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Step 1
Start your table with a lovely linen to cover the length of the table. (A 10-15 inch drop around the table is recommended). Cotton, silk, and Linen tablecloths are used for more formal settings while cotton/polyester blends are used for casual dining. Arrange dinner plates in the center of each guests dining area and garnish the plate with a folded cloth napkin (unless you are serving a salad or soup dish, you may place the napkin to the far left of your serving). For the centerpiece, it is important that your guests can easily see each other from across the table. You don't want them straining to see other guests or feel "blocked" out of the conversation. I recommend a display of unscented candles (making sure the wick is below eye level), greenery/small floral arrangements, or any decorative holiday delights.
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Step 2
When it comes to the utensils, forks to the left, knives and spoons to the right is the old saying. Here is a more detailed description of the place setting. Always start utensils about 1 inch from the edge of the table. For a more casual setting, starting from the left side of the guests setting, you will have a dinner fork, salad fork, plate with napkin folded on top, butter knife, and spoon. For a more formal setting you may have from left to right again, a folded cloth napkin, fish fork, dinner fork, salad fork, dinner plate with soup or salad dish setting inside, dinner knife, fish knife and soup spoon. Place the desert spoon or fork directly behind your plate parallel to the setting. Your bread plate is off the left adorned with a butter knife. Your goblets off to the right side of the setting starting with the water goblet, red wine goblet and white wine goblet. Remember that if you are not serving wine, you will eliminate those goblets from your table settings, as well as any utensils that will not be needed. If you leave unneeded utensils on the table, your guests may become confused causing unnecessary embarrassment.
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Step 3
Before your guests arrive, water goblets are the only glass to be pre-filled and salad and/or bread should be the only food to be set on the table. If you choose to have music at your dinner party, choose something that compliments the experience you are creating for your guests and keep the volume low. Lastly, greet your guests with a warm welcome and remember that you, as the hostess, is the last to be seated! Cheers:}
Comments
lildutchgirl56 said
on 11/22/2008 I never can remember what goes where, now I know. Thanks!
Gracie1402 said
on 11/12/2008 this is a lot of great information to setting a nice holiday table, great article!
0214CT said
on 11/10/2008 This is needful! Thank you!