Your Wedding Table Setting Guide
Now that you have chosen your wedding venue, and made all your big wedding decisions, it is time to talk about the little details that make a lot of difference!
When it comes to your wedding dinner you will need a gorgeous tablescape and setup to impress your wedding guests.
A stunning tablescape will make your wedding special and beautiful but one way to make sure your wedding table is set the right way is to go back to etiquette basics.
Click here for some wedding table decoration ideas!
Now, we will help you become an expert in setting tables of all kinds whether for your wedding or any event.
For more wedding planning tips click here!
Top Tips to Setting a Table
If you feel lost when it comes to setting a formal table, whether it is for your wedding or any other event, here are some tips you should be aware of:
- Utensils like forks, spoons, and knives, are placed in the order of use starting from the outside and ending on the inside.
- Forks go to the left of the plate and knives and spoons go to the right.
- Knife blades should always face the plate.
- Silverware or utensils tell the number of courses you will be having or servings.
- Dessert utensils are placed above the plate.
- The bread plate is placed on the left side of the main plate. Bread Plate Trick: If you get mixed up with your bread plate and your neighbor’s plate, here is a trick to remember which one is yours: With palms stretched and faced down, touch your index fingers to your thumbs and stick your remaining fingers up. Your left hand will form a “b” shape for bread.
- Your water glass is the one placed closest to the tip of your knife.
- Fluted glasses are for sparkling beverages only.
Types of Table Setups
There are different types of table settings, you can choose which style you prefer according to your wedding style:
Basic Setting: The napkin is placed on or to the left of the fork. You also don’t have to place a bread plate and butter knife, they are optional.
Informal Setting: The dinner fork, the larger of the two forks, is used for the main course; the smaller fork is used for a salad or an appetizer. The napkin can be either placed on the left of the forks, or on the dinner plate. The salad plate is placed next to the forks. The dessert utensils can be placed on top of the plate, or with the rest of the utensils being the closest to the plate.
Formal Setting: The service plate is the large plate, also known as the show plate, placed underneath the plate of your first course. When you are done with the first course, the service plate is used for the entrée or appetizer. The fish knife is placed on the right of the dinner knife and has a special shape. Dessert spoons and forks are brought in on the dessert plate just before dessert is served.
Dinner Plates
When you start setting a table always begin with your plates, the first thing to do is choose the charger and place it in the middle of the setting, you can have your chargers compliment your wedding theme or colors, then you have your dinner plate on top of the charger, and the salad plate on top of the dinner plate.
If you are having a dinner buffet then have your charger placed at the tables and your guests will place their dinner plates on top of them.
Image: A London Wedding in Lebanon
Flatware
Remember that flatware is arranged on the table in the order you will use it, from the outside of the place setting toward the center.
From the right of the charger working your way to the right start with the dinner knife, fish knife, salad knife, and soup spoon. (Depending on what you will be serving)
From the left to right arrange the salad fork, fish fork, and dinner fork on the left of your charger.
The dessert fork (tines to the right) and spoon (bowl of the spoon to the left) should be placed horizontally above the charger, with the spoon above the fork.
Place the bread knife across the bread plate.
Glassware
All glasses should go above the knives, to the upper right of the charger.
Get Creative: Napkins, Place Cards, and Menu
Get creative with the details of your table setup. One way to include your wedding theme and colors is with napkins, place cards, and menus. Choose any color or print that you like and that goes with your wedding.
Image: The Beautiful Van Gogh's Lucid Dreams Wedding Photoshoot
Get Inspired
If you are confused about what style of table setting you want for your wedding you can always get some ideas from weddings taking place around you. Check out our Real Weddings for the best ideas ever!
