A Memorial Day Table Setting with a Beach-Nautical Theme

Welcome to the 557th Tablescape Thursday!

With Memorial Day weekend almost here, it’s time for a patriotic table to honor those who have so valiantly served in our armed forces. As I did last year with a 4th of July table, I decided to give this table a beach/nautical vibe.

Patriotic Table with a Beach-Nautical Theme

 

Do you have any special plans for this holiday weekend? Are you heading to the beach, planning a Memorial Day cookout or just spending it quietly with family and friends?

Table Setting in Red, White and Blue

 

For this week’s table, I pulled out a large lantern I haven’t used it a while for our centerpiece. I added some pretty, white, beach sand, a white pillar candle and a few seashells collected many years ago on Captiva Island.

Memorial Day Table Setting with a Beach Theme

 

You may remember the blue, white and green driftwood garland from previous beach-themed tables. I found it in Marshalls (I think) several years ago. I haven’t used it in tables a lot because it’s super long, thus difficult to work into a centerpiece. Yesterday I decided to try cutting it in half and that worked great.

I thought it would be tricky tying off the thick, flexible twine that held it together, but with the help of a pair of needle-nose pliers, it was actually very easy. I think it will be much easier to use in centerpieces now since it can be placed on either side of the main feature (like a large lantern) or can still be used as one long piece to decorate a hutch or table.

Red, White and Blue Table for Memorial Day

 

I almost brought out the crab and lobster plates I’ve used in previous beachy tables.

 

But these cute David Carter Brown plates in a pattern called “Driftwood” won out in the end. I love how they look with the Warren Kimble “Colonial” flag-themed dinner plates. This patriotic “flag” dishware is often available on eBay where I purchased my set. I just now found some here: Flag Dishware.

Warren Kimble Flag Plates, David Carter Brown Plate, Crab Plate

 

Last year was the first time I’ve set a patriotic table with a nautical/beach twist. It challenges my brain a bit, mixing two themes together and trying to make sure one theme doesn’t overwhelm the other.

Last year I used my fave Driftwood Chargers.

4th of July Table with Beach Theme

 

This year I went with the shell charges I made a few years back. If you would like to make these chargers for your summer dining, you’ll find an easy tutorial here: DIY Shell Chargers. They are easy to make, just a bit time consuming–a great project while watching a movie or listening to a good book on Audible.

Shell Chargers in Beach Themed table for Memorial Day

 

I pulled out the shark flatware for this table. Dun dun… dun dun…. dun dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnn…

Shell Charger Plates, Shark Flatware

 

I love this silly flatware so much!

Galleyware Fishstix Nautical Shark Flatware

 

The knife also has a fin across the top. Ha! I found it a few years back on Amazon here: Shark Flatware.

 

A few more of the salad plates from this nautical-themed set…

Driftwood Salad Plates by David Carter Brown, Lighthouse Plate

 

Love these shell napkin rings! They were a find in Cracker Barrel one year. I always take pit stops at CB when making the long trek to visit family in Ohio. I couldn’t pass these up when I saw them during one of my stops. CB often has really cute dishware throughout the year. Love walking around their gift shop when my body/legs need a break from driving.

The star napkins are available again this year and are currently on sale 30% off with the code SAVEMORE. You’ll find them here: Star Napkins.

Shell Napkin Rings for Beach Themed Nautical Table Setting

 

I’m having trouble remembering where I found these cute, fishy wine glasses. May have been Pier 1, or was it Dollar Tree? The “redneck” solo cup glasses are made from a very heavy-duty melamine, super sturdy and a lot of fun for casual settings. They can be used for water, tea or wine. I’m using them as our tea glass in this table. You’ll find them available here: Glasses.

Fish Wine Glasses, Redneck Solo Cup Glasses

 

Of course, I had to use the adorable crab place card holders I shared recently. They weren’t on sale when I bought them, but I noticed this evening, they are currently on sale 30% off with the code SAVEMORE. You’ll find them available here: Place Card Holders.

Crab Placecard Holders for a Beach-themed table setting

 

Last night I Googled to see what they call the little rickey picket fence that we so often see running along the beach. It appears to be appropriately called, sand fencing. It supposed to help hold the sand and can be moved around to stabilized the sand after a big storm. Guess that’s why it always looks a bit unstable…it’s movable fencing.

Love these little “sand fencing” votive holders. I believe they were from Colonial Candles many years ago.

Sand Fence Votive Candle Holders for Beach Themed Table Setting

 

A view from above… My neighbors next door are probably shaking their heads right now, wondering about their crazy neighbor who periodically stands atop chairs on her screened porch. 😉

Beach themed table setting in red, white and blue, Patriotic Tablescape

 

Patriotic Table with a Beach-Nautical Theme

 

I’ll leave you with a few photos of the porch hutch…

Memorial Day Decor for Screened Porch

 

If you would like to make this wood flag for your patriotic holiday celebrations, you’ll find a detailed tutorial here: DIY Wood Flag.

Screened Porch, Patriotic Decor, DIY Wood Flag

 

I hope you have a special Memorial Day weekend and are spending it with family and friends as we honor those who have sacrificed so much to keep us safe and protected. Stay safe this Memorial Day weekend, dear friends!

Looking forward to the beautiful tables shared for this week’s Tablescape Thursday!

Pssst: Follow Between Naps on the Porch on Instagram here: Between Naps On The Porch on Instagram and on Facebook here: Between Naps On The Porch on Facebook.

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Comments

  1. Susan, your table is red, white, and beach perfect! Love how you combined the two themes, so cute! Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

  2. Love those little crab place card holders! They work perfectly with the beach-themed salad dishes. And I love the shell napkin ring holders with the shell chargers. Perfect! The little fence candle holders were a great find, too. Thanks, Susan. I hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend. (and please don’t break your neck climbing on chairs!)

  3. Love the festive table — perfectly party ready! The quirky wine glasses really charmed me. Enjoy the weekend!

  4. Sheila Cartelli says

    Hi Susan,
    Love the table setting as I am at the Beach and Patriotic.
    They may call it Sand Fencing down South, but up here in New England we call is Snow Fencing … It may work for snow, but it is useless to keep the sands from moving. The ocean just eats away at the sand the fencing is supposed to keep in place and pretty soon, down it goes.
    Sands move in and out, but The Ocean Always Wins…
    Best,
    SheilaC

  5. Fish face knife blade – how fun

  6. Susan, a lovely salute to summer holidays and the carefree days that keep us on the porch and at the beach. Have a fun-filled holiday!

  7. Love your festive table, Susan! I love the mix of patriotic and nautical. I got those”fishy” wine glasses a few years ago at T.J. Maxx.
    Happy Memorial Day to you!

    • Maybe that’s where I bought them. I should start writing it down somewhere. lol Thanks, Martha! Have a great weekend! XXX

  8. Awww, Susan!
    I’d feel like in Heaven if I’d sit at that table and you know why, don’t you?
    I could start listing what I love about your today’s post but to make a long story short, I just say: I L.O.V.E everything I can see on that table and on your porch! 🙂
    Wishing you and the U.S. a peaceful and blessed Memorial Day Weekend!

  9. I still say that Pier 1 and Pottery Barn should hire you to do all of their tablescapes. This one is sheer perfection! Have a safe and happy holiday.

    • Awww, thanks Sandra! It would be fun to have the whole store at my disposal for setting a table. 🙂 Hope your holiday weekend is relaxing! XXX

  10. I love your tablescape! Such fun elements like the star napkins and the darling silverware!! You always put together such fun Tablescapes. Thank you for always inspiring us.
    Hugs,
    Karin
    http://www.karinskottage.com (AKA The Style Sisters)

  11. Darlene Gardner says

    As always Susan, I love your table! You put some much thought into how you finish up a table. Everything goes together so well, both the patriotic and nautical themes. And your hutch on your porch is perfect – leave it up until the 4th! Happy Memorial Day!

    • That’s a great idea! I think I’ll leave the flag up and the hutch decorated through the 4th. Have a great weekend, Darlene! XXX

  12. Your table is so fun and festive! I love the flag plates!!! Have a wonderful weekend. We don’t have any plans at all! Strange for sure!

  13. I love the red,white and blue theme.
    Marilyn

  14. Susan, You nailed It! Another perfect patriotic and fun table I love everything from the shark flatware to the little crab place card holders. This table setting would work all summer. I love that big arrangement of flags and pinwheels on the hutch. Have a great weekend

  15. LOVE everything about this table!!!

  16. I’d forgotten about the shark flatware–love that!
    Safe holiday. (Happy seems out of place for Memorial Day and Veterans day, doesn’t it? Wonder what is proper.)

  17. So, I picked up on your mention of Captiva Island and spent a lovely time browsing images online of that captivating place – Oh my. The houses! 🙂

    • I haven’t been there in around 35 years so I bet it has changed a lot. It felt very remoted and kinda isolated back then. You drove around the island on sandy dirt roads and felt like you were in a jungle. lol There weren’t a lot of restaurants and very little to see/do. It was the kinda place you went to get away from the world. I remember we stayed in a little cabin right down on the beach. It was really pretty. I just look at some aerial photos online and it looks like one whole end of the island has been developed with hotels…doesn’t look as jungle-like as I remember it being.

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