A Guide to Setting Your Table

We understand it can be difficult to pull your eyes away from stunning floral arrangements. Nevertheless, let’s take a second to focus on wedding table settings. Not everyone is familiar with the placement of dinnerware, flatware, name cards, napkins, etc (and we promise that’s okay!). Today’s post will provide you with a better understanding of how your wedding designer arranges your wedding table settings. Below you will find a list of place setting essentials and their descriptions.

Dinnerware

Charger – The charger is the focal point/base of the table setting. It sits beneath the dinner plate.

Dinner Plate – The dinner plate (also known as the entrée plate) sits atop the charger.

Salad Plate – The salad plate sits atop the dinner plate.

Dinner Napkin – The dinner napkin either sits beneath the dinner and salad forks or can be placed in various styles atop the dinnerware. 

Flatware

Salad Fork – The salad fork is placed to the left of the dinner plate. If the salad fork is needed before the main course, it will be placed to the left of the dinner fork.

Dinner Fork – The dinner fork is placed to the immediate left of the dinner plate. If the main course is served before the salad, the dinner fork will be placed to the left of the salad fork.

Soup Spoon – Soup is typically served first. Therefore, the soup spoon is placed to the far right of the plate.

Dinner Knife – The dinner knife is placed to the immediate right of the plate with the cutting edges facing inward.

Butter Knife – A butter knife is typically laid on the bread-and-butter plate. A small bread-and-butter plate is placed above the forks and to the left of the service plate.

Menu Card – Menu cards comes in variety of styles. Menu cards are placed atop the dinnerware or inserted in the napkin fold.

Name Plate – A name plate, placed on assigned table above the silverware, guides your guest to an assigned table.

Stemware

Water Goblet: The water goblet is placed to the right of the plate just above the knife.

Wine Glass – The wine glass is generally placed above the spoon next to the water glass.

Champagne Flute – The champagne glass is placed to the right of the water goblet.

Lastly…

In addition to table settings a wedding table consist of six major elements. These six elements are floral arrangements/centerpieces, linens, dinnerware, flatware, glassware, and stationery. Depending on the style of your event, your wedding designer may include additional items, such as a variety of candles and crystal decor to add a luxurious touch. Wedding table settings set the tone of your event design by complimenting the ambience. Whether you have a specific design preference or you’re feeling a bit unsure, hiring a wedding designer/planner can surely help!