Baby, It’s Cold Outside
But your table decor can still be warm and inviting. Learn how here, just in time for your next dinner party.
A collaboration with JW Marriott
Winter dinner parties call for a different kind of beauty—one that feels cozy, generous, and a little unexpected. The good news? You don’t need flowers to create a table that feels festive and welcoming. In fact, some of the most striking winter tables we’ve seen lean into what the season does best: fruits, vegetables, herbs, candlelight, and natural textures that bring warmth indoors.
The Cherry Bombe team experienced this firsthand when we arrived at the JW Marriott Reston Station in Virginia for our Garden Party. (The Garden Party events are a signature at all JW Marriott hotels worldwide.) The tables were lush, layered, and deeply seasonal, yet not a single flower was in sight. Instead, the centerpieces celebrated winter’s bounty in a way that felt both elevated and refreshingly attainable.
“Winter centerpieces feel most special when they reflect what’s actually in season and incorporate local ingredients,” says Courtney Armbrust, founder and principal of Meridian Events, who designed the tablescape for the JW Marriott Cherry Bombe Garden Party. Below, she shares her tips for creating a sustainable, flower-free winter tablescape that’s perfect for your next gathering.
Start with a seasonal color story
“For the JW Marriott Cherry Bombe Garden Party, we built the centerpieces around winter fruit in deep, jewel-toned colors—burgundy, deep reds, purples, and rich greens,” says Courtney. That palette carried through everything from the fruit to the linens and place settings, creating a cohesive, layered look.
Her advice for home hosts? Let the season guide you. Rich hues paired with heavier textures—think velvet runners, weighty linens, marble accents, and lots of candlelight—instantly warm up the table and make guests want to linger.
Skip the flowers (on purpose)
At a JW Marriott Garden Party, the absence of cut flowers isn’t an oversight, it’s intentional. The brand’s commitment to sustainability means celebrating nature while minimizing waste, and that philosophy shows up beautifully at the table.
“We love using seasonal plants, winter herbs, branches, fruits, and vegetables, especially when they’re sourced locally,” says Courtney. Moss is one of her favorite additions for softening a look and giving it an organic feel, while potted herbs or plants add structure and charm. Bonus: guests can take the plants home at the end of the night.
Make it edible
One of the most delightful details at the Garden Party? The centerpieces weren’t just beautiful, they were useful. “Fruits and vegetables add both style and substance,” says Courtney. “They can be cooked or used afterward, which makes the design feel thoughtful and intentional.”
For the JW Marriott Cherry Bombe party, she incorporated grapes, pomegranates, plums, berries, and cherries to maintain the moody jewel-tone palette. At home, citrus, apples, pears, hardy herbs, and winter greens all work beautifully.
Let the candles do the heavy lifting
Nothing sets the mood like a softly lit table. Courtney says the key is abundance. “Clustering small candles throughout the table creates a flattering glow and instantly makes the setting feel more intimate.”
She loves using high-quality flameless candles—they give you that same warm, flickering glow, let you layer in even more light without worrying about drips or open flames, and make the table feel effortless from start to finish. If you’re using real flames, keep tapers in hurricanes and tea lights in votives for safety, then layer generously.
Make your own butter candle for your table
At JW Marriott Garden Party events around the globe, the undeniable signature is the butter candle—a tablescape star that’s as photogenic as it is delicious. Elegant, interactive, and impossible to resist, it melts into a warm, shareable moment that brings guests together around the table. You can make your own with help from our friends at JW Marriott. Here’s how [link].
Keep sightlines clear
A great centerpiece should invite conversation, not block it. “Guests should always be able to see the person across from them,” says Courtney. Keep arrangements low, or if you add height, make sure there are open spaces throughout. A mix of heights works beautifully when it’s intentional and airy.
Look around for inspiration
At JW Marriott Reston Station, the property’s JW Garden provides endless inspiration, but Courtney encourages hosts to think more broadly. Location matters. A winter table in Virginia will naturally look different from one in Florida or California, and that’s part of the magic.
Local landscapes, seasonal light, textures, even fashion trends can all inform your tablescape. “Pulling details from the runway or your surroundings can be a fun, personal touch—and it always photographs beautifully,” she says.
The takeaway? Winter entertaining doesn’t have to feel fussy or formal. By decorating with seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs, and warm light, just as we experienced at JW Marriott Reston Station, you can create a table that feels abundant, thoughtful, and irresistibly inviting.
Want more inspo?
Go behind the scenes at the JW Marriott Cherry Bombe Garden Party here
Get ready with our party co-host, Romilly Newman here
Don’t miss Romilly on Radio Cherry Bombe, talking entertaining, manifesting & more here
Ready to host your own? JW Marriott can help you create a personalized Garden Party experience. Visit jwmarriott.com.