setting your holiday table

Planning the holiday menu and setting the table for Christmas is one of my favorite things to do. I love to get creative and have fun with our table setting for holiday meal celebrations. Generally speaking, I tend to overdo it with the holiday decor, however, I like to make the meal special and memorable. Life is so unpredictable, if I can get my entire family together for a meal it’s a party!

I’ve done all types of themes in the past. I enjoy creating color schemes and incorporating unique centerpieces. Overall, the most important thing to me is keeping the family around the table for as long I can.

Throughout my 38 years of marriage I’ve accumulated a variety of items to add to our table setting such as tablecloths, napkins and chargers. Additionally, I still love using the china that we selected from our wedding registry. A tradition my family enjoys is using Christmas dinnerware every day between Thanksgiving and the New Year. Many happy meals were consumed on our wedding china and holiday serving ware. However, it’s the dear family memories I cherish the most.

How to Set your Holiday Table

• Decide on your theme -look to Pinterest and find florals in season to guide you and set the mood.
• Pick your colors -try to work with only 2-3 colors as not to overwhelm the table. Neutrals always work well and allow you to add just a pop of color.
• Utilize your staples -choose your flatware, dishes, and linens based on what you have.  It’s perfectly fine if they all do not match, just make sure to incorporate a pattern.
• Add a personal touch – look around your home and see what you can utilize that may encourage conversation. An heirloom piece of crystal, unique ornaments, or a nutcracker.

We have a formal dining room, so when it’s time for celebration, everything gets pulled out. Each holiday I’ll decide on a theme and color to decorate my table.

Creating Holiday Memories

One of my children’s favorite table settings was when I took all the ornaments they had given me through the years and placed them around candles and greens in the center of the table. My adult children were all very excited to see their handmade creations. They enjoyed reminiscing about when and how they made them. It not only brought back cherished childhood memories, it also brought laughter and joy with some untold stories of their adolescence.    

As your family gathers for Christmas dinner, it’s important that you do not let electronics, football games, and presents distract you, from the real gift of Christmas. Encourage meaningful conversations.

Overall, I will not just be thankful for the food that is set out before us, or the wine that is poured, but for all those that are able to share it with me. Even though I find pleasure in decorating my table for the holiday season, what really matters can’t be flaunted or displayed on a table.

What I would really like to impress here is that it is not about the meal you prepare, the dishes you use, or elaborate center pieces we choose. The greatest gifts that we have at Christmas time will be seated around our tables.

Enjoy your family and your Christmas!