How to Set an Informal Table

How to Set an Informal Table ~ The table setting may be called informal, but it doesn’t lack for elegance in its simplicity.Whether you call it entertaining, dinner guests, dinner party, or company, having people over to share a meal is as old as time. Most humans are social creatures by nature. We enjoy getting together with family and/or friends to talk and dine.

The meal and wine are my greatest concerns when hosting. Setting the table is usually the last task on my to-do list. I did not inherit my maternal grandmother’s organization this way. She will have the table ready to go a day or two in advance. I’m happy if I have it done by the time the last guest arrives.

Rarely have I thrown such a party that I require a formal table. Frankly, I am not sure I have all the required settings for a formal table. But that doesn’t mean I’ve not had an elegant meal with knowing how to set an informal setting.

While the term informal sounds casual, this table setting can still provide the look and feel of a fancy and elegant evening. Yet it still can be comfy even eclectic, depending on the theme and style you want to have. The above photo is a basic guide, but the setting is called informal for a reason; you have the ability to play around with it. Not serving soup, omit the soup bowl. Serving coffee, set a cup and saucer out. If you have eclectic taste like I do, mix and match your items instead of making them all the same. Soup Bowl, Salad Plate, and Dinner Plate on a charger. The charger can be omitted, but are often nice, giving an additional layer of depth on the table.

Water goblets and wine glasses are generally the only stemware I’ll put on the table. Should I be serving both red and white wines, I might put both types of wine glasses out. The stemware is placed in the 1:00 position or top right, slightly off to the side.

Fold and place the napkin on the right side of the plates. The knife should be set with the blade facing the plate and is placed on the most left side of the napkin, then the tablespoon in the center, and the soup spoon being placed on the right side.

The forks are placed on the left side of the plates, directly on the table. The dinner fork is next to the plate and the salad fork is placed on the outside.

The bread plate is placed at the top left or 11:00 position. If you’re not serving bread, but will be serving dessert, this could be the dessert plate. However, in most informal settings, the dessert items are not on the table during the meal. Those will generally be brought to the table when being served.

This post is sponsored by Uncommon Goods. I received a Oval Oak Wine Carafe to review, however all thoughts and opinions, whether glowing, gushing, or otherwise, are 100% my own.

Uncommon Goods is one of my favorite websites when looking for those types of gifts you just can’t find anywhere else. Know a man you just can’t ever find something for? Click here. What about a gift that is more personalized? Click here. They truly have something for everyone. That’s why I was happy to come across this Oval Oak Wine Carafe.

More often than not, I serve wine with my meals. It’s easy enough to simply have the bottles sitting on the table. But that’s boring. I have had a few wine decanters over the years and they’ve served their purpose. However, Uncommon Goods‘ Oval Oak Wine Carafe is elegantly stunning and deserves to be the focal point on your table.

The glass is not overly thick, so it is not heavy, even when filled with your favorite bottle of red. The wide base perfectly allows the wine to aerate and the solid oak round stopper fits snugly preventing oxygen from getting in and turning the wine.

I ran a test with the Oval Oak Wine Carafe. I set my informal table, including pouring my absolute favorite bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Once I finished with photos for the day, I left the table and the wine as they were. The next day, I took another round of pictures and then once I completed my shoot, I poured the wine into a glass to enjoy.

I needed to see how well it maintained over night. Rarely do I have wine leftover after a dinner party, but it does happen. I had to know how well this decanter held up. That glass of wine was absolutely perfect. There was no indication that it was turning due to oxygen exposure, meaning the oak stopper did its job and did it well.

According the packaging and the website, the carafe is dishwasher safe. But I don’t trust my dishwasher, therefore, I have washed mine by hand. If you chose to wash it by hand like I have, before the initial usage, wash it a day or so ahead of time. The neck is narrow, making it rather difficult to get a towel down into the bulb to dry it. I used a super thin flour sack towel and chopstick to dry it, but I had a lot of trouble at the base along the sides. Washing it ahead of time will give it plenty of time to dry on its own.

If you’re looking for a lovely decanter for your table or need a gift for your wine loving friend (one you’d never want to buy an actual bottle of wine for), the Oval Oak Wine Carafe is the perfect option. The price point is fantastic at $36.00, giving you the elegance you crave yet keeping your budget happy. Head on over to Uncommon Goods for this and other unique gifts. Now you know how to set an informal table and have the perfect centerpiece with this Oval Oak Wine Carafe. But the next question is, what’s on your menu?