Table setting

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An elaborate table setting for a Christmas celebration.

Table setting refers to the way to set a table with tableware—such as eating utensils and dishware—for serving
and eating. The arrangement for a single diner is called a place setting.

Practice dictating the precise arrangement of tableware has varied across cultures and historical periods.

Contents
 1 Table setting
 2 Place setting
o 2.1 Formal
 2.1.1 Formal dinner
o 2.2 Informal
 2.2.1 Family dinner
 3 See also
 4 References

Table setting
A table setting may have many elements, especially on formal occasions.

The table should have a centerpiece that performs a solely decorative function. If an informal dinner is being
served that will fill the available places at the table, care should be taken to make the centerpiece not too large
so that there will be sufficient room to place serving dishes. However, at a formal dinner in Europe, the
centerpiece may be huge and, including candles, may extend the full length of the table. Centerpieces should be
of low height, so as not to obstruct visibility of diners' faces.

Place setting
Informal settings generally have fewer utensils and dishes but use a stereotyped layout based on more formal
settings. Utensils are arranged in the order and the way a person will use them. Usually in Western culture, that
means that the forks, bread plate, spreader, and napkin are to the left, while knives, spoons, drinkware, cups,
and saucers are to the right, although the left-right order is reversed in a minority of countries. Formally, in
Greece, Armenia and Turkey, the fork is placed on the right of the table. Sauceboats, where used, are either
placed on the table, or in a more formal setting may be kept on a side table.

Formal

A formal table setting for one person.

Utensils are placed about one inch from the edge of the table, each one lining up at the base with the one next to
it. Utensils on the outermost position are used first (for example, a salad fork and a soup spoon, then the dinner
fork and the dinner knife). The blade of the knife, as the "dangerous" or "aggressive" part of the utensil, must
face toward the plate, away from other diners. The glasses are positioned about an inch from the knives, also in
the order of use: white wine, red wine, dessert wine, and water tumbler.

Formal dinner

The most formal dinner is served from the kitchen. When the meal is served, in addition to the place plate at
each setting there is the roll, the napkin, and the following cutlery/silver: knives [and spoons where applicable],
to the right and forks to the left. Coffee is served in Butler Service style in demitasse and spoons are placed on
the saucer to the right of each handle. The utensils at a formal dinner must be sterling silver. Serving dishes and
utensils are not placed on the table for a formal dinner.[1] The only exception to these general rules is the
protocol followed at the Spanish royal court, which was also adopted by the Habsburg court: accordingly all
utensils were placed on the right. At a less formal dinner, not served from the kitchen, the dessert fork and
spoon can be set above the plate, fork pointing right, to match the other forks, spoon pointing left.

In Europe, if many courses are to be served, the table is only laid for soup, fish, and meat. The pudding spoon
and fork and the savoury knife and fork are then placed on the table as required.[2]

Informal

At an informal setting, fewer utensils are used and serving dishes are placed on the table. Sometimes the cup
and saucer are placed on the right side of the spoon, about four inches from the edge of the table. Often, in less
formal settings, the napkin and/or cutlery may be held together in a single bundle by a napkin ring. However,
such objects as napkin rings are very rare in the United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, or Italy.

Family dinner

Compared to the Formal Dinner, a Family dinner has fewer dining pieces. The napkin can be placed on the
plate. There is usually only one fork, spoon and knife with the dinner fork on the left side of the plate, and the
dinner knife and teaspoon to the right. The tableware pieces that make up the family dinner:

1. Salad Plate
2. Butter Plate
3. Dinner Plate

Silverware:

1. Dinner knife
2. Dinner fork
3. Teaspoon
4. Butter spreader

Crystal:

1. Water goblet

See also
 Cutlery
 Dishware
 Haft-Sin
 Stemware
 Silver service