The Art of a Great Table. Part 1
There really is an art to throwing a great party — whether it’s a small intimate dinner-thing at your dining room table or a reception for 300 of your closest friends. So, here’s the next golden rule:
It’s always about hospitality
I do acknowledge that there are far more important things going on in the world than worrying about how to set a table. I also freely admit that knowing the in’s and out’s of how to throw a great party does not make me a candidate for the next Nobel Peace Prize.
But, honestly, if you’re going to go to all the trouble of getting things together for a dinner party or a reception, don’t you think you should go to the trouble of doing it right? I’m a huge fan of getting the details right. It truly is what sets a great party apart from a mediocre one!
photo by Marie Labbancz
Part 1: The Size of the Dinner Table
One of the biggest (and most annoying) mistakes people make is to place too many people at their tables. I can’t measure your dining room table, but I can step right up on my soapbox about how many people should be seated at the standard size dinner tables used at receptions.
No matter who tells you otherwise, it is not a good idea to seat 10 people at a 60” table or 12 people at a 72” table. Why? Because it’s really uncomfortable and has the personal touch of an annual meeting of an insurance company. When you’re serving your friends and family, here is your rule of thumb: about 2’ per person (a little less is okay, but don’t fudge too much). Most of the time, for receptions, you will be dealing with square or round tables with the following dimensions:
A 60” table has a diameter of about 188.5” ÷ 2’ (24”) = 7.8 people A 72” table has the diameter of about 226” ÷ 24” = 9.5 peopleSo, for the comfort of your guests, 60” tables should seat only 8 people and 72” tables should seat only 10 guests. (Don’t worry about the fractions, it’s not an exact science).
Rectangular tables come in lengths from 6′ to 10′ or 12′. The same 2′ per guest applies. But the widths of all rectangular tables are not equal — make sure the width of your table is at least 36″ if you plan to have anything placed down the middle of the table.
Photo by Cliff Mautner
If you need some backup on this, here’s why it works best this way:
The widths of most reception chairs are about 17” Most dinner plates are between 10-12” in diameter Most chargers are between 11-14” in diameter Silverware takes up between 4-6 inches on each side of your plate You want a comfortable amount of room between each guest’s silverware and glasses You want your guests to be able to move their chairs to and from the table comfortably 12 people at one table (at a reception) does not equal a personal dinner setting (unless it’s a long family tables)
Photo by Mike Kehr
Photo by Michael Branscom
Photo by Marie Labbancz
This is how your table should look if your guests are having a great time and they have enough room to move around:
Photo by Sarah DiCicco
photo by Maggie Wallace Cullen
Photo by Maggie Wallace Cullen
If you’re having a dinner party, be realistic about the number of people who can fit comfortably sit at your table – whether your having food placed on your table or not. It’s easier to bring in tables than it is to serve between crowded guests.
Part 2 will make it easy to set a great table.