Yes, in our home we use nice linens (we always use cloth napkins actually for eco reasons), candles, china, crystal, sometimes sterling silver, etc. for holidays or other special occasions. Just because we have it and it’s fun for me. I don’t think it is necessary or anything.

When I have say a larger or taller centerpiece like a floral bouquet, I move it to the sideboard for the actual meal. Smaller centerpieces, like maybe a decorative arrangement of gourds or pinecones or whatever I would just keep as it doesn’t impede the food or view across the table.

Anonymous wrote:Ok fancy people, answer me this. If you have a centerpiece on the table how do you fit all the serving dishes you need for a big meal like Thanksgiving? Or is the food left in the kitchen and people take their own plates to fill then sit back down.

Whoever is cooking at our house also does the plating and serves guests at the table.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok fancy people, answer me this. If you have a centerpiece on the table how do you fit all the serving dishes you need for a big meal like Thanksgiving? Or is the food left in the kitchen and people take their own plates to fill then sit back down.

Food is served in a buffet. Only a few things like bread go on the table.

This, or if you want things plated a particular way, the host makes the plates and brings them to the table. We do all the plating and everyone is free to get seconds or we bring them seconds. Our gathering is smaller so plating works well for us.

Anonymous wrote:Ok fancy people, answer me this. If you have a centerpiece on the table how do you fit all the serving dishes you need for a big meal like Thanksgiving? Or is the food left in the kitchen and people take their own plates to fill then sit back down.

We have a 6 person table. If we're seating 6 people the food goes on the buffet. If we're seating less I normally move the centerpiece from the middle of the table to one end so I can keep the food directly in front of people. I don't think its uncommon to remove a floral centerpiece from the table when you put the food down.

For Christmas we have special Christmas china (mismatched plates from different Christmas themed sets we got from Replacements Ltd.) and Christmas placemats and napkins. No centerpiece, but the regular candles get swapped out for red ones. It's not too fancy, but it's festive and I like it.

Anonymous wrote:Ok fancy people, answer me this. If you have a centerpiece on the table how do you fit all the serving dishes you need for a big meal like Thanksgiving? Or is the food left in the kitchen and people take their own plates to fill then sit back down.

I put the extra leaf (or leaves, depending on how many people we have) in the table so that we have plenty of space for serving dishes and centerpieces/candles.

Anonymous wrote:I make sure all the clean laundry is folded and cleared off the table in time for dinner

Yes, fina china, flowers, cloth napkins and fancy wine glasses.

Anonymous wrote:Ok fancy people, answer me this. If you have a centerpiece on the table how do you fit all the serving dishes you need for a big meal like Thanksgiving? Or is the food left in the kitchen and people take their own plates to fill then sit back down.

Food is served in a buffet. Only a few things like bread go on the table.

Ok fancy people, answer me this. If you have a centerpiece on the table how do you fit all the serving dishes you need for a big meal like Thanksgiving? Or is the food left in the kitchen and people take their own plates to fill then sit back down.

I love it, I do all the table things. We usually rent for the big family gathering because it’s, well, big. But I love going to Potomac Floral and doing the centerpieces.

I make sure all the clean laundry is folded and cleared off the table in time for dinner

Yep, I pull out the china, silver, linens, etc. My husband hates it because everything has to be hand washed, but it looks so pretty.

I'm not so great with centerpieces - I'm just not very creatice or artistic. For Thanksgiving, though, I often recreate a wonderful centerpiece my (talented and artistic) mother made when I was a child. You take a tall hurricane lantern and fill it with cranberries and small oranges (I just use clementines). It's pretty and super easy.

I’m definitely not in the class of people who own china and real silver! So I have a nice table runner, some candles, and some decorative items (Thanksgiving = pumpkins & pine cones; Christmas = sleigh & ornaments).

Do you set your holiday table with a nice centerpiece, linens, china, crystal, and sterling silver place settings? Or are you more casual?