With the holiday season upon us, this is a great time to revisit table settings etiquette. From basic settings to formal occasions, confident entertaining begins with knowing these protocols.
Today's three most common table settings for entertaining are Formal, Casual, and Basic. Each includes the utensils and dinnerware customarily required for that style of dining.
Formal Table Setting
Elegant dinner parties deserve a formal table setting. In the past, formal settings included configurations for up to eight courses. Nowadays, six courses are far more common for home entertaining: appetizer, soup, salad, starch, protein, and dessert.
A formal table setting includes a charger (also known as a presentation plate), dinner plate, soup bowl, salad plate, bread plate, napkin, salad fork, dinner fork, table knife, soup spoon, butter knife, dessert spoon, water glass, red wine glass, white wine glass, and place card. These are set out in a specific pattern on an ironed tablecloth.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Place a charger on the table, centered against the accompanying chair.
- Place the soup bowl in the center of the charger.
- If not serving soup, place the salad plate here instead.
- If serving both soup and salad, place the salad plate here after clearing the soup bowl.
- Thinking of the charger as a clock face, place the bread plate between 10:00 and 11:00.
- Place the butter knife on the bread plate, with the blade facing toward the charger and the handle pointing to the right.
- Place a napkin to the left of the charger.
- To the left of the charger, either on the napkin or between the napkin and charger, place the salad fork on the outside and the dinner fork on the inside. The forks should be about a half-inch apart, with the bottom edges aligned with the bottom edge of the charger.
- To the charger's right, place the table knife on the inside, with the blade facing the charger. Working outward to the right, place the salad knife, then the soup spoon, and end with the teaspoon on the outside.
- Above the charger, center the dessert spoon left to right at 12:00, with the handle pointing to the right.
- If providing a dessert fork, place it between the dessert spoon and the charger with the handle pointing to the left.
- Place the water glass directly above the table knife.
- Place the white wine glass to the right and about three-fourths of an inch below the water glass.
- Place the red wine glass to the right and slightly above the white wine glass.
- Position the place card above the dessert spoon.
Important Notes:
- If serving both soup and salad, place the dinner plate on the charger after the salad plate is cleared, or remove the charger with the salad plate and place the dinner plate directly on the cloth.
- All flatware should be placed about one-half-inch apart, with the bottom edges lined up with the bottom edge of the charger.
- If serving after-dinner coffee at the same table, the cup and saucer should be placed above and slightly to the right of the soup spoon.
Casual Table Setting
Casual or informal table settings are perfect for laid-back dinners, banquets, and luncheons. A casual table setting includes a dinner plate, soup bowl, salad plate, bread plate, napkin, salad fork, dinner fork, table knife, soup spoon, butter knife, water glass, and glass for tea or other second beverage.
These are set out in a specific pattern on an informal tablecloth, such as one with multiple colors or patterns. Chargers are typically not used, but if you want to include one, use a less formal style, such as unfinished wood.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Place the dinner plate on the table, centered against the accompanying chair.
- Place the bread plate on the top left of the dinner plate.
- Place the butter knife on the bread plate, with the blade facing toward the dinner plate and the handle pointing to the right.
- Place the salad plate on top of the dinner plate.
- Place the soup bowl on the salad plate if serving a soup course.
- Place a napkin to the left of the dinner plate.
- On the napkin, place the salad fork on the outside and the dinner fork on the inside.
- To the right of the dinner plate, place the table knife on the inside, with the blade facing the charger. Working outward, place the soup spoon (if serving soup) and finish with a teaspoon on the outside.
- Place the water glass directly above the table knife (at 1:00 on a clock face).
- Place the wine glass (or glass for a second beverage) to the right and slightly above the water glass.
Basic Table Setting
Getting ready for everyday dinner or a weekend breakfast? Make it special by following the etiquette for a basic table setting. All you need is a placemat, napkin, dinner plate, water glass, table knife, dinner fork, and teaspoon.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Lay the placemat on the table.
- Put the dinner plate in the middle of the placemat.
- Lay the napkin to the left of the plate.
- Place the fork on the napkin.
- To the right of the plate, place the knife closest to the plate, blade pointing in. Place the spoon to the right of the knife.
- Place the water glass slightly above the plate, in between the plate and the utensils, about where 1 p.m. would be on a clock face.
Dining Furniture for Any Occasion
There you have it — now you’re an expert at setting the table for any occasion! But if your dining table has seen better days, no amount of table dressing will distract your guests So, why not get a dining table set from Van's Home Center?
And if you have any questions about which table and chair setup to get, don’t wait — contact our experts today!