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Christmas

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Original poster

How do you set your table for Christmas?

34 replies

Nineteendays · 02/12/2023 21:35

I am hosting Christmas this year and am looking for table decorations to fit with the colour scheme of my new kitchen. However, I keep seeing amazing decorations taking up all of the middle of the table and I don’t understand where you’d put the food for Xmas dinner? Do people just plate up everyone else’s food before putting it on the table? I was thinking of having the veg/extra sausages/potatoes/gravy on the table but then would need the space where the decorations are. Do you just move them out of the way for the meal? Seems a bit pointless putting them there first.

any advice welcome, you can see I’m new to this! Thanks!

OP posts:
Whatevershallidowithmylife · 02/12/2023 21:39

I plate up, anyone wants seconds they just go help themselves.

ApolloandDaphne · 02/12/2023 21:40

I plate up in the kitchen. I know what everyone likes and anything extra goes in the middle for anyone to help themselves to. That said I'm not one for fancy decorations in the table. A few nice candles, napkins and crackers and that's it. I like the table to look nice but not over the top.

MelsMoneyTree · 02/12/2023 21:41

Decorations/centrepieces are in the centre at breakfast and moved to the back of the table for lunch because the turkey is placed in the middle so people can help themselves. I partially plate the rest ie potatoes, veg, pigs in blankets, etc

feralunderclass · 02/12/2023 21:46

I hate plating up in advance, so table looks half decent until everyone enters room then food is placed on table and everyone serves themselves.

stepintochristmas1 · 02/12/2023 22:00

I put the food in serving bowls/dishes , they get their food hot that way and saves me the task of plating up I'm not doing that shit . Bugger decorations I don't have room for that palaver .

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 02/12/2023 22:08

Tablecloth, for once. Serving dishes. Decorated table, usually done by the adult dc.

Nellieinthebarn · 02/12/2023 22:23

I hate plating up it makes me feel like a slave for some reason, whereas cooking christmas dinner feels more like a gift to everyone. So I have it in serving dishes, with the turkey and ham in the middle, and a couple of candles in holders with some holly at either side. I know its a half arsed effort, but I prioritise food and our table isnt big enough for both.

Sgtmajormummy · 02/12/2023 22:37

I have a heated buffet server (get me- Aldi’s best!) but I just use the base on the dresser. Once the serving dishes have been round the table they go on that to keep warm, which leaves more room for the place settings.
Everybody gets two glasses, all the cutlery they’ll need and two plates, one flat and one deep. Side plates come out for cheese and/or panettone. Cereal dishes for Xmas pudding.
I have a Christmas dinner service (second hand Spode’s Pink Tower) which I’ve added to over the years with car boot sale pieces. That’s festive enough with a bit of red tinsel and a red cracker for everybody.

Sgtmajormummy · 02/12/2023 22:44

This sort of thing. I’m sure Hyacinth would prefer a hostess trolley…

How do you set your table for Christmas?
Giggorata · 02/12/2023 22:45

I have a folding table that is more or less the same size as my dining table, and when I put it up with tablecloth etc, we have ample space for all the serving dishes and table decorations you like. Plus crackers, candles and napkins and all that.
The family all seem to enjoy lolling about afterwards at the unusually vast table amidst the wreckage of the meal.

AlPacinosHooHaa · 02/12/2023 22:59

I love all this thought. We have a much more chaotic response.
Lots on the table, shove it somewhere whilst the bird is presented ( never turkey) and move things back as and when

Lizzieregina · 02/12/2023 23:03

I do buffet style. Have all the serving dishes on the hot plate things as pictured above and everyone helps themselves and the food stays really hot.

Just did a full Turkey/ham dinner for thanksgiving for 20 people and it worked perfectly.

ETA set up on my kitchen island.

caringcarer · 02/12/2023 23:21

Best table cloth and crockery. I use a buffet server on the table to keep all food hot. I put a large meat plate with carved turkey and beef on the table and everyone serves themselves from hot buffet server or serving dishes.

RepetitiveMotion · 02/12/2023 23:45

I find “plating up” offensive 😂 - ridiculous I know. How do you know how much of anything anyone wants? Utter weirdness.

I don’t go in for chargers or massive napkin rings or zillions of plates. But I do decorate the table with a few candles, a tablecloth and some foliage. Table is a decent size (over 2m) so there is space with 6 of us. There is space for a side plate with a cracker and a napkin on anyway.

Talipesmum · 02/12/2023 23:47

Red tablecloth and xmassy felt things to put all the groaning heaps of food on. And Xmas napkins and crackers. That’s all there’s space for!

MinceFlies · 02/12/2023 23:49

We'll be crammed around a table so as little as possible on it. Inherited white table cloth topped with a red table runner embroidered with holly that I pick up about 15 years ago, matching napkins at individual place settings with cutlery. One of our guests sometimes brings crackers so they'd be out too. Salt and pepper pots, small ramekins with relish, etc on a lazy Susan. Gravy boat. Very small homemade floral arrangements, tea lights in little jars the DC did at primary school. I plate up for everybody, I know their likes, who needs an extra roast potato, who won't take a slice of turkey etc. DC will help me plate up, hot plates to the table as quickly and efficiently as possible. I've picked up a mini version of the buffet server but will be using it in the kitchen to keep the veg hot whilst we have our starter and soup.

mondaytosunday · 02/12/2023 23:50

We have placemats, a few down the centre for dishes, crackers and napkins, candles, all in some sort of theme. But no fancy centrepiece, though the candies may be in decorative candle holders. I always look at those beautiful tablescapes and think the same - where's the food? I don't want to have to get up every time I want another spoon of sprouts! The food IS the centrepiece!

ParadiseLaundry · 03/12/2023 04:57

I plate up in the kitchen. I used to let people help themselves but they just picked at the food and that gave me the rage so now I plate up (with a few extras for people to help themselves to) and have the fancy centrepieces.

Nonplusultra · 03/12/2023 05:42

Our table is too narrow to comfortably fit all the serving dishes, and it’s in the kitchen (no separate dining room) so we lay out all the dishes on the island, buffet style for everyone to serve themselves, and go back for seconds and thirds, as and when.

Caspianberg · 03/12/2023 05:51

Lay room out in dishes on kitchen worktop.
Table is opposite in kitchen diner anyway.
Everyone helps themselves, then either goes up for more after. Or the amount has been reduced greatly so can move three veg into one serving dish, and leftover potatoes and Yorkshires and pigs in blankets all in another dish, so there’s just 2-3 dishes on the table

ApolloandDaphne · 03/12/2023 08:01

RepetitiveMotion · 02/12/2023 23:45

I find “plating up” offensive 😂 - ridiculous I know. How do you know how much of anything anyone wants? Utter weirdness.

I don’t go in for chargers or massive napkin rings or zillions of plates. But I do decorate the table with a few candles, a tablecloth and some foliage. Table is a decent size (over 2m) so there is space with 6 of us. There is space for a side plate with a cracker and a napkin on anyway.

lol at plating up being offensive! I know exactly what my guests want because I've been serving up their Christmas dinners for many, many years! If one suddenly, say, decided this was the year they liked sprouts they would say 'mum, put sprouts on my plate this year'.

Decorhate · 03/12/2023 08:20

I plate up the turkey, pigs in blankets, stuffing, yorkies (don’t @ me!). Potatoes, veg & gravy in serving dishes on the table. Minimal decorations.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 03/12/2023 08:23

I have a nice Christmassy arrangement on the dinner table (copper bowl with a candle, Oasis and greenery out of the garden) but it has to go before we actually sit down for dinner - there’s just not enough room. Christmas napkins and crackers is about It.

I hate the idea of ‘plating up’ in the kitchen - in this house the turkey has to arrive at the table in all its golden glory.

TheSandgroper · 03/12/2023 08:32

Nope. Tablecloth, crackers and food. Waterford crystal glasses dress every table. Food on platters takes a lot of space.

I have two very large, plain Dartington crystal glasses that I fill with Roses chocolate that go on the table for festive colour and that’s it for me.

RepetitiveMotion · 03/12/2023 08:33

ApolloandDaphne · 03/12/2023 08:01

lol at plating up being offensive! I know exactly what my guests want because I've been serving up their Christmas dinners for many, many years! If one suddenly, say, decided this was the year they liked sprouts they would say 'mum, put sprouts on my plate this year'.

Show quote history

I know it’s ridiculous but I guess it’s what I’m used to. I guess we are all happy with what we are used to. [sucks Werthers]

I remember the first time I received plated food at a house and being horrified. I spent ages looking at the plate wondering whether I’d be able to eat all the meat and if the host would be offended if I left anything. I went to boarding school for a traumatic three years where you had to eat everything on the plate so I guess it’s left me with ishoos around plating! 😂