Hello! And welcome back to The Self Sufficient Citizen where I talk about homemaking, homesteading and self-reliance. Today is Christmas Eve and I thought it was only fitting to do a post that correlates. In my family and my boyfriend’s family they both throw a large dinner and I love it. So, I wanted to go over how to set a table.
Picture this. Your entire family gathers around a long banquet style table where the dark wood makes the light porcelain plates pop. The silverware sparks next to the crystal glasses full of various colors. Each napkin is folded perfectly on the plates. A giant home cooked meal is center of the table beckoning your loved ones to join the love and cheer. Doesn’t it sound lovely?
While it absolutely is not necessary to go crazy with plates and silverware and all of that, it is my dream to one day set a table like a royal dinner. Why not now? Ehm… small apartment life. Lol. Just because I have limited space and ability right now doesn’t mean I can’t help someone else host the Christmas of their dreams! And if you’re like me this can be altered for a small scale get together as well!
Formal Dining Set Up
So here is what we are working with. While traditionally speaking there should be a place mat under the plate in modern times you can leave it out. I have them so I use them. Next, the silverware on your left and right correlates to what stage of the meal you are on. Usually bread, soup, and salad are brought out first so the utensils are placed on the outer edge to grab first. As the meal progresses your inner utensils are for the main course. Traditionally the dinner plate in my photo will be called a charger or serving plate. It will be changed out when dinner is served with a dinner plate.
After the main course the dessert spoon and fork are on the top. Make sure to place the spoons handle facing right and the fork left. Those are what you will use to eat the dessert once it is served.
Informal Dining Set Up
For more of an informal dining experience or what my guests usually find at my table is much more simple. At each spot I have a placemat but really it is optional. Place your dinner plate topped with your salad plate on your mat or where each person will be sitting. If we are having soup then I will place a soup bowl on top of the salad plate making a stack of three. On the left place a napkin and a fork on that napkin. On the right place the knife then the spoon so the spoon is on the outer edge (remember soup is the first course). Last place the water glass above the knife and the wine glass to its right. Now you have an informal table set up that will impress your guests!
I hope this helps with your holiday tables! Please consider subscribing to my newsletter where I share what I post monthly down below if you liked this. Have a wonderful Christmas eve and I’ll see you tomorrow with the last post of Blogmas!
-Hannah
