Entertaining Essentials: Table Settings Made Simple
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Are you planning a dinner party? It's an exciting thing to look forward to, to break bread with your nearest and dearest. People have been enjoying each other's company over a shared meal since time immemorial. But if you want to take your entertaining to the next level, you need to know all about table settings, hosting etiquette and more. This helpful article will cover the entertaining essentials, and we'll make table settings simple and easy to understand, as well as covering some common hosting mistakes that you should avoid. So, if you're interested in this topic, continue reading to learn more.
Feature Chairs
Accent or feature chairs elevate your entertaining experience. Feature chairs, also known as statement chairs, are single-seat chairs designed to stand out and add personality, style, or a focal point to your dining room. They serve as both decorative pieces and extra seating and can complement existing furniture or provide a bold contrast in colour, design, or material.
Place Settings
Now we'll discuss place settings, covering casual, semi-formal and formal.
In a casual setting, you're mostly aiming for simplicity and should only include items that will actually be used to dine and drink. The dinner plate will sit in the centre. To its left goes a fork, and to the right a knife. If a spoon is needed, it goes to the right of the knife. A napkin can rest either to the left of the fork or folded atop the plate. A single drinking glass is placed above the knife, slightly to the right. If you're serving wine with the meal, a wine glass is added to the right.
A semi‑formal setup steps it up a notch. At the centre, you may begin with a charger or placemat underneath, then a dinner plate, sometimes a salad plate and also a bowl on top if salad/soup is part of the menu. To the left, you'll see two forks: the outermost is the salad fork, and the inner fork is the dinner fork. To the right of the plate sits a dinner knife, then maybe a soup spoon. Above you'll find a water glass (directly above the main knife) and a wine glass to its right. Some settings also include a dessert fork or spoon placed horizontally above the plate. The napkin may be tucked under or beside the forks, or placed on the salad plate. The idea here is more layering and more utensil options, but still not as many as a fully formal setting.
Formal dining is the most elaborate. The foundation is a charger that stays in place through the meal. On top of it might be a soup bowl, then salad or entrée plates as the courses progress. To the left of the charger are three (or more) forks: from left to right, the outermost is for the first course, then the next is for the next course, and the innermost is for the entrée. To the right of the charger, you'll see multiple knives, always with blades facing inward, and spoons to the right of the knives. Above or behind the charger, you'll often find dessert cutlery: typically a dessert spoon and fork placed horizontally above the plate.
Layering Basics
The next topic we'll cover in this article is dinner table layering. The first element of table layering is your tablecloth or linen. To choose table linen, consider the occasion, material, and size. You might choose casual materials like cotton or linen for everyday use and more durable ones like polyester for outdoor dining, while formal occasions, like your upcoming dinner party, call for elegant materials like pure linen or Egyptian cotton. Measure your table accurately and select a size with a desired drop that complements the event's formality—shorter for casual, longer for formal dinners. Next is the charger, as mentioned above, a decorative plate that isn’t used for dining. Consider some inventive and creative napkin folds to take it to the next level, and if dining with people who aren’t familiar with each other, consider name cards to ease introductions.
Simple Centrepieces
Next, we'll share a few simple centrepieces for your dinner party. A vase, either empty or with some fresh flowers, is a great centrepiece, provided that it doesn't block the view of people dining across from each other. If you're celebrating a Halloween event, a carved pumpkin can add some spooky vibes. A candelabra may also work here, but ensure that the candles are in a safe position where no one is at risk of getting burned.
Seating Tips
When it comes to seating, there are a few things you can do. It is typical for romantic partners to be seated across from each other, rather than next to each other. If your table is rectangular, then it is customary for the hosts to sit at either end of the table, with the person in charge of the cooking being the closest to the kitchen. If you have an important guest, or a guest of honour, like for someone's birthday, it is usual that they will be placed in a central seat rather than sitting next to the host at one end.
Common Host Mistakes to Avoid
Common dinner party host mistakes include being overly ambitious with cooking and menu planning, and having it all fall apart as a result. Another mistake is neglecting guest interaction while striving for perfectionism, doing all the work alone without help, and making guests feel rushed out after a meal. Other common host errors involve not providing enough food or drinks, especially on an empty stomach, and stressing too much, which can create a tense atmosphere and deprive your guests of relaxation and enjoyment.
A Dinner Party Summary
In this helpful article, we've covered entertaining essentials and provided a guide to dinner table settings, host etiquette, seating arrangements, and common host mistakes to avoid.
