decorating the xmas dinner table...any nice ideas?

[ggirlsbells]

Ok I know there won't be much room what with mountains of food,but I want to and love doing this sort of thing(sad I know).
So indulge me,how are you decorating yours?

sounds lovely

god I so thought I was going to get a sarcy reply

I haven't got tablecloth big enough

Mine is very basic (we don't have posh glasses or china and only a smallish table)

A big red pillar candle in the middle with some ivy from the garden draped around the bottom!

Thinking about that too. Will be at parents for Xmas but my Mum is useless at stuff like that - last year she swore she was organised and we ended up ironing a tablecloth ON the table!

This year they have bought a new dining table that sits 10 and new crockery - plain cream. My sis had a look for stuff yesterday while out with Dad but they couldn't see anything.

I have a gold table runner so will bring that and work on a cream, gold and red theme. I love doing stuff like that!

me too buda-I'm thinking of light blue and silver.

If you are joining more than one table together for a big gathering and don't have a boig enough table cloth, buy a white single flat sheet (or two) from Matalan - £4.00 - and scatter some gold and silver foil shapes over the middle srip.

Plain white tablecloth and napkins together with plain white dinner service. Then to add some colour (!) I have bought some red charger plates which I'm not sure if they're a bit naff but as its only DH's family it won't matter. Will then have a centre piece of vase filled with baubles (red and silver) with pillar candle in. Red/Silver/White crackers and maybe some scattered red and silver stars. Table pressies will be wrapped in red too.

I bought little glass tealight holders from tesco (25p each!)and boxes of wine red winterberry tealights. I'm going to arrange them over the table (cream linen cloth) with two central tall candles as well.

I am cooking for 17 this year. 10 children at one end , adults at the other.

I always hunt around, went to wilkinsons and brought , plastic table clothes.

adults are going to have a gold and cream colours this year.
with cream and gold flowers in gold pots. gold beading, and white lights, gold table confettii.
christmas candles/tea lights lit at adult end only!!
Adults crystal glasses.

everyone will have a santa place mat, and glass mat.
named place settings are from Ikea, (christmas decs, which looked like wrapped pressents.
Got daughter to write everyones name on them.)
everyone will have a cracker, a party blower and party poppers/streamers.

children will have
children have santa plastic cups and straws.
and special no alco red grape juice to drink.

red and green and gold theme.
with red/green lights, red beads, red and green/silver confettii.

have santa condiment set as well.
I think thats enough, now am concentrating on food, and wine list.

I am raising my glass to williamsmummy catering for 17 I hope you don't do any washing up.

We will be 16 Williamsmummy! 6 children although youngest is 3 months. 10 adults. We also get an extra child from 2 to 4pm when youngest sis's DF gets his son!

well, the washing up last for about 3 days afterwards..............
but on a happy note, by the time I am down to serving the sprouts i am pretty much sloshed, and no one notices.
apart from the time I set light to my tea towel,.........................and the time I made the house stink of plastic. ( note to self dont pud lighted pud on plastic plate!!!)

our youngest is 7 yrs old! oldest 85