A Simple Christmas Table

Big Daddy and  I love to entertain year round but to do so at Christmas time is our very favorite :).  So over the years we have honed our skills at hosting dinner parties.  I keep a collection of  staples on hand that work as a foundation for any occasion:

20  white dinner plates, no all matching but the same size

16 footed beverage glasses

16 wine/ champagne glasses

2 sets of chargers  (8 silver, 8 rattan)

multiple sets of eight cloth napkins ( including white)

3 sets of (inexpensive)  flatware 8 place settings each

Multiple white serving bowls, casserole dishes and platters

4 vessels for floral arrangements: clear glass, white china, silver and bronze metal

4 glass hurricane type vases for holding pillar candles

Three gravy boats ( two white and one silver)  plus several cream pitchers for sauces and dressings

Two LARGE salad bowls (about 10-12 servings each)

Three table cloths : cream, white and black & white check

Multiple sets of salad plates ……. more than I care to admit.

Now I did not just run out and buy this stuff.  I have collected it over the years.  My first two sets of dinnerware were both multi colored.  18 years ago when we moved in to this particular house we decided to go with all white and I have never regretted it for a second.  So when you read about a tablescape here on the blog the foundation is from this list.

Today I wanted to share a simple tablescape  for a Christmas dinner party.

See that Mac Boy?

Now lets talk a bit about this centerpiece.

This is without a doubt the easiest and most budget friendly Christmas centerpieces ever!

Ya’ll……. this is a big fresh wreath form Trader Joe’s for $10.

It contains Frazier Fur, long needle white pine, cedar and pinecones and every time I cut through our dining room on my way through our home it smells D. VINE!  I placed in on  a round silver platter just to protect my tabletop.  My favorite part of it besides that fragrance is the color, all those shades of greens:)))

Every one of my tarnished silver chargers were thrifted for a buck or two.

That list  up there can be a bit overwhelming.

Please keep in mind that I did not just go out and purchase all of that stuff at once mostly because of the cash outlay.  But also because what fun would that have been ?  Also?  Most of this collection has been thrifted, like these silver rimmed glasses on the table at $.50 each at a Salvation Army thrift store.

Or 8 miss matched thrifted white dinner plates of roughly the same size for less than buck each?

 How about 8 beautiful knives for a quarter each?

See that Lily Girl?

Merry Christmas ya’ll!

Paige