Instructions For Use

Everything You Need to Set a Formal Table

In order to efficiently make a formal table setting, here are the tools you’ll need to create each type of setting:

• Linens, such as a tablecloth & napkins (paper napkins okay as well)

• Napkin rings

• Glassware (red or white wine glasses, water glasses, champagne flutes)

• Silverware (dinner, salad or dessert forks; soup or dessert spoons; dinner knives)

• Specialty silverware (butter knives, etc.)

tablecloths, or even opting for stemless over stemmed glassware.

Basic Formal Table Setup

Although formally setting the table may seem daunting, what with the many pieces and rules to follow, once you’ve learned

the basics, it gets easier as you go. Soon, you’ll be ready to entertain in style.

What you’ll need at each place setting:

• Charger

• Napkin and napkin ring

• Bread plate

• Butter knife

• Soup spoon

• Dessert spoon

• Dessert fork

Refer to the above image to further help you build your basic table setting. First, place down the charger. Next, insert the

napkin into the napkin ring and lay flat on the charger. Place your dinner and salad forks on the left side of the charger,

making sure the dinner fork is closest to the charger, with the knife and spoon on the right side of the charger. The knife

should be closest to the charger, with the blade facing inward toward the plate. Above the charger, add the dessert fork, then

above that, the dessert spoon. Lay down the bread plate to the left, diagonally, of the charger, directly above the dinner and

salad forks and to the left of the dessert spoon and fork. Place the butter knife atop the bread plate. Finally, grab your water

glass, red wine glass and white wine glass and place them down so they’re to the right, diagonally, of the charger, but above

mix, and set it on top of the charger. All other pieces of the setting remain the same as in the basic step.

What you’ll need at each place setting:

• Charger

• Soup bowl

• Napkin

• Bread plate

• Butter knife

• Water glass

• White wine glass

• Red wine glass

• Soup spoon

• Dessert spoon

the soup spoon in the bowl once you’re done with your meal. This will tell the server that you’re done, and they will remove

your bowl and soup spoon. If you are your own server, you can remove the bowl and spoon from your charger.

Tip: If you are not serving soup, a salad can be served in its place.

Setting the Table for the Main Course

Now that the soup has been cleared from your setting, you should still have most of your original setting in place, minus

the soup spoon. At this point, a plate will be brought out (or retrieved from the kitchen) and placed on top of the charger to

begin the main meal. Eat the main course using the dinner fork and knife.

What you’ll need at each place setting:

• Charger

• Red wine glass

• Dinner fork

• Salad fork

• Dinner knife

• Dessert spoon

• Dessert fork

Tip: As you eat, don’t forget to sip your drinks and eat some bread.

Setting the Table for Salad

You will again follow the setting format shown in section 2, but now minus the soup spoon, dinner fork and dinner knife.

• Napkin and napkin ring

• Bread plate

• Butter knife

• Water glass

• White wine glass

• Red wine glass

• Salad fork

• Dessert spoon

• Dessert fork

Tip: Keep a pepper mill nearby in case guests prefer freshly ground pepper on their foods.

What you’ll need at each place setting:

• Charger

• Dessert plate

Depending on the dessert, use either the dessert spoon or the dessert fork to eat the final meal. Or both. Since this is the last

course of the evening, dessert can be eaten leisurely, intermingling bites with conversation or even sips of tea, water or

wine.

Tip: Dessert wines like port and sherry are served in smaller, compact glasses so they are easier to sip.