When is it appropriate to take out plastic silverware for the party you are hosting? I mean how many people would make it OK to use plastic silverware? Or does it depend on the occasion or the amount of work/time you have to clean up?
Re: silverware
it depends upon how formal or informal the party is and who is attending
Picnic/ barbeque types or a an informal laid back party with friends and relatives
is okey
if your hosting a formal seven course meal
it wouldnt be so good
Re: silverware
If you are sitting people down to a table for dinner, then silverware is definitely in order. If people are going to be dispersed around the dinning/living room areas then I think you can get by with disposables. Personally, For a 15-20 person gathering I know we like to use silverware but anything bigger we go w/ disposables so we are not loading/unloading the dishwasher all night long.
Re: silverware
Rukhsarbibi, you can get 15~20 people to sit down on the dinner table? You must have a big table!!
Ms. Lazy D, do you really think there is such a thing as a formal occation in desi families?
Re: silverware
Depends on the event itself, disposable cutlery is more suitable for relaxed and informal gatherings usually with close family and friends.
But I do prefer the real stuff myself. Just not the washing up part.
Re: silverware
I dream of the day where I'll invite just 5/6 close family/friends over, where there'll be a properly set table with cutlery and tier of plates at each setting. Fresh flowers for a center piece...cloth napkins with beautiful napkin rings with coordinating table cloth/runner. Just the right atmosphere with some music playing in the background. Add candles in the mix too. I'm obsessed with pitchers and glass variations so probably will have a collection of that. And of course this all in addition to a full course prep of delicious food, mix of desi plus non desi.
I should change professions.
back to reality
Hamadjee, I personally would go for proper silverware if you have enough place settings for the guests. If not, then disposable.
Re: silverware
yep
but
I guess… not in America… 
Re: silverware
Watching too many hollywood romantic movies?
You have the poster’s name wrong in ur post.
Ahmad depends parties can be formal too in desis, if you don’t know someone and they are coming over for the first time, then you always go for silverware. Otherwise, you normally don’t care, watever they prefer. I’d rather leave cutlery on the table and they can pick and choose.
Re: silverware
^Nah, watching FoodNetwork too much :D
And as for the posters "wrong" name, it was on purpose, he knows i'm referring to him.
Re: silverware
Well, it seems people think it is who you invite for what that dictates the silverware but I always thought the number counts. For example, a graduation party will bring a number of people that you haven’t invited before but usually the number of people would require plastic regardless of how formal you wanna get, unless you want it catered.
I usually go with what Rukhsar said before, if I can fit them on a table (of eight), I will bring out all the Corelle/china we have but if the guests will be hanging around, walking around, in the living room, dining table on the deck etc., then plastic it is.
Lazy D, be nice .. for at least a few more days.
Sehar, I hate too much formality, it takes the fun out of a dinner. Or it could be that I will need a dozen candles to light up my dark face.
Re: silverware
and if you a good bunch of kids coming then use plastic, atleast for the kids. Normally if we have 1-3 familes or 1-20 people we do take out our silverware and china. Otherwise we would go with plastic/dispossible.