How to Set the Perfect Spring Table Setting

Entry #2282, April 10, 2013

Don’t you just love it when you walk into a well presented wedding reception or formal dinner banquet? The ambience of the décor usually causes us to pause for a moment and relish in the beauty that was created and displayed. Our eyes float across the room but eventually end up at the focal point, the table and it’s settings.  Everything, from the champagne flute to the salad fork has a carefully chosen placement.  There was so much order and elegance that that set-up brought into the space for a split second there were no need for words.  Well, how about bringing that same elegant order into your own home.  Here are some steps for you to create a proper table setting.

Image via: Indulgy

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Step 1: Choosing a Table Linen

Take out the linen tablecloths that you plan to use and lay it on the table.  Be sure that it is starched and wrinkle-free.  If you do not have a tablecloth, no problem just use some placemats instead.

Step 2: Dinner Plate Setting

Place a dinner or service plate in front of each chair at the table and fold a napkin to be placed on top of it.  The service plate should hold the place for the first course and it will usually remain on the table until the plate with entrée appears.  If guest are intended to serve themselves then feel free to use the dinner plate.

Step 3: Knives, Spoons, and Forks

The dinner knife will lay on the right side of the plate, with the blade pointing in, follow this action with the fish knife with its blade also point inward. Next, take the soup or fruit spoon and place to the right of the fish knife.  The oyster fork comes after the soup or fruit spoon and it will be placed on the right side of the spoon if you plan to serve shellfish.  As for the left side of the plate, you will place the dessert fork first, followed by the dinner fork and salad fork last.

Image via: Love the Day

Step 4: Goblets and Glasses

Have the water goblet to be set above and to the left of the knife area and to the right side of the goblet place the champagne flute followed by a white or red wine glass. Then put a sherry glass to the right side of the wine glass. Above the fork area will be the butter plate with the butter knife on top of it that way it is lying diagonally across from the plate.

Reminders

-More things can be added on depending what type of food and drink will be served, decorations (centerpieces, candles etc.), and the count of people.

-When choosing the linens switch up the color and patterns for the tablecloth and napkins.  Such as perhaps adding a runner cloth and serving plates edges that have a very bold pattern and the napkins being a solid color.

For more dining room ideas or wedding ideas Stagetecture, click here