You might be thinking, "Why get into table setting? Who can’t set a table?"
Well, that’s a good point, actually. But I figured we would touch on this just in case there is a reader or two out there that’s never set a table for more than one.
You’ll want to set your table well before your guests arrive. First impressions are everything, so you want your guests first impression to be a good one. Therefore, we not only want to have the table set, we want it to be set correctly (or as close as we can get it).
There are so many ways to set a table, depending on a number of factors. Formal settings will differ from non-formal.
Will there be soup, salad, both? Wine? What kind of wine? What main dish are you serving? Bread and butter?
See what I mean? So, we’re not going to kill ourselves, debating over the exact or proper way to set a table.
I have already assumed that your guests (at least during your first dinner parties) will be all friends and family. I’m sure if something in the table setting is not exactly right, they’ll forgive you!
We will concentrate on a casual dinner, not formal, setting.
Casual Setting
We’ll start with some general things to remember.
1. Allow for 24" to 30" for each place setting. This will help avoid over-crowding.
2. Place settings should be 1" from the edge of the table.
3. Place silverware in the order of use. What is to be used first is placed farthest from the plate, and so on.
4. Knives are placed to the right of the plate, with the knife's cutting edge facing the plate. Spoons are placed to the right of the plate and to the right of the knives.
5. All forks are placed to the left of the plate, in order of use. If salad is to be served with the main course, or if the salad fork is to be used as a dessert fork, it is placed to the right of the dinner fork, next to the plate.
Tip: Set the table the night before. This way, there’s one less thing to worry about while you cook. If this is not possible, then organize your dishes, flatware, glasses etc. so that when it’s time to set the table, everything is ready at your fingertips! Makes you look like you know what you’re doing . . .
Some Details
The bread and butter plate is optional at a casual dinner party, so don’t worry if you don’t have them. If you are planning to use a bread and butter plate, place it to the upper left of the dinner plate and lay the butter spreader horizontally across the plate, with the blade facing the plate.
Knives are set to the immediate right of the dinner plate, blades facing the plate.
A soup spoon, if needed, is set to the right of all knives.
Forks are placed to the left of the dinner plate in the orderof their use, from the outside toward the plate.
Dessert spoons and forks can be brought to the table with the dessert plates.
Water glasses (if used) should be set just above the top of the place knife. The wine glass is placed slightly to the right of the water glass.
A cup and saucer can be brought to the table along with the teaspoon with dessert.
Place a folded napkin to the left of your forks.
I personally stay away from candles and centerpieces. As far as I’m concerned, they may look nice but I feel they can get in the way of the interaction.
Imagine having to constantly look around the centerpiece to speak to your guests. Again, this is a personal choice.
Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it. You now know how to set a table in an informal setting.
A formal setting is more extensive, and changes with certain foods, so I won’t cover it here.
I would think that if you’re ready for a formal dinner party, you will have done enough informal ones to know where to get the information (research, remember?)
With your table set, we’re ready to move on to the next phase – planning your menu!
Planning your menu!
