How to Set a Table for a Dinner Party

When it comes to entertaining, few displays will impress quite like a formal Charleston Sc tabletop rental – especially when properly set. Most importantly, taking the time to set a formal tabletop, shows your guests that you care. Between knowing what flatware items go where, utilizing a charger plate rental – especially when it's properly set, and how many glasses should be at each place setting can create some challenges when it comes to nailing down an accurate table setting.

Although setting a formal dinner table may seem complicated, it may be a little easier with a great event rental company. Below you will find five steps on how to set a table for a dinner party.

Before the First Course

Once one believes that table setting is pretty darn simple, placing items becomes less complicated/intimidating. For example, you begin eating a meal by using flatware at the outside left and right, and then working your way in towards the plate as the meal continues. Forks are placed to the left of the plate, knives and spoons to the right. Glassware is set above and to the right of the dinner plate; side plates sit above the forks! 

Your  flatware rentals should align with the bottom rim of the charger plate rentals, which will be removed after everyone spreads their napkins. In addition to the charger, napkin rings can play a big part in your overall tabletop.

When you’re expecting more than six guests, be sure to create seating in advance. Place cards are always a nice touch instead of communicating to guests where you would like for them to sit. And always remember that if you’re using place cards on your tabletop, only place them for your guests, never yourself.

Lastly, remember to always be thinking ahead of your guests, if there are going to be toasts, we encourage a champagne glass to-be added and be placed furthest to the right near your charger plate rentals to enable guests to easily raise their glasses.

Setting the Table for Soup

Soup is typically served in a hot soup dish or bowl, atop a dinner plate, and eaten with the soup spoon, which is placed at the outer right. Timing moving forward is imperative to the overall meal and table set. Once each guest has finished and laid their spoon, the plate, bowl, and spoon will be removed. 

When soup is served with a plate, the resting place for the spoon is in the bowl. When there is no plate, the resting and finished position of the spoon are the same, in the bowl. A side note to mention, if the salad is served after the main course, the salad fork is placed to the right of the dinner. 

Setting the Table for the Main Course

The first course has been cleared, leaving the table set for the main course. The large dinner plate may be brought in either bearing a portion of food or empty, if the food is to be served at the table. In either case, the dinner plate rental should be preheated unless the main course is served cold.

An extremely important side note if you’re the host! Before sitting down for the main course it is important to ask if everyone is comfortable with the table and chair rentals. It is impossible to enjoy a meal if you’re uncomfortable. So don’t be afraid to ask and fix the problem!

Setting the Table for Salad

Salad should be served on what most refer to as a salad & dessert plate pertaining to the tabletop. The midsize plate should be eaten with the remaining fork. After this course, the side plate, and glassware rentals should be cleared along with the remaining  tabletop rentals for your dinner party. 

Setting the Table for Dessert

Last but certainly not least the dessert has arrived! Continuing to use your beautiful flatware rentals laid across the top of the setting before the meal began. The water glassware is the only stemware still on the table. 

Like most dinner party hosts, we believe in emphasizing the importance of the dessert course. Most guests will typically forgive their host for even the worst meal if the dessert is on point at the conclusion of the meal. However, don’t forget to keep the momentum of the party up! Simply because the dinner is over doesn’t mean the wine can’t continue to flow. 

As mentioned at the beginning, every dinner party in Charleston SC is different. One may desire a dreamy tabletop with extravagant charger plate rentals and another may fantasize about keeping it simple with plate rentals that display a more relaxed vibe. 

Regardless, we suggest using CHEERS when it comes to selecting dinner party rentalsWhether you’re looking to rent tables and chairs, high-end glassware, or a vintage car rental, CHEERS has you covered for your forever moments.