rectangle postcards for a classic, timeless feel. Or use custom-printed cards to experiment with scalloped or flourished edges to complement more ornate or whimsical table settings. 

Tent cards & place cards. Place settings for a Thanksgiving table or other special occasions instantly feel more personal with place cards. Place cards and small tent cards work perfectly every time and have hundreds of predesigned templates to choose from. Or, go for a simple modern look with flat table name tags printed on business cards.

Parties & buffet tables. Identifying foods and displaying ingredients for allergy/dietary restrictions is a thoughtful touch for self-serve Thanksgiving table settings. Gold-trimmed place cards add rich warmth and glamour to buffet-style table settings.

Community events. Table tent cards are incredibly useful for dressing a Thanksgiving table for your local harvest fair, fundraiser, or farmer’s market. Printed table tent cards that are easy to read, attractive and professional-looking help entice visitors and display the information they need when deciding to buy.

On the left are several cellophane baggies of trail mix with chocolate candies inside, tied with strings and a small cardstock tag reading, "Happy Fall, Y'all" with a watercolor sunflower image underneath. On the right is one of the same kinds of bags with a tag, but with chocolate chip cookies inside.
Printable tags are an easy way to add a pop of color and visual interest treat bags, gift baskets for raffles, wine, beer, or soda bottles, and more.

2) Set a table to showcase homemade and themed goodies for Thanksgiving parties

From entertaining at home to fundraising in the community, custom labels and tags make your delicious homemade goodies stand out. In fact, we have a few easy ways to elevate your Thanksgiving table setting with custom labels and tags for food and drinks

Treat bag tags. Tags aren’t just for traditional gifts. Create your own personalized gift tags for treats and snacks to dress your Thanksgiving table setting. Not only will they add visual interest to food tables at parties and events, but personalized treats can also make for a whimsical centerpiece.

Custom jar labels. Labels for jars, bottles, cans, and other packaging entices visitors to come to your table and take a closer look. Or, use them to decorate “take away” gifts for your Thanksgiving dinner, like homemade jam or Mason jar gifts.

Themed beer and wine labels. Personalized beer and wine labels that match your theme look expensive and add extra oomph to a fancy Thanksgiving table setting.

Treat toppers. Use two labels back-to-back on a coffee stirrer to make themed food toppers for your Thanksgiving table setting. It’s so easy, that you’ll soon be using them at all your parties!

On the left are rows of glass food jars with metal lids, labeled with a white oval label with a cutesy fall fox and leaf design reading, "Just being thankful." On the right is a fresh pumpkin pie with a festive DIY treat topper sitting in a white dish next to a small orange pumpkin, a bouquet of red and yellow flowers in a wooden box and orange-red leaves.
Create your own personalized labels to add your Thanksgiving theme to jars, bottles, cans, and more.

3) Choose the right labels for food & drink used in your table setting

Adding labels to food and drink containers can be a little complicated. Certainly, condensation, drips, temperature, and container shape are all factors to consider. Choosing the right label ensures your labels stay looking great and compliment the table setting.

First and foremost, decide if you need film labels or if paper labels will work. Film labels are more durable and hold up better to water and oils than paper labels. Anything with liquids involved is generally going to look better with film labels.

While film labels are generally water-resistant, waterproof labels are best for beverage bottles. Especially chilled beverages that get wet from condensation or will be submerged in ice. Waterproof wraparound labels designed to work on water bottles easily elevate a drinks station to compliment your Thanksgiving table.

Next decide on the shape and size. We have the perfect article to help you figure out the best shape and size label for your project. Of course, our “In-Store” packaged labels (just like you find at your favorite office supply store) come in the most common shapes and sizes. However, our blank labels by the sheet can be ordered in custom sizes and custom-printed labels can be ordered in custom sizes and shapes!

Watch a video showing how to personalize labels, cards, and tags with our free online software.

4) Design personalized labels, cards, and tags for table settings

Personalized details look expensive and make any Thanksgiving table setting feel extra special. You can design your own stunning custom labels for food and drink, place cards, and more, without going to an expensive custom stationery store.

Avery Design and Print Online (ADPO) is our free cloud-based label design software. Using ADPO you can design labels, cards, and tags from scratch, modify pre-designed templates, or upload your own designs. Tools for adding your own photos or custom text, colors, and graphics from the gallery are all included.

When you log in to your free Avery account you can design, save, and print your personalized table setting accents from any internet-enabled device. You can even share links to your saved projects via email or apply saved designs to a different Avery product. Friends, family, and cohosts can modify or reuse your Thanksgiving table setting cards, labels, and tags for future events as needed. 

Pro Tip: Find templates for any Avery label, card, or tag using the product number. If you get stuck, there are tons of help center articles for template support. Or, our Customer Care team is always happy to assist by phone or chat. 

Cards, labels and tags that make your Thanksgiving table settings feel special

Welcome guests into your home and heart with all the little details that give your Thanksgiving table settings that extra “wow factor.” Create personalized menu cards and place cards for place settings. Design eye-catching tent cards to enhance table settings for buffets, parties and events. Use labels and tags to make homemade goodies stand out on any kind of Thanksgiving table.

With Avery Design and Print Online and free Avery templates it’s never been easier to leverage simple tools to create beautiful accents for your Thanksgiving table setting. No matter how small or large the gathering.

How do you add that extra “wow factor” to your Thanksgiving table? Share your festive themes with us on Instagram or Facebook!


Author: JoJo Mrgich

JoAnn (JoJo) Mrgich is a copywriter and SEO content writer who began her copywriting career in 2011. A musical theater major at the time, JoJo began writing blog articles, product descriptions, and other online content for a dancewear brand. Since then, she has gone on to write in a variety of fields, from essential oils and natural beauty to fashion and swimwear, finally landing at Avery, which she affectionately calls her "forever home." At Avery, JoJo writes content for the Avery blog, covering everything from organization to party planning, as well as contributing to other online content for avery.com. She is also a technical and content writer for Avery Industrial, where she writes in-depth articles that span a wide variety of topics, from safety compliance to 5S lean practices. In her personal life, JoJo is a big fan of fantasy and science-fiction works such as Lord of the Rings and Star Trek (especially the original series). She also loves going to Disneyland and runs a non-profit social organization of 600 members that brings fans of "nerd culture" together for meet-ups and events in Southern California.

2 thoughts on “5 Tips for DIY Thanksgiving Table Settings That Wow”

  1. I am trying to get a temple for the “What am I thankful for” 3 x 5 cards. I have your 5388 temples but can’t find the temple. Please help.

    Date:
    What am I thankful for:_________________

    Name: ___________

    1. Hi Elizabeth,
      We’re sorry but it looks like we do not have this template available. We would recommend starting the project on a postcard template, such as 3263. Once you are in Step 2 Choose Design, select the Holiday Category on the left and select Thanksgiving, and browse those designs. Once you are in the Customize screen, you can click on Change Template in the upper right and transfer that design to your 5388 index cards. If you have additional questions, please call us at 800-462-8379 and we would be happy to help.

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