Formal Setting for a Round Table Dinner Party

Properly setting a formal dinner table is an important skill when you are entertaining. Understanding what item goes where is important for the continuity and flow of the table, not to mention for conversation and the evening itself. When serving a formal dinner at a round table, be sure the table is large enough to accommodate the guests comfortably, as well as the place settings. A 60-inch table can accommodate approximately six to eight guests with a formal setting. Does this Spark an idea?

The Plates

Place the service plate, also known as the dinner plate, on the table. The salad plate sits on top of the service plate until the first course, usually a soup or salad, has been eaten. The bread plate sits above and to the left of the service plate, with a bread knife laying over it. If there is no bread being served, the bread plate can also be useful as a place to discard bones, olive pits or other items your guest will not eat.

The Silver

Place the salad fork and dinner fork to the left of the service plate, and the knife, teaspoon and soup spoon to the right of the service plate. The only exception to this rule is the seafood cocktail fork, which is placed to the right of the service plate. The sharper side of the knife always faces the plate. If you are not serving a particular course, do not set the flatware that goes with it. For example, if you are not serving a soup, do not include a soup spoon in the place setting. The cake fork and dessert spoon, if applicable to your dinner, is placed above the service plate.

Glassware

Place three glasses on the table, to the right of the service plate and above the knife and spoons. The glass that is on the far left is the water glass. The glass in the middle is the red wine glass, and the glass on the far right is the white wine glass. If you lack room in a round table setting and you are only serving red or white wine based on the main course, remove one of the two wine glasses to preserve space. The saucer for coffee is typically not placed on the table until the dessert course.

Napkins and Accessories

Place accessories such as name cards and napkins where they best fit. Napkins can be neatly folded and placed over the salad plate, or to the left of the forks. For a round table, it is best to place the napkin on the plate to preserve space. In a traditional formal setting, each place setting has its own salt and pepper shakers. While that is not common, it is advisable to place several salt and pepper shakers within easy reach for several of your guests. It keeps conversation moving smoothly without someone requesting the salt or pepper from another guest.