The Formal Table Setting
PROPER FORMAL TABLE SETTING
The one unbreakable rule for how to set a dinner table is that everything must be geometrically spaced -
all places must be at equal distances, and all sterling silver flatware balanced.
A: Napkin B: Service Plate
C: Soup bowl on plate D: Bread and butter plate w/ butter knife
E. Water glass F: White wine
G: Red wine H: Fish fork
I: Dinner Fork J: Salad fork
K: Service knife L: Fish knife
M: Soup spoon N: Dessert spoon and cake fork
SILVERWARE
The silverware used at a formal table setting should be sterling silver flatware. It is not necessary that all
the sterling silver match, although all forks or all spoons should be of the same pattern. Dessert sterling
silver flatware, which is not brought to the table but is brought in with the desert plates, need not match
the dinner flatware. Knives and forks should match.
INDIVIDUAL PLACE SETTINGS
The distance between places at the table set must never be so short that guests have no elbow room.
About two feet from plate center to plate center is ideal. If the chairs have narrow and low backs,
people can sit much closer together. The service plates are first put around the table at equal
distances. The sterling silver flatware is placed in the order of its use, with the implements to be used
first farthest from the plate. The salad fork is placed next to the left of the plate, then the meat fork.
Just to the right of the plate is the salad knife and on the outside is the meat knife. The cutting edge of
each toward the plate. Outside the knives are the soup spoon. Dessert spoons and forks are brought in
on the dessert plate just before dessert is served.
If bread or rolls are to be served, a butter plate should be used. The butter plate is located above the
forks at the left of the place setting. The butter knife is laid across it, slightly diagonally from upper left
to lower right, with the sharper edge of the blade toward the edge of the table.
The wineglasses chosen for the formal table setting depend upon the menu, but their table setting
arrangement is according to size, so that little ones are not hidden behind large ones. Place them
directly above the knives in a straight row slanting downward from the upper left. Generally only one -
at the most, two - wines are served, so a water goblet and one (or two) wineglasses are all that are
necessary. Frequently wine is not served at all, and iced-tea glasses or simply tumblers for water or
mugs for beer are used.
If you plan to serve coffee with the meal, the cup and saucer go to the right of the setting, with the
coffee spoon on the right side of the saucer.
Just to help add more spice to your social events, we thought we'd put together some fun tips for future
entertaining endeavors.
Proper table setting is every entertainer's nightmare, especially when there are over 100 flatware
serving pieces to choose from. Just remember, you should always start with the basic 5-pc place
setting: teaspoon, place spoon, salad fork, place fork and place knife. With fine sterling, acquiring the
total number of 5-pc sets you desire may take time. Eight is the most popular configuration chosen.
The basic serving pieces include tablespoons, butter knives, serving forks, pierced tablespoons, gravy
ladles, and sugar spoons. Because we've all been know to accidentally drop a flatware item in the
garbage disposal, some individuals choose to collect two of each serving piece. Once you are all set with
the basics, you can move onto buying the really fun-to-own serving accessories like cracker scoops and
hooded asparagus servers.
Although sterling is expensive, please do not let that interfere with using your sterling more often than
just at holiday gatherings. Any tie is a good time....the money was spent, therefore you should get every
dime out of its use. Sterling silver designs have come a long way within the past couple of decades,
acquiring a more modern look. Whatever design you own. please know it is perfectly acceptable to pair
a traditional pattern with china or one of our more simple designs with ornate dinnerware. Today's
society, along with today's entertaining, has no limits and definitely no boundaries. Whatever your
fancy....entertain to you liking.
Teaspoon Dessert Spoon Soup Spoon Service Spoon Dinner Spoon Coffee Spoon
Soup Spoon Long Spoon
Service Fork Dinner Fork Dessert Fork Salad Fork Fish Fork
or Luncheon Fork
Cocktail or
Oyster Fork
Dinner Knife Bread Knife Steak Knife Butter Knife
Salad Knife Fish Knife
Show Plate Dinner Plate
Soup Plate Dessert Plate
Bread Plate Salad Plate
Oval Plate
Coffee Pot Tea Pot Coffee Cup and Saucer
Tea Cup Cappuccino Cup Sugar Box
Cream Soup Plate Serving Plate
Fish Plate
Service Tray
Oval Tray
Round Tray or Bar Tray
