Setting the Party Tables: 8 Gaffes to Avoid

Tonight, we receive the world. We can not wait to get out our new dishes, freshly purchased. However, not always easy to set a table, so that it is pretty and functional. We explain to you how to do it.

No champagne on my table!

I finally managed to put all my glasses , all my champagne flutes on the table . Missed ! Champagne flutes never sit next to other glasses . They must appear only when serving. But if you want to get around this rule of etiquette , the only way is to have a champagne dinner only!

And cutlery, what am I doing on my table?

I put my Art Deco crystal knife holders . Fatal error, the knife holders whatever they are are reserved only for lunch. At lunch we can actually imagine that the tablecloth will serve again, which is rude at night. We do not have these accessories on the dinner table because they would assume that guests are invited to eat properly, without dirtying the precious tablecloth . Not very classy !

Uh, the fish knife is placed before or after the spoon ? The rule is simple: cutlery is always placed in the order of use, from the outside to the inside. And of course they must be positioned 2 fingers from the edge of the plate .

Teaspoons , where do I put them? Teaspoons have nothing to do on a refined table . For dessert , and according to the codes of propriety , one must place dessert forks between the glasses and the plate , next to the cheese knife , which will be closer to the glasses , according to the principle mentioned above.

Teeth up, teeth down? In the French service , the fork teeth rest on the table , while in England, the opposite is true. Simply because the coat of arms was engraved in France, on the back of the forks but also spoons .

Some rules to respect, for a perfect table

I took 2 hours to fold my origami napkin , the most beautiful effect on the plate . Alas! You should never put a towel on the plate but to your left and only folded in four. Because in a chic dinner , the fun is not part of the decor .

This is an opportunity to get out my so chic black plates . Ooh La La ! No blue, no black, no green for the dishes. It's not done, that's all. It seems that this "ban" stems simply from the fact that they are not " food " colors.

Bread and salad have their plates . But be careful to place them well. The bread plate is placed to the left of the guest, above the forks , while the salad plate will be placed on the right.

A big thank you for all these tips to Style Heritage Designers, which provides training in tableware and social behavior. www.jpc-design.com