Perfecting Your Formal Table
Your next special occasion or ‘I need to make an impression’ dinner should wow rather than leave your guests feeling confused about your table (am I using the right fork?). Here is your quick quick guide to table setting do’s, don’t’s and tips to break the rules (within the rules) for a perfected formal table.
Plates
Plates pre-set on the table make the best table scape impact... but just remember a few key points. This trend is oh so common these days but the logistics of it often get forgotten. If you have a caterer or are catering yourself, make sure you allow time in your dinner service to remove plates from the table before the meal commences. The time you allow is not just for the physical collection of plates but also for the time taken to plate the food within the kitchen, so if you have quite a few guests or all guests on one long table then you will definitely need to plan this ahead of time. If you plan to serve an on the table antipasto or host a centre-of-the-table graze, then ensure you remove the any plates not required for this meal before guests are seated (to avoid spills and splatters), or dress the table with only the side plate and entree plate.
Sometimes we like to get a little fancy with plate setting. Get creative but stick to the common rules because some set-ups can be all sorts of wrong. Firstly, plates should be stacked in a obvious manner in order of service. Rules are little loose with the side plate. Stack on top of the service plates or to the left. Feel free to have a play with where on the left you place this one, either in line with the main plate or higher up, in line with the glassware, but just make sure to always keep this plate on the left or in the middle NOT to the right.
Bivalvia Set Featured. Styling and Florals by Freek Florals.
Tablecloths
Tablecloths no longer need to hit knee height… let them sweep the floor! Try using two cloths and hiding the seam under a long garland centrepiece or hire in an oversized tablecloth. Tie a knot into the draping end or layer with other textural throws, iron them, leave them un-ironed, have fun here no real rules apply!
Table setting features our French Bisque plates, D’Oro cutlery, Redolence Glassware and Bay White napkins. Styling by Pop-Up Planning Co.
Napkins
Napkins…knotted, folded, placed under the plates, strategically draped, or anywhere really, the rules no longer apply. Linen or a loose weave type such as cheesecloth or muslin work best un-ironed. If you have cotton or a polyester blend, best to iron them. Cheesecloth can be purchased from a local haberdashery store and cut to size. Keep them generous and un-hemmed for a boho look. My all time favourite is the feel of a good quality stonewashed linen. Lightly tumble dry it, remove from drier slightly damp and leave flat to air dry for a naturally uncreased yet crumpled look.
Settings feature our Dijon Napkins, Burnt Rose cutlery, White Oslo Plates and Redolence Glassware.
Settings feature our French Bisque plates, Arlo Cutlery, Marta Glassware and Bay Grey linen napkins.
Glassware
Glassware placement is still all about the order of service or rather the order each beverage is to be drunk with each course. The main rule here… always stay true to keeping all glassware to the right above the knives for proper table etiquette. Working from the outside (far right) in, start with the water glass then the wine glasses. Modern glassware range and vary in all sorts of sizes. I’m a believer in playing around with glassware placement, particularly if glasses are of unique and varying heights, such as an overly tall champagne and short wine glass. I place based on the knock over theory… if it’s super tall place it closest to the middle with the shortest glass to the right.
Feel free to mix and match with texture or style of glassware such as a crystal tumbler paired with a bulbous wine set. Play with colour too but play it subtle by pairing only a boldly coloured tumbler with clear wine glasses or choose a dull colour hue for all glasses.
Setting features Mood cutlery and Melodia range crystal tumbler, wine and champagne glass. Styling by Pop-up planning co.
Cutlery
Cutlery placement should remain within the rules if serving a formal meal (set in order of service, outside in), but if you kinda want to do a bit of both casual/formal, then mix it up by swinging all the cutlery to the left or right of the plate, but just remember to keep the fork on the left and knife on the right and always place the smaller cutlery pieces on the outside and the main pieces on the inside.
Setting featuring our Burnt Rose cutlery, Knit Black Plates, Melodia Crystal Glassware. Photo courtesy Stefanie Buma Weddings and State Buildings Perth. Styling by Tiffany Keal Creative Studio.
Setting features our Pink Clay plates, Mood cutlery, Marta glassware. Photohraphy courtesy Greta Wolzak Photography. Styling by Pop-Up Planning Co.
To Finish
Lastly, the key to the perfect setting is symmetry! I always start by laying out the chairs first as they are easiest to work out the distance between by eye. Then place the plates. Use a thumb from the edge as a guide and the same with the cutlery. Lastly, lay out the glassware using the main knife as an anchor. Finally, stand at the end of your (long) table and crouch down to glass height, look down the table setting to make sure all glassware first then plates etc line up to each other. Adjust accordingly.
Features our Arlo cutlery, Grey Relic plates, Marta glassware, Bay grey napkins. Photography courtesy Peggy Saas. Styling by Tiffany Keal Creative Studio.