How to Select Dinnerware and Place Settings for Dining Etiquette

Selecting dinnerware and knowing where to place it all for your dinner party isn't as challenging as it looks. Once you know how many guests you're having and have chosen the menu, you can start to see how many dishes you need. Whether your dinner is formal, informal, traditional or modern, choose dinnerware that matches and goes along with your overall theme.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Place the dinner plate at the center of the place setting so it's directly in front of where the guest sits. Set the salad plate and/or soup bowl on top of the dinner plate to save space and create a beautiful look. These dishes don't have to perfectly match each other but should complement each other in color and style.
2. Lay the silverware on either side of the dinner plate. For a formal setting, place a fish fork, a dinner fork and a salad fork on the left side and a dinner knife, a fish knife, a teaspoon and a soup spoon on the right side. For an informal setting omit the fish fork and knife; omit the soup spoon or teaspoon if you are not serving soup or tea.
3. Choose napkins that fit your theme--white or lace for formal, bright colors for informal celebration dinners. Etiquette rules state that the napkin goes to the left of the silverware forks on the edge of the place setting, or folded decoratively on top of or above the dinner plate.
4. Pick glasses that are made for your drink servings. Place water goblets, wine glasses, iced tea glasses and/or coffee cups above and to the right of the silverware spoons and knives. Turn the wine glasses and coffee cups upside down--if the guest chooses to have either drink he or she should flip the glass right side up to let the server know.
5. Place a bread and butter plate with a spreader above and to the left of your dinner plate. For informal settings you may choose to omit this and use a pass-around bread bowl instead.
6. Select dinnerware and silverware that match your personality and dinner style. You don't have to use fine china to create an elegant look. Follow the rules, placing only the pieces your guests would actually use during the meal to avoid confusion and poor etiquette. Bring out dessert plates later to avoid cluttering the place setting, or put them between the bread plates and the glasses to keep them out during the meal.