Table manners: Holiday dining etiquette

The semiformal setting

This is as formal as it gets for a lot of us. The good stuff is used but can be mixed with less formal elements, like stainless-steel or silver-plated flatware, or less ornate stemware instead of cut or etched crystal. You might also decide to show off a beautiful table by using a table runner instead of a formal cloth.

Plates For this setting, we opted to forgo a service plate (also known as a charger); instead there's a dinner plate topped with a salad plate, since salad will be served first at this particular meal. The bread-and-butter plate sits above the forks, with a knife resting on it.

Flatware Since salad is the first course, the smaller fork is first on the left. The spoon at the top is for dessert. If a dessert fork is not required (say for a mousse or sherbet), as in this case, the spoon appears solo.

Glasses Mix crystal or glass stemware as you like for semiformal settings, grouping them at top right. Our trio: a white wineglass (left), red wineglass, and water glass at right for access throughout the meal. Many etiquette books place the water glass on the inside.