How to Set a Table for Serving a Semiformal Dinner

A semiformal dinner gathering can be a relaxed, yet elegant, affair with proper table settings and basic etiquette. Providing a nice dinner setting makes your guests feel welcome and appreciated in your home. Setting the table in the proper fashion for the first time can be perplexing, but with practice and experience, the settings will become second nature to you. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Place the dinner plate in the center of the setting, about an inch from the edge of the table, with a neatly folded napkin on top of the plate.

2

Lay forks on the left side of the plate, with the handles aligned with all the other silverware. Place the dinner fork directly next to the plate and the salad fork next to the dinner fork.

3

Set the dinner knife on the right side of the plate, followed by the teaspoon and soup spoon.

4

Place the water and wine glasses just above the knife and spoons, at an angle to the plate.

5

Lay the dessert utensils, if you will be using them, horizontally above the plate. The fork should be closest to the plate and point to the right. The dessert spoon goes above the fork, pointing to the left.