Helpful Hints for Setting Your Table Entertaining

Helpful Hints for Setting Your table
General Rules for Setting your Dining Table For Entertaining
I am going to explain some general rules for setting your formal dining table for entertaining and for special meals


Allow for 24" to 30" for each place setting to avoid over-crowding
Place settings should be 1" from the edge of the table
All silverware is placed in the order of use. What is to be used first is placed farthest from the plate
Knives are placed to the right of the plate, with the knife's cutting edge facing the plate
Spoons are placed to the right of the plate and to the right of the knives
All forks are placed to the left of the plate, in order or use. THe only exception is the cocktail/oyster fork, which is placed to the right of the place spoon
If salad is to be served as a first course, the salad fork is placed to the left of the dinner fork, left of the dinner plate. If the sald fork is to be used as a dessert fork, it is placed to the right of the dinner fork, next to the plate. The dessert fork and spoon can also be placed, European style, above the plate. The spoon, its handle to the right,goes above the fork. The fork's handle points to the left.