How to Set a Holiday Table

Sharing meals with family and friends is part of what makes the holiday season so special. Show your guests how much you care by setting the perfect holiday table. With a few simple steps, you can create a beautiful table your guests will enjoy as much as the meals you serve.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tablecloth
• Dinnerware set
• Silverware set
• Glasses
• Napkins
• Napkin rings
• Serving platters
• Serving utensils
• Flowers
• Vase
• 2 candle holders
• 2 medium-length candles
• Dust cloth
• Dust cleaner (if your tabletop is wood)
• Glass cleaner (if your tabletop is glass)

1. Clean your table with a dust cloth and proper cleaning product for your table type (wood or glass cleaner).

2. Clean and iron (if needed) your tablecloth, then cover your table with it.

3. Arrange fresh or silk flowers in a special vase and place in center of table. Make sure they are cut low enough so guests can see over the top of them.

4. Clean your candle holders (if needed) and place candlesticks in them. Again, make sure the candles are short enough for guests to see over them. Place candles on either side of flowers.

5. Set a dinner plate at each seat.

6. Set a salad plate on top of each dinner plate.

7. Set a soup bowl on top of each salad plate.

8. Set a dessert plate above the dinner plate.

9. Fold napkins and wrap in napkin rings. Place finished napkins on top of the soup bowl.

10. Set bread plates to the top-left corner of the dinner plates. Place a butter knife on top of each bread plate.

11. Set water and wine glasses to the top-right corner of the dinner plates.

12. Set a salad fork, dinner fork and dessert fork left-to-right to the left of dinner plate. Set a dinner knife and soup spoon left-to-right to the right side of the dinner plate.

13. Set a dessert fork and teaspoon on the dessert plate.

14. Set serving platters on either side of the candles. Place proper serving utensils on each platter.

Tips & Warnings

• You can eliminate any dish or utensil you won't be using for your dinner (soup bowl and spoon, for instance).
• Remove each dish and utensil from table after use.
• Keep coffee cups off the table until ready to serve.
• Keep extra napkins nearby just in case.

[DLBrooks]

on 11/20/2007 Excellent! Just in time for the holidays. Guests would notice a flaw in a nano-second.

[TLund13]

on 11/20/2007 Very helpful, and precise!
Thanks Much :>) Tammy