How to set a formal dinner table

As the holiday season approaches, you may consider entertaining loved ones to celebrate the season. After all, dinner parties – whether grandiose or more intimate – e – have become a commonplace tradition for many families. 

As they say, “the fondest memories are made when gathered around the table”. Where formal dinner parties are concerned, one important element to wow your guests is to master a formal table setting. While proper table etiquette can seem bewildering, it is a simple skill to learn if you follow these simple guidelines:

Necessities

Here is a general list of items you may need to master a fabulous formal setting: Table cloth, charger plates, dinner plates, soup bowls, salad plates, bread plates, desert plates, napkins, salad forks, dinner forks, fish forks, dinner knives, butter knives, fish knives, soup spoons, desert spoons, water glasses, red wine glasses and white wine glasses. 

Set Table with Necessary Items Only

When evaluating the above list of necessities, use discernment and only place dishes and utensils that will be used throughout the meal. For example, if you won’t be serving bread then, you do not need a bread plate and knife; likewise, if you do not serve soup, you can omit the soup bowl and spoon, and so on. 

Plan Ahead

To ensure your dinner party goes off without a hitch, visualize the meal from start to finish, including each course and any formalities. For instance, if you are planning a toast throughout the meal, you may want to include a champagne flute; likewise, if you are serving coffee or tea with dessert, you will need to add these elements as well. 

Place Cards

Place cards are not only an elegant touch, but they also streamline your dinner party by providing clarity on where everyone is sitting up front. This will reduce hustle and bustle around the table, and prevent your guests from clamoring over the same seat. 

Set the Mood

Consider the atmosphere you are trying to create. If you are having a large family gathering, the ambiance will be very different from a romantic dinner for two. Choose your lighting, music, and aesthetic based on your chosen mood. Similarly, if you are opting for a more casual atmosphere, this will affect the table setting. For instance, in a casual dinner, placemats are acceptable, whereas in a formal dinner, charger plates are more appropriate.

Napkin Placement

The napkins are easily the items at the table that offer the most flexibility in terms of style and placement. You may opt to fold the napkin in an elegant (or casual) fashion, or you can add a napkin ring for added elegance. In either case, you could place the napkin to the left of the charger plate or on top. You can also place a folded napkin in a water goblet or wine glass if you prefer. Although it seems commonplace, setting utensils on top of the napkin is not recommended as it can cause clatter or disruption to the dinner in the manner of dropped utensils when guests inevitably retrieve it.

Instructions for a Formal Table Setting:

1. Cover the table with a clean and wrinkle-free tablecloth. 

2. Set each place with a charger plate. 

3. Place the bread plate to the upper left of the charger plate.

4. Place the butter knife on the bread plate with the handle facing to the right.

5. Place the napkin either to the left of or on top of the charger plate, per your preference.

6. Set the salad fork and dinner fork to the left of the charger plate left to right. 

7. On the right of the charger plate, set the dinner knife, salad knife and soup spoon left to right. 

8. Set the water glass on the right-hand side above the knives. 

9. Place dessert utensils above the charger plate with the fork handle facing left and spoon handle facing right. The fork should be placed below the spoon. 

10. Change the charger plate out for the dinner plate when dinner is served. You can also choose to set the dinner plate on top of the charger for the duration of the meal.

Jessica Gardner | Contributing Writer

Winter 2024

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