-
Step 1
Place a charger plate directly in front of each seat at the table. Charger plates fulfill a similar role to place mats--they are not eaten from, but provide decoration and protection of the table or tablecloth.
-
Step 2
Place utensils. All should sit parallel to the plate. On the right side of the plate should be the knives and spoons, and the forks should be on the left. The only exception is that an oyster fork would be placed to the far right.
-
Step 3
Arrange the bottom of all utensils so that they line up neatly and rest an inch from the table's edge.
-
Step 4
Place all utensils according to your meal plan, so that as each dish is presented, your guests use the utensils from the outside of the plate first, working their way in.
-
Step 5
Sit dessert utensils above the plate, and parallel to the edge of the table, or simply provide dessert utensils once dinner is served.
-
Step 6
Fold the napkin and place it on the plate, roll and place in a napkin ring or, on an informal occasion, wrap silverware in the napkin.
-
Step 7
Set out glassware. All stemware should sit to the right side of the place setting. The water glass should be above and just to the left of the innermost knife. Red wine glasses sit to the right of the water glass and white wine glasses go just to the right of the red wine glass. As a group, glassware should create a slight diagonal line.
-
Step 8
Place the bread plate above the forks on the left of each place setting.
