How To Set The Table For A Party?

Setting up a table is something we learn while we are young. We all know that there are certain rules when it comes to setting up the table.

It is important to note that the plate should be placed in the middle. A glass for water should be placed on the top right side, with a wine glass next to it. Cutlery should be placed in the order of eating, fork on the left side, while the knife and spoon sit on the right side.

Whether it’s a formal or non-formal party, setting up the table is an important element of the party. There are certain rules you can follow. We bring you a few steps to set up the table for a party, to make it easier.

How to set the table for a party?

There are certain rules we must follow when it comes to setting the table. In our daily rush, we generally don’t bother with how we set the table, so we dedicate ourselves to serving meals more carefully on weekends or special occasions.

Always place the plate in the middle, and each guest should have at least 10 inches of space on each side. This primarily makes it easier to eat, but also makes the table look much better. If it is a slightly more formal dinner, it is necessary to set a white tablecloth and napkins. Napkins can be placed above the plate, on the side under the cutlery, or in the plate itself. There are no special rules when it comes to napkins.

As for utensils, they are placed exclusively according to the order of eating. This would mean that the cutlery for the last meal is placed along the very edge of the plate.

A formal table includes more food and drink, so more pieces of cutlery, plates, and glasses. The rules of setting up a table for formal dinners apply here, with some additional rules.

With a formal table, you need to make sure that the tablecloth and napkins are flawless. The tablecloth should be neither too short nor too long, and the perfect length is when the edge of the tablecloth is halfway between the table and the floor. Use white cotton fabrics.

For less formal occasions, feel free to use paper towels, but make sure that their design and motifs match the occasion on which you are organizing the dinner.

If you’re using a plate coaster, place it on top of the tablecloth. Put the plate on top of the coaster.

How do you place plates, glasses, and cutlery?

Plates are, of course, a central part of setting up any table, so you need to think in advance about what your guests will need during the meal. If you are planning to serve soup, your guests will need a deep soup plate, and if you plan to start the meal with a salad, don’t forget the salad plate.

Furthermore, your guests will also need a plate for the main course and perhaps a plate for bread and butter; the latter should be placed to the left, above the main dish. Depending on how you plan to serve dessert, guests may also need a dessert plate.

Cutlery is probably the most demanding part of setting the table and the part that we usually do wrong every day. However, once you know the basic rules it is very simple. We put a fork on the left side of the plate. The salad fork is the one furthest from the plate, and the fork for the main course is the one closest to the plate.

A dinner knife and soup spoon are placed on the right side of the plate; the knife should be closer to the plate. The butter knife is placed on a plate for bread and butter, and the dessert utensils stand above the plate. All knives should be placed so that the serrated side facing the plate, and all utensils should be placed in one straight line.

Depending on the type of guests and the type of drink you plan to serve, you will need different types of glasses. It’s much simpler with children – they will probably only need one glass, but if you can find glasses with fun motifs, it’s always a good idea.

When entertaining adults, remember that glasses will be used during meals, so place them on the upper right side of the plate. Start with glass for water, continue with either a glass for white wine or red wine (or offer both, and then remove the glass that the guest will not need).

Then place a small glass for an aperitif and finally a cup for coffee. But, sometimes a cup for coffee doesn’t need to be placed right away, you can bring a cup with coffee after dinner. All glasses should be arranged in a straight line from the smallest to the largest.

You can place your decorations in the middle of the table, such as candles and flowers. But, sometimes decorations need to be kept to a minimum if a larger amount of food is served on the table. Tablecloths and napkins are one type of decoration and they can be very interesting and simple.

What glass do you start with when setting up the table for a party?

The exact placement and number of glasses depend on how many glasses need to be used for the whole meal. The essential glass you will need is a water glass.

Water glass is the main glass you need to put then setting up the table. They should be placed on the right side of the plate, above the knife. Next should be the wine glass if you plan to serve wine. Place it next to the water glass. If you have more glasses, the water glass should be placed closest to the guest.

What to do with a napkin?

Many elements affect the guest experience. When it comes to decoration, napkins are an indispensable part of it. This practical piece of fabric or paper, with a little creativity and just a few deft moves, can lead to a striking impression.

If you have napkins with interesting details, the simplest wavy folding will complete their look. Spread the napkin and fold it in half. Fold the left half of the napkin to the middle, but so that the edge remains rounded. Fold the right half the same way. Fold it again in the middle so the halves overlap and place it in a vertical or horizontal position.

Folding a napkin into a cone is a classic way of decorating. Place the napkin diagonally and fold it to form a triangle, then fold the bottom right and left corners of the napkin towards the top. Turn in around and fold the bottom corner of the napkin slightly under the top corner. Fold the right and left edges towards the middle of the napkin, but backward. Push the edges into the space inside the napkin.

A napkin folded into a standing fan brings a great effect. Spread the napkin and fold it in half (into a rectangle). Start folding the right side like an accordion to the middle of the napkin. Turn the napkin so that the folds are facing down and the flat part is facing up.

Fold the flat part of the napkin in the middle together with the folds. Fold the upper corner of the flat part of the napkin diagonally towards the lower left edge (until the beginning of the fold). Fold the lower part of the excess napkin so that the napkin can stand straight. Open the folds and place the napkin on the table.

The double sail is a folded napkin you can put on the plate. Position the napkin so that the outer edges of the napkin are on the left side. Fold the bottom corner of the top layer of the napkin diagonally to the top right corner. Keep the edge rounded. Now you got one cone. Fold the second and third layers of the napkin in the same way as the first layer. Fold the last layer towards the back and join the edges.

You can fold a simple pouch for cutlery. Place the napkin so that the outer edges are in the upper right corner. Fold the first layer diagonally 2 times. Now fold the second layer of the napkin so that the strips overlap each other. Fold one-quarter of the left and right sides to the back. Place the napkin on the table and place the cutlery in it.

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