For most dinners, you’d be forgiven for not properly setting the table. But for holidays, dinner parties, and other special occasions, taking the time to set a table with the right utensils and dishes lends an air of significance to the occasion — something that feels particularly rare in our modern age.
On a practical level, though, most advice on this topic goes rather overboard with dinnerware, glassware, and silverware that 99% of households don’t have. Not to mention, the majority of tables simply don’t have space for each setting to have three plates and three glasses and a handful of flatware items.
So in the guide above we sought to strike a balance between proper and practical. We’ve put the napkin under the forks to save space; we’ve not included dessert-specific items, as those things usually come out only after dinner has been cleared; and we’ve opted for just two beverage glasses, one for water and one for wine (or, really, whatever the special drink of choice is for the evening). Also note that spoons should technically only be placed if there’s a dish that requires it, but especially when kids (who often like using spoons more than forks) are included, they can be part of the place setting no matter what.
Finally, it’s worth noting that this is a great job for kids to do in preparation for a party. It’s straightforward and helps keep them involved rather than just sitting around and asking when people are going to arrive or when dinner will be served.
