ATC Rules - WorkSheets

How To Set The Table

1.	Figure out how many guests will be attending. If several children will be in attendance, consider having a children's table. If you would like the children at the main table, consider booster chairs if the children are small.

2.	Determine where everyone should sit. For convenience, the cook may want to sit near the kitchen door. Parents should sit next to their children. If there is a male guest, he is traditionally seated on the hostess's right. A female guest is traditionally seated on the host's right. For large parties, determine who would interact best with each other. Some people like to alternate between men and women, but this isn't necessary. You may want to use name cards to avoid everyone rushing for a seat at the last minute.

3.	Decide if you will use a tablecloth. If the tablecloth is white damask, you will need a pad under it to prevent it from slipping. Also, the middle crease should be arranged so that it runs in a straight and unwavering line down the center of the table from head to foot. When the tablecloth is on, it should hang down about a foot and a half if it is a seated dinner. If it is a buffet dinner, it should hang down to the floor.


	Tips:
	The key here is to be practical. Don't seat two people who notoriously get into vicious arguments next to each other just to fit a boy-girl, boy-girl seating arrangement.

Formal Setting

To set your table, every piece of silverware and each piece of dishware has its distinctive spot on the formal dinner table, and must be put in its proper spot.

Start with the largest plate which is the dinner plate. It is placed in the center of each place setting.

The soup dish is then placed in the center of the dinner plate.

Next, place the dinner fork to the exact left of the dinner plate, with the salad fork to its left.

Up above the salad fork, and to its left, place the salad plate.

Directly above the dinner fork, place the bread plate with the bread knife horizontally across it.

To the exact right of the dinner plate, place the dinner knife, and position the soup spoon to its right.

Now, right of the soup spoon is where the coffee cup and saucer are placed.

Directly above the coffee cup, place the wine glass, with the water glass placed a little above it and to its left.

The napkin is folded and placed either in the empty water glass, or on the dinner plate.

Lastly, the dessert spoon is placed in the center above the dinner plate.

The one unbreakable rule for how to set a dinner table is that everything must be geometrically spaced - all places must be at equal distances, and all sterling silver flatware balanced. Add a stunning centerpiece, usually consisting of a flower arrangement, and your formal dining table is complete! (Keep in mind that the centerpiece should be low and not obstruct the view of each dinner guest.)

Non Formal Dinner Setting


A. A. Salad plate B. Napkin C. Salad fork D. Dinner fork E. Dinner plate	F. F. Knife G. Teaspoon H. Soup spoon I. Water glass J. Cup and saucer