How to Set a Formal Dining Room Table

Preparing for a formal dinner party at your home can be a bit mind-boggling with the preparation of the food, dessert and drinks. Worrying about the proper placement of the table settings should not be a concern. Specific rules and guidelines exist so that you can entertain honored guest and VIPs in your home without worrying about the etiquette of your table setting. After setting your formal dining room table, you should be able to relax and be a gracious host for your guests. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Place the charger or largest plate on the table first. It will remain in place until the main entree is served and then the two plates will be exchanged.

2

Locate the largest fork, or dinner fork, directly to the left of the charger plate.

3

Position other forks, such as the salad or fish fork directly to the right of the dinner fork. If you are serving salad first, it should be farthest to the right, then the fish fork and dinner fork.

4

Place the dinner knife directly to the right of the dinner plate with the cutting edge toward the plate. If you are using a salad or fish knife, position it to the right of the dinner knife. Always remember that utensils are used from the outside in, so anything for the first course should be the farthest from the dinner plate. This is also a good step to remember when dining at fine restaurants or at a formal dinner party yourself.

5

Place soup or fruit spoons to the right of the dinner knife if you will serve these dishes as a first course.

6

Keep in mind that an oyster fork is the only fork that is ever placed on the right side of the dinner plate, according to the Emily Post website.

7

Position the butter plate above the forks on the left side of the place setting.

8

Position the butter knife diagonally on top of the butter plate. The handle should be facing right and the blade facing down.

9

Place the water glass or goblet directly above the dinner knives. You can then position glasses to the right of it, typically with the smallest glass to the farthest right, such as a sherry or aperitif glass or coffee cup.

10

Lay the napkin on top of the charger or dinner plate.