The Plentiful Platter Store

Halloween has come and gone, we've made it through another big election, and Thanksgiving is now just weeks away. Now is a good time to begin planning what you'll be serving, who you'll be entertaining, and evaluating your kitchenware and tableware situation.

Many people love to have an extravagant dinner, and they set their table with beautiful linens, and their finest crystal, silverware, and china. Still other families prefer a more laid-back dinner experience with fun decorations and their family and friends bring over their favorite dishes. Whether you're throwing a lavish event or a casual one, here are some simple tips that will help your holiday get off to a smoother start.

When it comes to setting the table, there are a lot of flexible ways to complete the perfect setting. Are you serving white and red wines? Some will say you should have both glasses available for each guest, but many others suggest it's hardly necessary, especially if space is tight. It's also a good idea to include a large water glass at each setting too. The wineglass should be placed above the knives, with the water glass closer to the place setting center.

With the plate denoting the center of each place setting, try to allow for about 20 inches of space for each guest if you can. You'll want to put the spoons and knives on the right-hand side of the plate, sharp edge turned towards the plate, with the forks placed on the left side. If you're planning on adding bread plates, these are generally situated above and to the left of the fork.

Many people still try to adjust their table to allow for the "boy-girl-boy-girl" seating arrangement, but this is a quite flexible dinner party rule, and you'll find it isn't always easy to follow. You can keep it in mind for the fun of it. If you're planning to pre-arrange your guest seating, why not place some neat holiday decorations of creative place cards at each seat to liven up your holiday dinner table.

Holiday gatherings can be a lot of fun if you take care of the small stuff early. Count up the number of guests and write up the holiday menu early so you can stock up on ingredients ahead of time. Always allow for a few extra people just in case - if nothing else you'll have some great leftovers to enjoy. Now is also a good time now to shine up your glasses and silverware. You might want to study the condition of your dishes and serveware to make sure you have enough to complete your table without ending up with a hodgepodge of dinnerware on the big day!