MAIN Home Life Entertaining Table Settings

Your table is the focus of any party where food is served. Depending on the occasion, the tableware and seating plan can be as important as the food you serve.

While ultra-proper table setting isn't for everyday family meals, it's nice to know the rules when having family, friends or important guests to town for special celebrations like weddings, Thanksgiving dinner or the Christmas holidays.

These sites discuss everything you need to know for a casual buffet, formal holiday dinner or wedding reception; related etiquette for seating arrangements, table placement of knives, forks, glasses and napkins; and more on providing the proper wine glasses; plus how to's on seating your guests for the best mix of merriment and relaxed conversation...

Setting the Table - From Art of Cookery.com with 10 tips for dishes and glasses, tablecloth, flowers and candlelight, silverware and more.

Setting the Table - Reader's Digest feature with a complete guide to Thanksgiving table settings including instructions on where to put the place cards, setting up a kids table, and arranging a holiday buffet.

How to Arrange a Place Setting for a Formal Dinner - Photo, instructions & suggestions for laying out dishes, glasses & silverware plus related how to's on formal seating arrangements and more, from wikihow.com.

Dinner Etiquette - Business entertaining in style, and a good guide for any formal dinner arrangement with quick illustrations on placement of glasses, dishes and silver.

iGourmet.com - Party Planning Advice - With tips for setting the table for a romantic evening, a formal dinner, an elegant affair or Thanksgiving holiday get-together.

Bed Bath & Beyond Wedding Wisdom - The online store with a guide to wedding seating plans, etiquette and table and place settings, plus tool around the rest of the site for a treasure trove of related wedding tips and advice.

Reception Seating Arrangements - Comprehensive guide with diagrams for arranging the tables, place cards and guests, with alternative plans for seating divorced or remarried parents and other strategies for the potentially awkward wedding moment.

The Art of the Buffet - Advice on where to place the tables plus how to arrange the plates and cutlery, including decorating ideas, planning and menu suggestions.

also see --> House Guest Etiquette | How to Give a Toast

Wine with Turkey