Christmas Day table setting

[churchmouse84]

I've never done a big Christmas dinner before.

How are you setting your table?

Decorations, candles, glitter? Give me cheap but classy ideas.

There's 9 of us including 3 kids between 6 and 12.

Our table this year will have our good crockery, I think (Denby imperial blue). Or maybe the plain white everyday plates - I'm torn.

I don't put a cloth on, but I do use placemats instead.

Nice glasses (DH and I use a set of goblets with a gold rim that we like) - wine and water ones.

Fresh flower arrangement in the middle.

Paper napkins (I got some lovely navy festive ones recently).

I have a Santa and Mrs Claus salt and pepper set, but otherwise the gravy dish, serving plates etc are all normal ones (i.e. not Christmas patterned).

Glass candlesticks (we eat after dark so it is nice to have plenty of candles and turn off the lights).

I don't do glitter or other decorations - except that I did buy red glass Christmas tree shaped placecard holders this year that I will probably use.

those placecards sound nice.

I thought about getting some napkins as we don't have any buy paper ones could be the way to go.

I need to make sure we have enough glasses!

The special occasion tablecloth will be on the table, the silverware and china dinner set will be out along with the crystal wine glasses. There will be some crackers obviously along with the salt and pepper mills. There won't be much room for decorations once the serving platters for the meat and vegetable bowls are out.

The only thing I won't have is the cloth napkins as I won't have enough for dinner and the evening so they will be paper but folded to make them look better.

It's not every day that the good stuff comes out and it makes such a difference. The only downside is it all has to be washed by bloody hand and not chucked in the dishwasher