How should the table be set for a formal occasion?
Start by placing the charger plate in front of each seat. The plate should be roughly one inch from the table edge. If you are not using a charger plate, leave enough space between the cutlery to allow a plate to be placed there. Place forks on left side and spoons and knives with cutting edge facing plate on right. Whichever piece is to be used first is placed furthest from the centre. Usually, for a starter, soup and main course that would be (starting from closest to the plate) on the left: dinner fork and starter fork on the right: dinner knife, soup spoon, starter knife Dessert fork and spoon placed above with fork tines pointing right underneath spoon pointing left. If you prefer, you can also just bring the dessert cutlery later with dessert. A side plate is placed to the left of the forks and a butter knife placed on it, parallel with the forks. Wine glass is placed above the knife. Water glass goes to the left of the wine glass. Coffee cup and saucer are placed to the right of
