The Art to Hosting a Fine Dinner Party

July 12th, 2008

When you mention the words 'dinner party' people automatically think of fun and good conversation. Yet if you are an inexperienced host, you will no doubt be a bag of nerves hoping nothing goes wrong.

Having a formal dinner party can often involve a lot of stress, as there are a number of rules and expectations to be adhered to. The following article provides a range of useful tips on how to avoid making any disastrous mistakes and ensure you’re the perfect host.

Divided into two parts, the first section takes a detailed look at how to set a formal dinner table correctly. Ensuring you don’t mix up your soup spoon with your dessert spoon or have any other mishaps, we provide a step by step guide on where to place your cutlery and dishware. The second section discusses how you should conduct yourself during the meal, ensuring you have faultless manners and sparkling conversation.

Setting Your Table Correctly

Pleasing on the eye and a symbol of elegance, a correctly set formal table provides an overall stylish look to proceedings. However, a few carelessly misplaced items will result in the opposite effect and your dinner party being talked about for all the wrong reasons.

The big day has arrived, you have sent out all of your invitations and you know how many guests to expect. Before you start setting your cutlery and dishware, you need to select an appropriate table cloth and matching napkins. Most people use a white linen table cloth, as it helps accomplish an elegant look and complements the silverware and china on show.

Once you have selected the cloth you wish to use and have taken all of your cutlery and china out of your cabinet, it’s time to start setting your table. Below is a step by step guide to help you accomplish this successfully.

• Begin by placing the dinner plate down, approximately one inch from the edge of the table.
• Put the soup dish on top of the dinner plate, making sure it is in the centre.
• Then place the dinner and salad forks to the left, with the salad fork being the furthest away from the dinner plate.
• Next put the bread plate above the dinner fork and place the bread knife across it.
• Once you have completed that, place the dinner knife to the right of the dinner plate.
• Then place the soup spoon to the right of the dinner knife.
• Above on the right, place the wine glasses. You’ll need two glasses if you are having both red and white wine, with the white wine glass being placed on the outside.
• Put a further glass down for water, which should be placed to the left and slightly above the wine glasses.
• You can put the folded napkin on the dinner plate or to the left. Some people also prefer to place it in the water glass.
• The last stage is to place the dessert spoon above the dinner plate.
• Once you have completed this, move on to the next setting which should be repeated exactly the same. Try to make sure there is plenty of room between each setting, leaving a gap of at least 15 inches.

Dining Etiquette

You have done all of the preparation and it is now time sit down and enjoy your meal with the rest of your guests. However, it is important you don’t let all your hard work go to waste by acting inappropriately. As the host you will be the centre of attention, so it is important your manners are flawless and your conversation sparkles.

Below is a list of useful tips to help your dining party to be a roaring success and help ensure sure you don’t make any big mistakes.

• As the host you are responsible for signalling the start of the meal by unfolding your napkin and placing it on your lap. However, you should always wait until everybody has been served before you begin.
• Don’t gulp your wine, take your time and sip it. Last thing you want is to get drunk in front of your guests.
• Eat small bits of food at a time and don’t rush.
• If you need to excuse yourself from the table, place your napkin on your chair and once you have finished put it on the table to the left of your plate. Remember just to use your napkin to dab your mouth, never use it as a wipe.
• Try to keep the conservation flowing and spend equal time talking to your guests who are sitting next to you. Don’t ignore anybody just because you have less in common or don’t know them very well.
• Never shout and stay clear of topics that might offend people. Remember it is a dinner party so people should be enjoying themselves not having a serious debate.
• Remember to use the correct cutlery. Don’t use your for your soup or your to butter your bread.
• Try to keep in mind your posture when eating. Don’t lean over your plate or sit back, try to remain upright at all times.
• Never put your cutlery back down on the table after you have used it, always place it on your plate.

Hopeful by following the tips above it will put you in good stead to have a successful dinner party and be the perfect host. Although you might feel a lot of pressure, remember that it is supposed to be fun and try to enjoy yourself.

• Email This

Featured Recipe

Particularly classy gourmet or homemade delights are selected as the Featured Recipe. Come see what's cooking and rate the Featured Recipe, which is Irish Potatoes.

Submit Your Recipes

Ever wanted one of your own creations to be displayed for the world to see? Well here's your chance to show the world your cooking flair. You never know, it just may end up on the Featured Recipe Page!

What's New in Recipes?

Come see what the latest recipe additions on our Gourmet, Homemade and Exotic Recipes page. New RSS Feed coming soon!