The Proper Way to Set a Formal Table

Wine and champage glasses are part of a formal table setting.

Although most home dinners are casual and often not even served at an actual dinner table, occasionally, a celebration or event calls for a formal table setting. Properly setting it calls for a full set of flatware, dishes and glassware.

Dish Placement

Position a cover plate, also called a starter or charger plate, 1 inch from the edge of the table. The starter plate remains on the table as a base for each subsequent dish that is served. Place a soup bowl in the center of the plate. The bread-and-butter plate goes above the forks on the left of the place setting. Coffee or teacups are not part of a formal place setting.

Flatware Placement

Place the salad fork at the outermost point to the left of the cover plate. Next to it, arrange the dinner fork and alongside that, the dessert fork, closest to the plate. The knife goes immediately to the right of the plate, followed by the teaspoon and soupspoon. Position the butter knife on the top of the bread plate with the blade facing the plate's center.

Glassware Placement

Place the water goblet directly above the right top of the cover plate. Put the champagne or red wine glass next to the goblet, followed by the white wine glass.

References

• ButlersGuild.com: The Proper Way to Set a Formal Table