What is the practical difference between buying stainless or silverplated flatware?

I am looking to purchase a set of flatware and my wife and I love the old Baroque patterns. I have found them in both stainless and silverplate and I am not sure what the difference in quality is. I know what they both mean, I just don't know which is better.

Forgot to mention, we would be using it about once or twice a week for Saturday formal meals

Stainless will be easier to care for. It can be washed in the dishwasher, etc. Silverplate has to be handwashed and the finish will wear off, most likely unevenly, so it won't look good when this happens. Stainless should look nice for quite a long time.

If it's something you will be using often, stainless is more practical. Silver is hard to care for, but beautiful to use on those special occasions.

Stainless is lower maintenance and considered more casual. It also doesn't have as much shine.

Silver is more prone to spotting and will need polish sometimes. It is brighter when it's polished.

Both are great options. I think many people like to use Stainless for everyday flatware and Silver for more special occasions.

I would buy the stainless, the silverplated is a flatware the is coated with silver and it eventually peels off. Not worth the money. Any thing that say plated is just finished with the metal and like gold plated, it does peel.

stainless steel is better the plated might flake after a time

I think that the silver plate would wear off over time. I would go with stainless.

Stainless last a life time the other will tarnish and not look good or do well in the long run , like in the dish washer..

stainless is what most of the flatware is made up these days.

Silverplate is what you buy when you cannot afford Sterling. Silverplate WILL wear off though.

If you can afford it, buy sterling. The value goes up, it is an instant family heirloom, and if times get tough, you can always pawn or sell it for some quick cash.