Here’s a great tip for when you are setting a special table for a family gathering or for close friends. It can be a birthday party, a family reunion, an elaborate dinner, a holiday or anniversary…the more people the better, although any number can “play.” For your place cards and seating arrangements use a “picture-from-the-past” of each dinner guest. Raid your scrap books and picture albums for old photographs or “commemorative” photos to place at each table setting. Each guest finds their picture-place-card and during dinner tells a story relating to the photograph.
From Great Grandparents, to Aunts and Uncles, to Grandchildren, to extended family or close friendseach person can tell a story about that time in their life, and when or why the photograph was taken. Add a lot of giggling, good food, good fun, and good memories…and be sure to embellish your stories! You could even do “theme dinners”all the photographs must be baby pictures and everybody guesses who’s who before they sit down. Or the pictures might be all high school graduation pictures, or who caught the biggest fish pictures, or the most outlandish hair-do pictures, first-car pictures, everyone’s 10 -year birthday party picture, or Halloween-costume pictures, or even you with a favorite pet picture!
Have fun, as you top off your dinner with a “photo finish.”
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Brook Noel is the author of The Change Your Life Challenge and the Rush Hour Cook Series. To enjoy her free newsletters with recipes, tips and trivia, please visit
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Wendy Louise is the author of The Complete Crockery Cookbook: Create Spectacular Meals with Your Slow Cooker and The Sensational Skillet Cook: Create Spectacular Meals with Your Electric Skillet
