Reply
Super Contributor
Posts: 304
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Holiday table seating question

Do you fit all of your holiday guests around one table or do you have more tables you use to create space for all?

 

My sister has a growing family of adults/babies. Right now christmas dinner will be for 12.

 

She only has one dining room table that she just bought and it seats 8 comfortably and maybe 10 if you squish. She refused at first to set up another table (card table type) and seat people at a nearby table. 

 

So, she thought she would opt out of a meal and just have walking around appetizers---For Christmas dinner, perhaps one of the best meals of the year.

 

My 91 year old mother calmly suggested she was not a fan of that and my sister opted to back down and have 2 tables. 

 

She just loathes the idea of 2 tables---like everyone in this country has tables that seat ALL of their guests in one spot.

 

Thoughts?  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,680
Registered: ‎11-03-2018

Re: Holiday table seating question

I think it's best to set up another table to accomodate everyone comfortably.  The only time I've seen people walking around eating is at sn open-house type situation.  I feel that can be awkward to try to juggle a plate of food and a drink.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,037
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Holiday table seating question

 

It depends on how many people are present, size of the table, and how much space you have. 

 

There are 42 in my immediate family - 7 siblings and all our families, grands, etc. Only 1 person in my family has room to put tables end to end to look like we are all at one table.

 

Tables don't really matter to my family. There is always laughter and banter among everyone. We have a good time no matter where or how we sit for dinner.

 

 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,269
Registered: ‎11-08-2020

Re: Holiday table seating question

[ Edited ]

There were 12 people in my immediate family.  When you start adding in spouses, partners, kids, etc it quickly adds up.  We had a large table that seated 10-12 and there was always a second table where the youngest of the family sat.  No one cared.  Both were dressed in the finest linen, china and silver.  Both tables were in the same room.

 

In my home, when we have more than our large dining room can accommodate. We add a table to the end of our dining room table.  Our dining room is a separate large room so we can do this without congestion.

 

Personally, I would never opt out of the best meal of the year for snacks and appetizers.  I would rather not have the dinner than do that.  Just my opinion.  I think two tables are fine.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,281
Registered: ‎08-20-2012

Re: Holiday table seating question

@petepetey  We Had the luck of having Livingroom and Diningroom connected through and archway so, in essence,  had one Long room to accomidate 25+ people/kids.

We had the leaves in the diningroom table and a long fold away plank table end to end with that going through the archway.

The large Cards table became the Kids table. 

With the tablecloths( Paper ) you didn't see the tables anyway.  Nearly Shoulder to shoulder just made it more of a Family Gathering Event than a formal dinner. 

That plank table made the rounds to whomever was hosting the big dinner that year. 

In our family after dinner the womenfolk and kids would Do the dishes and kettles and talk about Thanksgivings past. AKA pass on Family history.  After Dishes were done Then Dessert was served. 

 Remind Her to TAKE PICTURES!

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,736
Registered: ‎04-04-2015

Re: Holiday table seating question

We have a dining room table that with both leaves can seat 22.  I would also be happy to set up card tables.

 

What I don't like however, is when people - who are not hosting - want to complain that the people who are -  aren't doing it to their satisfaction.

 

Maybe the OP should offer to host instead, since show obviously knows how to do it properly.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,218
Registered: ‎06-10-2010

Re: Holiday table seating question

We have always had a big dining area where we can put tables end to end. My daughter has that now but for years she didn't. When comparing seating arrangements, for me personally, I like having everyone in the same room at the same table. It makes for great conversation.

That's just my preference but any way you can do it, as long as your together, that's the important thing.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,037
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Holiday table seating question


@petepetey wrote:

 


 

Your sister needs to get a grip. It's not a big deal if she has 2 tables. Why make people uncomfortable and squished? 

 

Just appetizers for Thanksgiving is not copacetic in my book.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,736
Registered: ‎04-04-2015

Re: Holiday table seating question


@CalminHeart wrote:

@petepetey wrote:

 


 

Your sister needs to get a grip. It's not a big deal if she has 2 tables. Why make people uncomfortable and squished? 

 

Just appetizers for Thanksgiving is not copacetic in my book.


First of all this is not Thanksgiving, but a Christmas event.

 

Second it could very well be that the woman has experienced people complaining about whether they got to sit at the "main" table or the "other" one.  I have seen that and it's not pretty.

 

Again, if people want it their way, maybe they should host.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 20,534
Registered: ‎10-25-2010

Re: Holiday table seating question

I use two tables and my breakfast area in the kitchen  to seat everyone.

 

My dining room table seats 14 people, my kitchen table seats 10 and my kitchen bar seats 4.

 

Most people prefer to sit in my kitchen and those seats are always taken first.( Just what I need when preparing food....people in my kitchen) I try to get them to hang out elsewhere, but they never do.