- 1
Chargers are overly large, often decorative bases for supporting the course plates.plate rack image by guiney from Fotolia.com
Place the charger so it will be directly in front of the diner. The charger is the base plate upon which the course plates are set and is not used for eating. - 2
A napkin ring is optional for securing the napkin.napkin rings image by Mary Beth Granger from Fotolia.com
Fold the napkin in half and then into thirds, or create your own folded napkin shape. Alternatively, loosely fold the napkin and insert a napkin ring into the middle to hold it in place. - 3
two silver napkin rings and napkins image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
Set the folded napkin in the center of the charger. - 4
The bread plate belongs above and to the right of the charger.Side dish. Slices of bread & a pot of butter on a plate image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
Arrange the bread plate in the 10 o'clock position to the charger. - 5
The butter knife sits at an angle on top of the bread plate.Fresh baked date scone with butter curls. image by Brett Mulcahy from Fotolia.com
Lay the butter knife at a 45 degree angle across the bread plate so the base of the handle points to the right side of the bread plate. - 6
The arrangement of forks follows the courses.silver forks image by Erika from Fotolia.com
Set the utensils in the order they will be used with those used first on the outside and the last used nearest to the charger. From the left to right on the left side of the charger, set the fish fork, the dinner fork, and the salad fork. Place the bread plate above the forks and the napkin parallel to the forks. - 7
Knives and spoons go on the right side.utensils image by cherie from Fotolia.com
Place the knives and spoons on the right side of the charger. The order of these from the left to right starting closest to the charger is the salad knife, dinner knife, fish knife, the soup spoon, and the oyster fork if shellfish is served. Point the blades of the knives toward the charger. - 8
Never place the napkin inside the water goblet.water goblet with red napkin inserted image by Richard J Thompson from Fotolia.com
Set the water goblet above the knives. - 9
The champagne flute sits at the back of the table setting beside the water goblet.flute de champagne image by razorconcept from Fotolia.com
Place the champagne flute to the right of the water goblet. - 10
The smaller wine and sherry glasses belong in front of the other glasses.Sherry Glasses image by Shaun Meintjes from Fotolia.com
Arrange the red wine, white wine, and sherry glasses in that order from left to right in front of the water goblet and champagne flute. - 11
Do not put the dessert fork next to the other forks.dessert image by Bartlomiej Nowak from Fotolia.com
Place the dessert fork above the charger with the tines pointing to the right. - 12
Use dessert spoons only if you will serve a scoopable dessert.Ice cream image by MichMac from Fotolia.com
Set the dessert spoon above the dessert fork so the bowl points to the left.
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