When you talk about the formal dining experience, it is not just about the fancy plating of food but also encapsulates the timely and meticulous service, attention to detail while setting the table, and the convenience of using cutlery. It enhances the quotient of elegance and takes the dining scene up a notch.
Whether you have planned a dinner date at home or invited peers and seniors for a party, setting the table is the first step to entice people and make them look forward to what is up for dinner. You need to focus on every minute detail for the table to come across as if set by professions. Here is your guide to setting a table for a formal dinner.
Pick A Tablecloth
After you have cleaned the table, you need to pick a tablecloth that will hang evenly across all edges. Don’t forget to iron it because creases show shoddy work. If you are confused about the colour, pick a pastel or neutral hue that will set the soft vibes. To amplify the look, add a table runner at the centre. It will also act as a reference frame for setting cutlery and plates.
Set Dinner Plates
First place a charger plate 2 inches from the edge across all seats. It acts as the base for other plates and prevents the spilling of food on the tablecloth. Layer the charger with dinner plates, quarter plates, and soup bowls, depending on the courses of meals and the types of dishes you will be serving for dinner.
Place Flatware Meticulously
The placement of the cutlery depends on the order of each course of the meal and the ease of accessibility for the guest. You should arrange the fork to the left of the dinner plate with the dinner fork closest to the plate and the salad fork to the far left. Knives with blades facing the plate go to the right and next comes the soup spoon. The dessert fork and spoon are placed above the dinner plate horizontally with the spoon handle on the right and the fork’s handle on the left.
Butter Knife & Bread Plate
On the left side of the dinner plate and above the forks is a plate of bread. The butter knife is placed horizontally across it with a handle on the right. This helps the guest to access the plate without the hassle and reach over for the butter knife if the dinner has different kinds of spreads placed across the table.
Place Glasses
On the right-hand side, arrange the water glass right above the dinner knife. If you are going to serve alcohol, the white wine glasses go towards the right of the water glass and a little bit below it. The red wine glass is placed slightly above the water glasses on the right. If you are not given a choice between two kinds of wines, set the glass to the right of the water glassware. Additionally, if it’s a happy occasion that will call for a toast, place the champagne flute to the right and a little behind the wine glass.
Arrange Napkins
In a formal dinner setting, napkins are a must. There are three ways to place the napkins but it depends on the course of meals. If you want the table to look neat, place the napkin on the left side of the forks. If the napkins flaunt a vibrant hue compared to the dinnerware, set them inside the soup bowl. Last but not least, you can place it right above the charger.
Centerpieces & Salt-Pepper Shakers
As the name suggests, centrepieces are placed at the centre of the table. You can prepare the pieces according to theme, festival spirit, or simply place floral arrangements. The centrepieces should not be large enough that guests cannot see each other. If you have place cards, set them either on the charger or above the dessert flatware. Salt and pepper shakers should be placed within easy reach of the guests.