You swore you’d never do it. But dozens of cousins and a few unexpected out-of-towners have joined the guest list, and your dishwasher has officially run out of bandwidth. You could keep expanding your china collection to accommodate a crowd that assembles in full once a year. Or you could spare yourself the handwashing, stop disappearing between courses, and actually sit down to enjoy your Thanksgiving.
Paper plates, by names like Table Two Studio, Pavillion Paper, and Sophistiplate, have gotten very good at cosplaying porcelain. ‘Avoid anything overly glossy or printed with obvious seasonal graphics,’ says Erika Gessin, Founder & Creative Director of The Fete Edit. ‘I especially love scalloped plates in warm toffee or taupe tones for Thanksgiving. Their soft, earthy colors feel sophisticated and complement the season without relying on traditional holiday motifs.’
Of course, these low-maintenance styles don’t excuse you from putting in the effort elsewhere on your Thanksgiving table. Personal touches like menus or handwritten place cards should stay. So should the usual tableware, such as cloth napkins, a real linen tablecloth, striking centerpiece, and, perhaps most importantly, chargers. ‘Layering is one of the simplest ways to make disposable dinnerware feel more substantial,’ continues Erika. ‘The charger adds structure and texture, giving the setting the same visual weight as traditional ceramic dinnerware. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference.’
‘Guests experience the table as a whole, so surrounding a paper plate with pieces that feel special helps it blend right in,' says The Fete Edit's Erika Gessin. Table Two Studio’s Thanksgiving collection hardly needs the help, grounding the scene with rich autumnal tones, falling foliage, and fanciful borders that might very well rival anything in your china cabinet.
They're as easy on the eyes as they are to clean. From passed hors d’oeuvres to Thanksgiving’s final slice of pie, these 16 paper plates offer some much-needed hosting relief without compromising your table’s good looks.
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