How to Set a Formal Table

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (46 Ratings)

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Silverware
Step1
Use white, damask tablecloth.
Step2
Rent or assemble enough tableware and glasses for a five-course meal.
Step3
Space place settings equidistance apart.
Step4
Fold linen napkins and place in the center of the dinner plates.
Step5
Place knives to the right of the plate. Use maximum of three: one for first course, one for main course and one for a salad course. Blades face the plate, not outwards.
Step6
Place forks to the left. Use no more than three: one for first course, one for main course and one for a salad course.
Step7
Place soup or melon spoons to the right of the knives. The dessert spoon lies at the head of the plate.
Step8
If you like, an old-fashioned finger bowl might be presented on the dessert plates after the meal.
Step9
Set out glasses in order of use above the knives. Usually that means setting water glass to the left, then to its right are the red wine, white wine, sherry and then champagne glasses.

Tips & Warnings

  • The silverware at a formal dinner is generally silver or silverplate.
  • Butter dishes are not traditionally included in a formal table setting.
  • Rolls are placed directly on the tablecloth.
  • Dessert forks come with the course.

Comments

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phoebessh

phoebessh said

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on 12/21/2006 Bread is NEVER served at a formal dinner! So do NOT put rolls on the table. Leave them at the bakery!

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 3/11/2006 Be very careful when pushing chairs under a table. Pushing them too far beneath the table can dent a tablecloth.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Instead of folding napkins into plain squares, fold it in an artistic way; Lady Windamere's fan or Bishops Mitre for example, and put it in the middle of the plate. This will make an elegant impression on your guests.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 4/12/2008 Almost no food is blue, so food looks best on a blue plate or white plate trimmed in blue. That is one of the reasons that blue willow has been popular for so long.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 4/12/2008 White plates are best for most dishes. But, if you have pasta with alfredo sauce, an all-white meal, it looks best on a black plate. The same goes for chicken and other white foods.

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eHow Article: How to Set a Formal Table

eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Category: Home & Garden

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