Holiday Tables - A Christmas Buffet

"Party On"

Yesterday I went to a local event called "Holiday Tables" that is sponsored by our Center for the Arts. Local businesses and individuals set up dinner tables, or sometimes even a room vignette, and decorate the tables for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It is a room full of wonderful ideas! It is one of my favorite events to go to! So over the next few weeks I will show you some of the tables I took pictures of. Check back every few days because I am sure that you will see something you will love - there are some very talented people out there!

This room vignette is titled "Party On." It is a splendid buffet set up for entertaining. You really need to click on the pictures to enlarge them so you can take in all the details.

I love the layering of table linens. And the variety of china and glass plates stacked for your guests to use. If you mix your plates, stemware, and even your flatware it adds so much more interest to your table.

I love the mix of cranberry and apple green stemware. And, of course, I love the silver trays they used - just the simple placement of stemware on a silver tray instead of just placing it directly on the table adds more sparkle and glitz!

And I like how they not only put some of the fruit in beautiful serving bowls, but scattered more fruit all around the table - it creates that feeling of overflowing abundance that will make your family and friends feel happy and content to be at your party.

You don't have to spend a fortune to create this look. Most of my silver has come from estate sales and thrift stores (very inexpensively). And using a lot of fresh fruits and breads in your buffet, along with a few other "fancy" foods, will not be that expensive. I think I may host a party this Christmas season and set up a buffet with a lot of fruits, cheeses, breads, and a couple of cooked holiday-ish dishes.

Do I need to even point out this silver server? Oh. I. want.

Using your dinner table as the buffet is a wonderful solution if you are having a large gathering. Just make sure that you have plenty of seating around for your guests so they have a spot to sit and eat.

And if you have a buffet in your dining room use that to serve coffee and dessert.

I like the greenery, lights and ornaments they layered across the back of the buffet.

One of my favorite parts of this "room" was what they did under the front of the table. I LOVE these deer sitting in all this Christmas greenery - deer, bows, greenery, shiny ornaments. I think I may be on the lookout for some bronze deer!

And all of this greenery over the table. Such an impact. You could create a similar feel on your chandelier. Click on the picture so you can see all the elements they used to get this full, sparkly look.

I hope you got some ideas from this vignette that you can use in your own home.

I will post another Holiday Table in a few days, so be sure to check back!

Shannon