How to Set an Informal Table

Whether you're hosting dinner or simply wish to dress up the supper table, you know that setting the table is a process dictated by both tradition and style. Heed the following tips and rituals.

Things You'll Need

• Silverware
• Glasses

Instructions

1. Put your flat or silverware an inch or so from table's edge at settings equidistant to each other.

2. Center napkin on the dinner plate or fold it to the left of the forks.

3. Traditionally, silver which will be needed first is set farthest right and left to the plate.

4. Place 2 forks to the left, first course on the outside, main course on the inside.

5. Remember not to put out more than 3 forks, working your way from the outside set first course, then the fork for the course that follows next and so-on-and so-forth.

6. Put two knives to the plate's right. The outside knife is used first.

7. Soup spoons, if needed, are set on the table to the right of the knives.

8. Only provide butter knives if you're putting out butter or bread plates to the 11:00 position.

9. First course plate is simply replaced with main course plate (unless you're serving another course in between, in which case the plate for that course is set before first course).

10. Your dessert spoon and fork are laid head to toe at dinner plate's top.

11. Put the water glass at 2:00 position to dinner plate and any wineglasses to its right. The outside glass will be your champagne flute if champagne is to be served.

Tips & Warnings

• Rules are less formal than they used to be, of course, but some traditions are based on good sense.

• Remember to make all shared tools, like salt and pepper, accessible to everyone.

• Only use the silver that will be needed.

• Huge centerpieces can block lines of communication.

• Accidents are usually the result of cramped quarters.