I love Halloween and all the fun decor that comes with the theme.

But when it comes to fancy dinner parties, I find that less is more when trying to achieve that elegant and refined table style. Dark colors set the spooky atmosphere in this party with subtle touches of Halloween hidden in the details. Black plates, napkins, taper candles and pumpkins ground each table setting while pops of gold add an element of luxury. I highly suggest spending a little extra on your fine dining collections instead of purchasing single use plastics. Not only is it an elevated look for your home gatherings, but it’s also a great way to reduce plastic waste.

For this artistic approach to a fall inspired table runner, I used a mix of dark-colored florals like these ranunculi and scabiosa stems I placed in hidden vials amongst a runner of fresh fruit. The personalized black pumpkins which topped each place setting were an easy DIY using black spray paint and a sharpie. You can use faux or fresh pumpkins for this project by spray painting them in matte black. Then, using your best handwriting skills, sketch out the names of your guests in pencil before finishing them in a metallic gold sharpie. To bring the final element of spooky drama to the table, I added dry ice in each drink for a foggy and ethereal effect!

Themed charcuterie

was the perfect way to start this spooktacular dinner. Starting with a large black slate serving tray, I topped it with a veiny blue and simple brie cheese. I then added my favorite pairings like the dark buckwheat honey, assortment of fruits, nuts and sliced sausage. Color is something to consider when shopping for your charcuterie items. Opt for purple grapes in lieu of the lighter green and look for dark brown table crackers. These small changes will affect the overall display results of your pretty grazing board.

For the drinks, try serving a signature drink like this extra spooky and delicious apple cocktail using dry ice! It’s a drink with a show and you can let the kids in on the fun with the mocktail version by leaving out the liquor.

GHOSTLY APPLE COCKTAIL

INGREDIENTS:
2 oz Apple Cider
2 oz Caramel Vodka
1 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
Sliced Red Delicious Apples for Garnish

DIRECTIONS:
Combine all ingredients except the apple slices in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to mix and pour into glasses. Finish by garnishing the rims with a slice of apple. Optional: Carefully add a small chunk of dry ice to your cocktails for an extra spooky effect that lasts about 5-10 minutes! Use proper care when handling and serving dry ice.