Am I crazy?

capt_jordi

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I second the idea to Rent them. Go to a wedding supply place and price how much it would be to rent a set of dishes and serving ware if needed! And I'm an interior design dork and I hate when things dont match or at least look good mismatched! LOL
 

littleraven7726

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Can you watch sales or clearance racks? I know around here it seems Shopko always has some kind of dishes on clearance.


Personally, I have Corelle. I don't have fancy and every day dishes. Just my Corelle. At one point my husband wanted fancy dishes, so we compromised and have Winter Frost White for the Corelle pattern. I've broken my share of dishes so it's good that they always have my pattern.
 

GoldyCat

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Is there anyone in the family who has a large set of dishes that you could borrow? Maybe you could get that person to come early to help set up. You shouldn't have to do all the work by yourself anyway.

Also, keep an eye on yard sales and estate sales. You might find exactly what you want. Then you could donate your old dishes to a shelter or some place like Goodwill.
 

sarahp

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I don't think they need to match. If you're doing a fancy dinner party for a small number of people, then yes I can understand wanting to match.

We have 20+ family gatherings for christmas, and I couldn't even tell you if the dining settings matched. It's about the company and the good food.

Just put a big napkin on the plate, and by the time the food arrives nobody would have even noticed what was on the plate!

Originally Posted by ut0pia

If they don't match you have people thinking they got a smaller serving than the other person, etc....
That's just gives you an excuse to get seconds or thirds guilt-free!
 

cheshirecat

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I think you are crazy to want to cook for that many people!


My advice is to go with the paper and plastic. If not just use what you have. It's all about being with family not how you look. If someone wants to cook for me I don't care if the dishes match.

The one and only time I cooked for Thanksgiving it was because I was in my first house. About two hours before dinner I realized that I didn't have enough forks and knives for everyone. I had to call my Mother and have her bring some.
 

rianna

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Originally Posted by CheshireCat

I think you are crazy to want to cook for that many people!


My advice is to go with the paper and plastic. If not just use what you have. It's all about being with family not how you look. If someone wants to cook for me I don't care if the dishes match.

The one and only time I cooked for Thanksgiving it was because I was in my first house. About two hours before dinner I realized that I didn't have enough forks and knives for everyone. I had to call my Mother and have her bring some.
I agree. I can understand though since it's your first time hosting Thanksgiving. It's gonna be expensive enough too cook for all those people. Plus, it's food on the plate that people will remember.
 

wellingtoncats

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I voted you were crazy but had to check and make sure it wasn't a public poll before I voted.


But the reason I voted was because you are going to serve so many people! At our gatherings (at my house) we have paper plates too because we can throw them out afterwards.
 

catkiki

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I was going to say go the disposable route too. Chinet has some really nice plates and glasses. They look like cut crystal but they are plastic. You can also get some disposable flatware too. It will sharing family time together, not what you put the food on.
 
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emrldsky

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Thanks everyone!
I know it sounds crazy to cook for that many, but my mom does it for even MORE than that every year. This year, I doubt the uncles and their kids would travel the hour and half to dine at our place.
However, it'll be easier on my brothers, who only have to travel an hour, instead of two and a half to my mom and dad's.

And I won't be alone. My mom is coming down the day before (or two days before) to help with the main cooking and setting up. Everyone is pretty much expected to bring a dish, so that's settled as well. We really do go for the potluck buffet style, but I was kind of wanting a nice set up.

My perspective has changed, a bit. Buffet is fine, dishes don't HAVE to match (though it goes against my need for symmetry, lol), but I still need some place settings. I'm still short a couple, lol.

DH and I had a talk about a lot of things tonight, and one of them was the stress I'm already feeling over this whole thing. Letting go of the need to have everything all perfect is really starting to help.

But I still want to get rid of those dishes I hate so much (I just think they're ugly and don't go) eventually and replace them with ones that are a bit nicer. I still don't know how he convinced me to go with dishes that were brown and black, yeck!!!!
 

carolpetunia

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Originally Posted by mrblanche

I've never know the dishes to change the taste of the food or make me love my relatives any less.
Couldn't have said it better myself!


One of the prettiest table settings I've ever seen was a mix of old dishes from the thrift store, all different, each with its own particular charm. By using cloth napkins in a single color to tie it all together, they made it work just beautifully!
 

sk_pacer

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We do lots of family gatherings with 30+ people. Meals are on a mishmash of mixed plates for us 'old' folks and the younger set get dollar store basket trays with paper plates. Some of the plates we use are pretty old, as is some of the silverware. The last gathering was 50 odd, and we ate in shifts, with a paper plate on these little flat baskets. Worked great.

so, use what you have, don't worry about looks and top up with disposable for the rest - or disposable for the younger ones. Don't go buy more as it will just sit there anyway.
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by emrldsky

But I still want to get rid of those dishes I hate so much (I just think they're ugly and don't go) eventually and replace them with ones that are a bit nicer. I still don't know how he convinced me to go with dishes that were brown and black, yeck!!!!
Hmm, hint around to those closest to you that can afford it that you want new dishes for Christmas and what styles you like?


Making lists always helps me straighten things out and remove some stress. Maybe talk to your mother and see if she has more tips for you since she does this every year?
 

cococat

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You are not crazy. Unless I am too?
Large holiday gatherings with food and family are the highlights of many family holidays and provide stories for years to come...
It is nice to belong to a family and to cook for and be together with family on the holidays.
I have a huge family and it isn't a holiday without get-to-gethers with lots of relatives and lots of yummy food.
Don't worry too much about the dishes matching unless you are running a spread in a food or better homes magazine my friend

Keep it simple, good food, family and friends = all you basically need for this
 

sarahp

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just out of curiosity... how long have you been married for? I wouldn't let anyone who may have bought you those plates you chose for your wedding know you hate them! If the wedding was a fair while ago, then they would have forgotten, but if it was in the last few years, I'd keep the plates for a while longer!

Edit to add: Yeesh just googled for pictures of the table setting you hate... Man that's ugly!
I agree. Take those plates out and smash them. Just don't tell any wedding guests!
 

jcat

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After becoming First Lady, Nancy Reagan ordered White House china, because she wanted everything to match when entertaining very large groups. There was a lot of criticism of the expense, and it was stressed that even Queen Elizabeth II used a number of sets when entertaining.
Approximately a year into her husband's first term, Nancy Reagan explored the idea of ordering new state china service for the White House.[85] A full china service had not been purchased since the Truman administration in the 1940s, as only a partial service was ordered in the Johnson administration.[85] She was quoted as saying, "The White House really badly, badly needs china."[85] Working with Lenox, the primary porcelain manufacturer in America, the first lady chose a design scheme of a red with etched gold band, bordering the scarlet and cream colored ivory plates with a raised presidential seal etched in gold in the center.[85] The full service comprised 4,370 pieces, with 19 pieces per individual set.[85] The service totaled $209,508.[86] Although it was paid for by private donations, some from the private Knapp Foundation, the purchase generated quite a controversy, for it was ordered at a time when the nation was undergoing an economic recession.[87]
 
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emrldsky

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Originally Posted by sarahp

just out of curiosity... how long have you been married for? I wouldn't let anyone who may have bought you those plates you chose for your wedding know you hate them! If the wedding was a fair while ago, then they would have forgotten, but if it was in the last few years, I'd keep the plates for a while longer!

Edit to add: Yeesh just googled for pictures of the table setting you hate... Man that's ugly!
I agree. Take those plates out and smash them. Just don't tell any wedding guests!
You know, I never thought of that. Our third anniversary is Oct. 14 of this year. However, seeing as everyone who is an immediate family member knows that HE picked them out, there shouldn't be hurt feelings.

All that would be joining us are: my two brothers and their families (11 adults and children total), my parents (2), my grandparents (3), Brandon's parents (2), his grandmother (1), and us (2) = 21.

And yes, I would LOVE to go out back and smash each and every dish, but as much as I want to, I know I shouldn't.
 

GoldyCat

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Maybe you'll get lucky and some of the family will drop a few plates for you.
 

sarahp

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Originally Posted by emrldsky

You know, I never thought of that. Our third anniversary is Oct. 14 of this year. However, seeing as everyone who is an immediate family member knows that HE picked them out, there shouldn't be hurt feelings.

All that would be joining us are: my two brothers and their families (11 adults and children total), my parents (2), my grandparents (3), Brandon's parents (2), his grandmother (1), and us (2) = 21.

And yes, I would LOVE to go out back and smash each and every dish, but as much as I want to, I know I shouldn't.
For 3 year old plates that were presents, you should definitely keep them a bit longer
I'm sure through natural attrition, they won't last much longer!
 
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