Proper Table Setting for Dinner
The proper way to set a table has stumped many hostesses over the years. Where should the fork go, do I need to set with a spoon? What’s a girl to do when setting a table for an impromptu dinner party?
Unless you are throwing a completely casual party where your guests will dine on BBQ in the backyard, keep proper etiquette in mind when hosting a dinner. Your theme should guide you. Casual BBQ, then casual settings with lots of room for creativity. Formal sit down in the dining room calls for formal guidelines.
If your guests all know each other, there is no need for place setting cards UNLESS you want to control who sits where. If you have a mix of guests, it’s fun to seat couples apart, this will create more conversations and give your guests time to visit with those they rarely see.
Selecting a theme for your gathering or for your table will create a fun and festive setting. Don’t make centerpieces too tall as you want your guests to be able to see each other across the table. Candles offer a nice touch, but never use a scented candle on a food table. You don’t want it to interfere with the delicious aroma of your meal. Small tealights add ambiance, but beware, they are also the #1 cause of fires. Guests tossing their napkins on tables with a small candle can become a cause for concern, so take these factors into account when choosing your table decor.
As for your actual place settings- opt for formal china if the occasion calls for it. Set each place with a dinner plate, salad bowl or plate on top of it, Dinner fork, salad fork, teaspoon, soup spoon [if your meal includes soup], butter knife and dessert fork, water-glass and wine glass.
A dinner plate is generally placed an inch from the edge of the table. If there is a print or pattern on a portion of your plate, it should be placed on the persons right side. The dinner fork should be placed to the left of the plate and the knife to the right of the plate with blades facing inwards. The soup spoon is to the right of the knife. The salad fork should be to the left of the dinner fork. A general rule of thumb to remember is that silverware is used from the outside in – so the first ones that will be used should be at the farthest side of the dinner plate, while the last ones are the ones nearer the plate. The dessert fork is optional here, and may be placed at the top of the plate as seen above. Never set silverware that won’t be used, this will only confuse your guests. If there is no soup, then don’t include a soup spoon. If there is no salad, don’t include a salad fork. Your napkins may be folded in a variety of ways, and should be placed on top of the dinner plate or to the left of it.
A formal dinner is a great way to bring a family together. With the hustle and bustle of today’s family schedules, dinner time rarely calls for special settings. So look for an occasion to bring your family together. Or perhaps make Sunday nights a family night and start a family dinner tradition.
No matter what the occasion, a perfectly set table will set the mood for a fabulous dinner.
Bon Appetit!
Diana Dee’s
dianadees.wordpress.com 