
There are three ways you can arrange the glasses at the table:
- Arranging the glasses according to what the person will drink.
- Arranging the glasses by size.
- Arranging the glasses according to the order in which the drinks will be served (In this case the size of the glasses do not matter).
What side of the table do you put the glasses on?
Glasses and Stemware To the right of the plate, and toward the center of the table is where you should place the water glass. If you are serving wine, the wine glass should be next to the water glass, just beyond the tip of the knife. You may choose to put the wine glasses on the table in advance or wait until you serve the wine.
How do you set up a dinner table with wine glasses?
If you are serving wine, the wine glass should be next to the water glass, just beyond the tip of the knife. You may choose to put the wine glasses on the table in advance or wait until you serve the wine. After the dishes from the main part of the meal are cleared, position the dessert plate directly in front of each guest.
How to choose the right glass for your table?
The right glass in the right place On a stylishly laid table, every glass has its proper place. In practice, there are two common variants for positioning the glasses (red wine, white wine and water glasses) which are described briefly here. Glasses next to each other The white wine glass is placed exactly above the knife for the main course.
How many glasses do you need for a table setting?
If it is just a basic table setting, only one glass is needed for water. It can be a water goblet or a regular stemless glass. It is placed right above the knife or above the space between the knife and the plate. There will be two glasses for casual occasions: one for water and one for another drink, usually wine.

How do you serve glasses on the table?
The cups are placed in front of the plate. They can be placed in a straight row, diagonally to the plate, or making a curve. Always slightly moved to the right of the diner dish so it does not occupy all its front. The glasses should be all of the same glassware, sharing the same design, shape, size and color.
How many drinking glasses should be placed on the table?
There will be two glasses for casual occasions: one for water and one for another drink, usually wine. The additional glass is then placed beside the water glass. You can also use stemless wine glasses for casual occasions.
When laying a table which side do the glasses go?
Glassware should be set above and to the right of the dinner plate, in order of water glass, red wine, white wine from left to right. Side plates go to the left.
How do you place wine and champagne glasses?
0:515:05How To Lay Out Wine Glasses On the Table Correctly - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlace the champagne float next to the water goblet on the right. Side sherry glass if the table isMorePlace the champagne float next to the water goblet on the right. Side sherry glass if the table is crowded the sherry glass takes its place at the front left side of the white wine glass of a right.
What are the 5 basic table set up?
Five-Course Table Setting. Pull out all the stops for a formal, five-course feast, which typically consists of soup, salad, fish course, main course, and dessert.
What is the proper way to hold glassware when serving?
Never carry a glass by placing a hand or palm over the opening or by grasping the rim of the glass with your fingers. Rather, carry the glass or cup by the base or handle.
How are glasses arranged?
To save space, stemware is arranged in the shape of a triangle or a diamond. In the triangle arrangement, the dessert glass forms the highest point. The water goblet is angled to the lower left of the dessert glass, and the glasses for red and white wine are placed on the lower right side.
How do restaurants hold glasses?
0:323:03How to carry glasses - Where the Sidework Ends - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlace the second glass between your ring finger and your little finger ensuring that the foot isMorePlace the second glass between your ring finger and your little finger ensuring that the foot is underneath the foot of the first glass. Place the third glass between your thumb and index finger.
How do you set a family style table?
0:583:02Table Setting Series: Family Style - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe placemat goes directly in front of the chair. With our napkins you can either choose to mix itMoreThe placemat goes directly in front of the chair. With our napkins you can either choose to mix it up or match your patterns. Either way the fold is gonna go to the inside of the place setting.
What is the order of glasses on a table?
When serving a different beverage with each course, the order of glasses on the table follows the same pattern as that of the cutlery – drink from the outermost glass each time. If you're serving multiple courses with beverages for each course, the key issue in your table setting for dinner will be space. If there are multiple drinking glasses, the water glass is placed closest, with the other beverage glasses extending outward from the upper right in a triangle shape.
Why is it important to put wine glasses on a table?
Proper glass placement on a table setting for dinner not only keeps your table from turning into a free-for-all, it also makes the table more inviting.
What do you need for a formal table?
Setting a formal table typically calls for all of the drinkware and utensils that will be used in the meal placed in the proper position before the meal even begins. This usually means a water glass, multiple wine glasses (or beer or cocktail glasses) for each course and possibly even a coffee cup and saucer (although in very formal service, this will be brought out later). Whether you're setting a formal or an informal table, put out only the drinkware you will need. If you're not serving three wines, there's no need for three wine glasses.
What to do with dessert glasses at the end of a meal?
If the dessert course includes a wine or other beverage, bring out these glasses with the dessert at the end of the meal rather than including them in the table setting, explains Martha Stewart. If there is a juice glass, place it above the plate along with the desert utensils, if any.
How to avoid wine glass odor?
To avoid this, hold the glass stem by pinching the stem with your thumb and index finger.
How many glasses can you put in a diamond shape?
If both are to be used, they are placed in a shape representative of how they will be used. According to Advanced Mixology, this could be a diamond shape for four glasses, or a straight line for five glasses, with water, champagne flute, red wine glass, white wine glass and cordial or sherry glass at the end.
What is the shape of a drinking glass?
If there are multiple drinking glasses, the water glass is placed closest, with the other beverage glasses extending outward from the upper right in a triangle shape. This can be elaborate or simple. For instance, you may have a juice glass, a champagne flute and/or a sherry or port glass.
How to Set a Table
To set a formal table, you’ll need a table cloth, charger, dinner plates, soup bowls, salad plates, bread plates, napkins, salad forks, dinner forks, knives, soup spoons, butter knives, dessert spoons, water glasses, red wine glasses, and white wine glasses.
How to set a dinner table this holiday
1. First, lay out a clean and ironed tablecloth on the dining table. If you prefer not to use a tablecloth, you can use linen table runners in the center.
Do I need name cards?
If you really want to impress, you can personalize your dinner party with name cards. Typically, these are set above the dessert spoon but you can also place them on the plate if you have limited table space. At least you can plan your guest seating arrangements to avoid any festive family drama!
Other Christmas table ideas
You can bring style to your festive table with wreaths, candles and baubles to add glamor. Christmas centerpieces are a great way to style your table, and you can find a range of designs. You’ll find centerpieces made from artificial fir tree and pine cones to ones with candle holders attached.
The art of utensil placement
Most of us know that forks are placed to the left of the plate, and spoons and knives go to the right. It’s when the quantity of said utensils increases, so does our confusion.
Bread and butter plate go where?
Though it’s par for the course during a regular meal, a formal dining occasion is no place to use a dinner knife to butter a roll and rest it next to our roasted kale. No, fancy tables have separate bread plates that sit to the left of the plate, above the forks. Lay the butter knife diagonally across the bread plate for maximum table couture.
Where to place stemware
Stemware resides to the top right of the plate (above the knives and spoons). When accommodating three glasses, place the water glass above the dinner knife, white wine glass directly to its right, and the red wine glass forming the top centre of a neat glassy triangle.
Where should the white wine glass be placed on a table?
In practice, there are two common variants for positioning the glasses (red wine, white wine and water glasses) which are described briefly here. The white wine glass is placed exactly above the knife for the main course.
Where is the water glass in a wine glass?
The white wine glass is placed exactly above the knife for the main course. The water glass is placed on the right, below the white wine glass, and the red wine glass on the right, above the white wine glass.
What is the position of wine glasses?
The position of the wine glasses will differ based on the number and the type of arrangement.
How to arrange three glasses of wine?
A simple arrangement that accommodates three glasses is lining them up parallel to the table’s edge, above the knife and spoon. The order would be water glass, red wine, and then white wine. It doesn’t require too much work, and it makes the table look neat and spacious.
How many glasses are there in a triangle?
Formal events and gatherings have at least three glasses: one for water and the other two for red wine and white wine. If there is a dessert wine glass, it would be placed as the triangle's top point. Then, the water glass is placed below it but slightly angled to the left. Finally, the red or wine glass is placed on the lower right side, forming the triangle.
How many glasses of water do you need for a table?
If it is just a basic table setting, only one glass is needed for water. It can be a water goblet or a regular stemless glass. It is placed right above the knife or above the space between the knife and the plate.
Where is the red wine glass in a wine glass?
And if there are five glasses, the red wine glass is usually in the fourth place in the middle of the white wine glass and sherry glass.
Where is the white wine glass on a table?
In any arrangement that requires three glasses, the white wi n e glass usually stands beside the red wine glass, farther from the table's center.
Where should glasses be placed on a meal?
But, in any of them, the water goblet is always present. It is a standard that glasses are placed at the right side, above the knives, even for left-handed guests.
Where should the wine glass be when serving wine?
If you are serving wine, the wine glass should be next to the water glass, just beyond the tip of the knife. You may choose to put the wine glasses on the table in advance or wait until you serve the wine.
How to decorate a dinner table without distracting guests?
Use candles, fresh-cut flowers, or any other decoration that enhances the table without distracting from the meal. Make sure it isn’t too tall. The top of a centerpiece for any dinner party should be below eye level so guests can see everyone else at the table.
What does it mean to have a formal dinner party?
When most people think of a formal dinner party, an image of men dressed in stuffy tuxedos, stiff butlers with sour looks on their faces, and miserable guests who would rather be anywhere else often come to mind. But that's not the reality. Anyone can host an event with people minding their manners while sitting at a table during a nice meal.
Where to place napkins on tablecloth?
The first item to place on the tablecloth is the dinner plate. Position it right in the middle of each setting, equally spaced and with enough room for the rest of the setting. You may use napkin rings or fold the napkins elegantly. Place them in the middle of the dinner plate. 2:53.
Where should the bread plate be placed on a dinner plate?
Position the bread plate just beyond the tip of the forks. Soup bowls and salad plates should be centered on the dinner plate, one at a time, and removed before the main course is served.
Where should party favors be placed at a wedding reception?
These may be placed on the plate or just beyond the plate toward the center of the table. Favors that don’t enhance the setting may be given at the door rather than placed on the table.
Where should the forks go on a plate?
The forks go on the left, and the knives and spoons go on the right, with the knife closest to the plate. Always position the knife with the cutting blade pointing toward the plate.
How to set up a formal table?
1. Plates. When setting a formal table, begin with plates. First, center the charger in the middle of the place setting. You can get creative with your chargers and play with colors, materials, and textures. Then, put the dinner plate on top of the charger, and the salad plate on top of the dinner plate.
Where should place cards go on a dinner table?
If you are using place cards, those should go either in the center of the salad plate or directly above the dessert fork and spoon. Printed menus can go in the center of the plate, and are often tucked into the napkin. How to Set a Dinner-Party Table That Looks Chic, Not Cluttered.
What is a salad plate?
Salad Plate: This is a smaller (usually 8 inches) plate used to serve salads or appetizers.
Where to place a salad fork on a charger?
From left to right, arrange the salad fork, fish fork, and dinner fork to the left of the charger. Now, starting immediately to the right of the charger and working your way to the right, place the dinner knife, fish knife, salad knife, and soup spoon.
What is the importance of wedding etiquette?
When it comes to wedding etiquette, it’s important to cover the basics alongside those nitty-gritty questions, which means it’s time to talk table manners! And nothing is more essential as a host or hostess than knowing how to properly set a table, especially if you are having a formal wedding reception. If it’s time to place the rental order and you're still having a hard time pinpointing the charger from the champagne flute (or where they go!), we’ve got a cheat sheet to make sure each place setting is perfect.
Where should the bread knife be placed on a bread plate?
The bread knife should be placed either horizontally or diagonally across the bread plate. The blade of the knife should be closest to the edge of the table, and the handle should be toward the charger. 3. Glassware. All glasses should go above the knives, to the upper right of the charger.
What is a water glass?
Water Glass: This glass can either be a flat-bottomed cup or a goblet with a short stem. Wine Glass: This glass, used for serving wine, usually has a long stem and comes in a variety of shapes (some of which are created for specific colors or varieties of wine).
