Setting the Perfect Family Thanksgiving Table

The family has been invited. The Thanksgiving dinner menu is planned. Turkey is in the oven, cornbread dressing is almost ready to bake. Now it’s time to set the dinner table. Here are some tips for setting the perfect family Thanksgiving table.

Keep it Simple – Why stress yourself out during the holiday? Don’t try to overdo the dinner table with crystal, fine china, or fancy cloth napkins (especially were children are involved). Keep it super simple. Buy heavy-duty disposable dinner plates, plastic silverware, cups and paper napkins. Party stores offer holiday disposables at a very affordable price. You can purchase nice dinner wear quite inexpensively. Plus, you’ll have a quick and easy clean-up without all the extra dishes to wash.

Fun Centerpieces - Make your centrepieces fun. In lieu of elaborate floral centrepieces, try something fun this time. Get creative and use things like your dinner rolls to create a mountain. Or build a faux fountain, using cake stands and stacking your side dishes in an artful way in the center of your table.

Go Back in Time - Create an old-fashioned Thanksgiving theme. Lay mismatched table cloths or table runners on your table and use oil lanterns as your centrepiece. Set the table with a variety of different dinnerware. Set small wooden buckets on the table to hold silverware and napkins. Use anything that doesn’t match to create an old-time feeling for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Don’t Set the Table at All - One of the easiest and best ways to go, is to simply not set your dinner table at all. Lay all dishes on your bar or serving cart, with the plates and silverware at the beginning. Let everyone serve themselves buffet-style and sit where they choose.

Above all remember that this is a family dinner. Relax and enjoy the food and your family. Keeping your Thanksgiving dinner table setting simple will make your dinner much more enjoyable for you. .... Back to Articles Index

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