How to set a wedding place setting, piece by piece
A formal place setting follows a simple logic: work from the outside in, and put everything where the hand will reach for it.
Start underneath
The charger goes down first, as a base for the plates, like the Signature Collection Charger. The dinner plate sits on the charger and the salad plate on top of that, so the first course is closest to hand.
Many of our plate designs come as a matching dinner and salad plate, such as the Scallop Rim Dinner Plate and Scallop Rim Salad Plate.
Forks left, knives and spoons right
Forks go to the left of the plate, with the fork for the first course furthest out. The knife sits to the right with its blade facing the plate, and spoons go to the right of the knife.
A dessert fork or spoon can sit horizontally above the plate, ready for the last course.
Glasses above the knife
The water glass sits just above the tip of the knife, with the wine glass to its right. For a toast, the champagne flute or coupe sits just behind them.
Some of our glassware comes as a matching water goblet, wine glass and champagne flute, such as Melodia Crystal Glassware.
The napkin last
The napkin goes on the plate or to the left of the forks. It is also the easiest place to bring in color or texture without changing anything else on the table.
See it before you choose
Our Build a table tool lets you choose a linen, plates, flatware, glassware and a centerpiece, then creates a concept photo of the setting. It is an AI illustration to help you picture the combination, not a photograph of the pieces that will arrive.
