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Celebration – the very word conjures up a party atmosphere, whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, Christmas or just a reason to catch up and celebrate good friendships. A dinner party is a great way to celebrate and sometimes it’s worth making a little extra effort and elevating your dining table with a more formal setting. Don’t worry, formal doesn’t have to be stuffy or serious – it’s just a basic table with a little more attention to detail when you’re setting the table.
The key to setting a formal table is not scary – it’s all about symmetry and attention to detail. Whether you’re planning a multi course meal or just a 2 course meal – the “rules” are the same.
All place settings should be uniform and balanced. Additionally, make sure to coordinate your tableware and linens to create an elegant and cohesive look. If you’re accommodating more people than usual and you don’t have enough of one colour napkin, the same plates or glassware – they don’t all have to match – mix them up, just keep your theme in mind and keep the colour palette consistent.
Setting a beautiful dining table will create an inviting and elegant atmosphere for your guests and sets the tone for the whole evening, making it a special occasion.
Follow this step-by-step guide on how to set a formal dinner table.
CHOOSE YOUR THEME OR STYLE
Decide on the theme or style you want to convey. It could be a Christmas dinner, a special birthday, or a celebration so select a theme that suits the occasion and your personal taste.
NAPERY
For a formal setting, use a tablecloth or placemats, they instantly elevate the table from “everyday” to “special”.
Start with a clean and well-ironed tablecloth that drapes evenly over the table. Alternatively, you can use placemats for each individual place setting – you can even use both – layering is a beautiful way to introduce other colours, patterns or textures to the table.
CHARGER PLATES
Charger plates, add elegance and introduce colour or extra texture. Place one at each setting, even if you're not serving multiple courses, they provide a decorative base for other tableware.
CROCKERY
Place a large dinner plate at the centre of each setting, about one inch from the table's edge. If you're serving a starter, place a salad plate or entrée plate on top of the dinner plate. If soup is part of the meal, place a soup bowl on top of the smaller plate. If bread and butter are part of the meal, place a small bread plate to the left of the forks with a butter knife or a spreader.
CUTLERY
Lay the utensils according to the order of use, from the outside in. Typically, it goes like this:
Forks to the left of the dinner plate from the outside in towards the plate, they go entrée fork, dinner fork then dessert fork. Knives and spoons to the right – again from the outside, soup spoon or entrée knife, dinner knife and dessert spoon. Knives should be placed with the blade facing towards the plates.
* Dessert utensils can be placed horizontally above the dinner plate, closest to the plates or brought out with dessert.
Sometimes this can seem the most daunting task but, basically, you set the cutlery from the outside and work in closer to the crockery – starting with whichever utensil you need to eat the first course.
NAPKINS
Now this is where you can get creative - fold or roll cloth napkins, tie them with ribbon, add a sprig of your favourite herb, or a small flower, or use decorative napkin rings, and place the napkins either on top of the dinner plate or to the left of the forks.
GLASSWARE
Place water glasses slightly above the knives and any wine glasses to the right of the water glass. For very formal settings, you may have a white wine glass and a red wine glass at each setting.
CENTREPIECES
Create a beautiful centrepiece that doesn't obstruct views across the table. It could be fresh flowers, a decorative bowl, candles, seasonal decorations or a combination of these. A centrepiece helps set the theme and elevate your table even further.
PLACE CARDS
There’s nothing more thoughtful than assigning seats at a table, so you keep the conversation going with careful placement of guests who have something in common even if they’ve never met before. Using place cards in decorative holders adds to the elegance of the table. They can be placed above the dinner plate, on top of the dinner plate, or on the napkin, whichever looks best on your table.
LIGHTING
Lighting plays a huge role in creating a beautiful ambience. Dimmed overhead lights, table lamps on sideboards and candlelight on the table create a more intimate atmosphere.
FINISHING TOUCHES
Take a moment to straighten and align everything on the table. Make sure the glasses and cutlery are sparkling clean and free of water spots.
EXTRAS
Place salt and pepper shakers, butter, and any other condiments within easy reach of your guests.
Remember that setting a beautiful table is also about personal style and creativity. You can mix and match different tableware, linens, and decorations to create a unique and visually appealing dining experience. Have fun with creating a captivating table and if you set the table ahead of time, you’ll alleviate last-minute stress.
