Dinner party novice needs help with how to 'dress' the dining table....

[Earlybird]

We've now been in our 'new city' for 7 months, and I've finally bitten the bullet and invited some new friends over for supper on Saturday night. To say I'm a novice at dinner parties is an understatement, so could really use some advice.

It will be one of the first times we've used the dining room (such a luxury to have a dining room!), and I need help with how to make the table look nice.

The obvious answer is a lovely bunch of flowers, but how to arrange so we don't sit down and immediately move the flowers so we can see each other? Specific suggestions about sorts of vases/bowls, etc would be appreciated. Or do people use candles or some other creative 'tablescaping'? Or just not bother, and make sure there's lots of wine?

Thanks for help/advice.

Food will either be served in kitchen and brought to table, or (more probably) guests will serve themselves buffet-style from sideboard and then sit at table to eat (of course).....I think....

always candles. If you want flowers have them in the room but not on the table.
Have a lovely time - I'm certain you will
Have fun and make sure you can prepare some of the food beforehane (or will that be another thread? )

Happy dining

Napkins:

classic fold

we called these lilies

Both the above will be ok with paper napkins or startched cloth napkins

I keep my table vey simple and uncluttered. I have simple tea light candles, as well as the standing lamp nearby - so no harsh lighting. I don't like to have lots of dressing stuff on the table as our table isn't really large enough once you have plates, cutlery, side plate, glasses, etc.

I've been googling, and have seen creative ideas using a big clear glass bowl containing apples of various colours (red, darker/lighter greens), and a similar idea of a glass bowl containing limes, lemons, oranges with a few flowers to 'fill the gaps' (perhaps the sort of thing a 'pro' could do with style, but could be disaster in the hands of an amateur like me)...