I cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week! So we better review how to stage a table worthy of a Thanksgiving feast for our friends and family. After all Christmas is right behind Thanksgiving this year!
For the Formal Look
Forks on the left, in the order they will be used, counting from the outside in, ending with the knife, blade pointing toward the plate. This leaves plenty of room for the spoons to be placed on the right, although it is perfectly fine to have the desert spoon make its arrival, with the desert. Napkins can be placed just about anywhere, folded neatly under the silver, or displayed prominently with beautiful fall napkin holder on the plate, or even fanned out in a wine glass. For the ultimate formal look, all the place settings should match.
For a Less Formal Table Setting
If an elegant but less formal table is your preference you can have a little fun! Personally I prefer a less formal setting since it’s easier to mix colors and styles. And if we are blessed with many friends and family, most of us simply don’t have enough matching place settings anyway. So pull out the everyday dishes and mix it with that plain white set you received as a gift years ago but have never used. The trick is consistently. If you vary the place settings, vary every other one. If you vary the napkins, glasses, placemats – vary consistently. Purchase inexpensive charges and place one color under the everyday dishes, and another under the white plates. Different patterns can be used beautifully for an unexpected element, and your design skills will definitely impress your guest. However, if you use different patterns the colors MUST match.
Going all out Casual
Of course for the ultimate easy to design table, serve buffet style! And absolutely, no counting the trips back for seconds, or thirds or…