Christmas Dinner Party Ideas

I, like millions of other Americans, love eating out, but I especially love fine dining. Not really into gourmet foods and waiters with an attitude, but occasionally my husband and I love to treat ourselves to what some would call a "fancy" restaurant. Fancy to me means mood lighting, table cloths, linen napkins, candles, no screaming children, fly carcasses in window sills, sticky seats and folks dining in their pajamas.

The ambiance of fine dining assaults the senses when you enter the room. A place where one can practice the table manners you were taught while earning swollen ankles from the kicks you received because of elbows on the table.

It taught me that dining could happen at a spiritual level" Charlie Trotter

Last Thanksgiving my sister laid out a beautiful holiday spread for party of ten. I noted, at the time, that the ambiance of the room elevated my holiday spirit one hundred fold upon entering. The tables and their centerpieces, lighting, table cloths, cloth linen napkins, the wine glasses and most important the company only enhanced the holiday revery. In the end it made her dinner my most memorable to date.

My heart swelled with love for family around me, and also pride in my sister for showing how much she loved our being together and turning Thanksgiving into a truly special occasion. My sister lives in a small home, but made the best use of the space she had. The living room was turned into a dining room. Sis, who is a master bargain shopper, tracked down a local mom and pop party rental store and rented her tables (little larger than card table size) chairs (seating ten people), table linens, delivery and pick up all for $130.00.

Nowadays the majority of working folk have to tighten their belts, dining out is no longer common place in some households as in others. A lot of families are turning to entertaining at home to save on costs.

Whether your planning a dinner for two, or a dinner party for ten, it doesn't have to cost an arm and leg. It’s easy, inexpensive and guess what no brain damage. No need of high end china or silverware to set a elegant table some imagination and creativity is all that's needed.

Candles: at varying lengths can draw your visitors eye up and down the table. A pillar type candle in the center of your table on a mirror square surrounded by pinecones maybe just what is needed. At previous Christmas dinners I’ve used a chunky candle surrounded by left over garland from tree decorating to create a holiday centerpiece. I love floating candles in a bowl of water maybe a crystal type, clear or float any of the flower types mentioned below. Adding a little food coloring to the water making the piece truly unique. Use non-scented candles for your table, and scented candles off the table possibly seasonal scents such as ginger, cinnamon or evergreen.

Dinnerware: I don’t stand on tradition in this economic climate. So if you want to use paper or plastic ware do it! You can purchase some charming plastic ware made by Corelle for under $50.00, service of four. Or simply use some decorative paper products from your local retail outlet. Place mats add a sense of elegance to any setting most are inexpensive. Alternate the color scheme for holiday flare or make all the same color. I also use plate chargers. I found four on sale at a local grocery store about two Christmas’ ago for a dollar apiece. They are relatively inexpensive for a setting of four.

Flowers: my favorites the Poinsettia, Canada Roses, Red or White Carnations, Chrysanthemums and sprays of holly . You can choose either real, silk or dried (mine are of the fake variety use them every year so they’ve more than paid for themselves). Make sure the vases are low so they won’t overwhelm your table enabling guest from interacting with each other.

Glassware: I’m an absolute freak for glassware. You can find most very inexpensive in your local retail (many will have seasonal products marked down in a certain part of the store) and dollar store haunts. I would suggest purchasing the color of the season or the color scheme of your event.

Napkins and Colorful Tablecloth Cloths: neither are that expensive, but instantly give character to your table setting. Be sure to iron both, nothing worse than wrinkled or creased linen at a setting. If you can’t afford the cloth linen use paper products in color of the season. Use the colors of your in home Christmas decor or mix and match the colors (red table cloth with green napkins, plaid table cloth with blue, green or red napkins . . etc)

Lighting: set lamps in four corners of the room. Use low watt or colored bulbs adding to the ambiance of the occasion. At Christmas I would use the traditional red, green or blue colors. Or cover lamp shades with scarfs or linen cloths (nothing flammable!)

Ornaments: A few holiday ornaments in a clear glass vase instead of candles, or ornaments surrounded by season colored candles, or tied with ribbon placed at each setting as a party favor and your guest can hang them on their tree. All will bring some instant season bling bling to any table.

Table decoration: can be gathered out of your yard or neighborhood park - pinecones! Place the cones in a glass or wooden bowl for a table setting. Grab some gold spray paint, or nail polish to add some glitter to the spines of each cone, and turn the chore into a family project. Mix the cones with colorful leaves and a table setting is born! Decanters should be used at will for every serving liquid from water to wine they add a touch of elegance to a setting. Decanters run the gamut from high end to the inexpensive, look for deals in your local dollar store outlets and garage sales.

Space: if you don’t have a dining space revamp your largest space, hopefully the living room,
into a dinning area for the occasion. Moving all furniture out or against walls giving room to situate your table(s) and chairs. Serve your dinner buffet style from a buffet table or the kitchen. This adds a more cozy, fellowship and family atmosphere to the event. Remove the main dinner plates after dinner and bring out the coffee cups and saucers with dessert in this way you clear away the clutter and no crowding the table.

“Dessert is probably the most important stage of the meal, since it will be the last thing your guests remember before they pass out all over the table.” actor William Powell