41 Free Place Setting Templates & Ideas (Informal – Formal)

The place setting is very useful for large banquets and gatherings. It helps direct guests to the exact spot or table that is allocated for them, thereby helping in the organization and avoiding chaos at the onset of any event or reception. Place setting templates can be used for any event or special occasion to help keep guests organized and maintain order throughout an event/occasion.

Although place setting is not usually a hard task, it can be challenging depending on the level of formality of the occasion or the event. Knowing what to do, how to organize and distribute the tables is very important in ensuring a smooth running of the event and in making sure that all guests feel happy and welcomed at the same time.

In this guide, we will be taking you through the basic rules of table setting, how to do table setting for guests, the different seating arrangements, and provide you with different place setting templates to help you with any event or occasion.

Basic Rules of Table Setting

There are basic rules for a place setting that you must first understand before setting the table regardless of the event or occasion. These rules are important as they will help ensure that the tables are set right and that no important item is missing on the table.

These basic rules are:

• All Utensils should be placed in the order of use and placed from the outside in.
• With only a few exceptions, all knives and spoons should be placed on the right-hand side of the plate and all forks placed on the left side except the oyster fork.
• All drinking glasses should be placed on the top right
• All napkins should be included at each place setting
• A rule of thumb for silverware placement in table setting is that all utensils should be placed in the order of use, i.e., from the outside in. For instance, a salad fork is usually used before the dinner fork; hence it should be placed on the outside. Consequently, all spoons and knives should be placed on the right and forks on the left.
• Only glassware that is to be used during the meal should be included at the table. If there are no beverages to be served, do not include glasses at the table

Tip: When setting the table, it is important to include all the utensils that will be needed for each meal. For instance, if you will be serving soup at the table, make sure to include a soup spoon and if you are serving cake, make sure to include a cake cutter or a knife and napkins at the table.

To do place setting for guests and ensure that everything is placed accordingly, there are several things that you must first fulfill, including:

Creating a tablespace

Creating a tablespace is the first step to ensuring your guests have enough space to enjoy their meal, occasion, or event. By placing fresh flowers and scented candles on each table, you will be one step closer to making their experience magical. If you are organizing a table for a more formal event, consider placing larger florals and for less formal events, consider using smaller arrangements.

Plates and utensils

Regardless of the occasion, plates and utensils are usually guaranteed to catch the eyes of the guests. Use plates and silverware that go with the theme of the table. You can mix different colors as you see fit, but make sure they are visually appealing and match the theme of the event.

Menu cards

Menu cards are important as they help your guests select what they would like to be served. They are particularly important for guests who have food allergies or are on a diet. By going through the menu and selecting what they would like to be served, you will be able to engage your audience and find out what works for them and what you should incorporate in your next event.

Before your guests arrive

Before your guests arrive for the event, it is important to ensure that everything is well placed and easy to access. For instance, you should consider setting up the music, drinks, appetizers, and other snacks in a room adjacent to your kitchen to be able to access them easily to ensure the whole process runs smoothly. This will also give you enough space to navigate and help avoid confusion which may lead to panic and chaos during the event.

Printable Place Setting Templates

Following are some free printable place setting templates for you:

There are different types of table settings; basic, formal, and casual. Each place setting is determined by the type of event and the level of formality of the event. For instance, a basic table setting will have fewer utensils, a casual table setting will have more utensils than basic ones, and a formal table setting will have more elegant, high-quality utensils compared to basic and casual table settings.

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of how each table should be set:

Casual table setting

The casual place setting is usually used in luncheons and banquets. It is one of the most common choices for contemporary casual settings and wedding table settings. The casual table setting is usually designed for three courses, and flatware provided is usually meant for salad or soup, main course, and dessert.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to set create a casual table setting:

• Step 1: Place a serving plate in the middle of the table setting
• Step 2: Place a bread plate to the top left of the serving plate and place a butter knife with the blade facing down and the handle facing towards the right on top of the bread plate
• Step 3: Next, place silverware on the left side of the serving plate. Place the dinner fork on the inside and the salad fork on the outside
• Step 4: On the right side of the serving plate, some of the silverware to include are; dinner knife, teaspoon and soup spoon
• Step 5: Place a glass of water above the dinner knife
• Step 6: Next to the glass of water, place the wine glass

Basic table setting

The basic table setting is a simple form of table setting. It is ideal for all types of casual events and restaurants. A basic place setting usually has six pieces and is the foundation of all types of the place setting styles. Regardless of the event, having a table setting can help guests feel welcomed and ensure that they have everything they need for their feast.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create the basic table setting:

• Step 1: Place a serving plate in the middle of the table setting
• Step 2: Place a napkin to the top left side of the plate
• Step 3: Place a fork on top of the napkin
• Step 4: Place a knife to the right side of the plate
• Step 5: Place a water or coffee glass above the knife slightly to the right

Buffet place setting

To prepare a buffet place setting, start with the plates, followed by the main dishes, vegetables, bread, relishes, and salads. All the utensils should be placed at the end of the buffet and table decorations placed above and in the center of the buffet arrangements. To avoid congestion on one table, consider placing the drinks, glasses, dessert, and cups on a separate table.  

Formal table setting

The formal place setting is common in weddings and official places such as state dinners and dining restaurants. Formal place setting, compared to the other types of place settings, is very complex. Formal place setting templates are usually designed for a six-course meal, including the appetizer, salad, soup, starch, protein, and dessert. Formal place setting incorporates the use of more flatware and glassware compared to other table settings.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to create a formal dinner table setting:

• Step 1: Place an ironed tablecloth on the table
• Step 2: Place a serving plate in the center of the place setting
• Step 3: Next, place a bread plate to the top left of the serving plate and place the butter knife on top of the bread plate with the handle facing towards the right and the blade facing down
• Step 4: Place silverware on the left side of the serving plate, beginning with the dinner fork on the inside and the salad fork on the outside
• Step 5: On the right side of the serving plate, place silverware from the inside out. The silverware to include are: a dinner knife, salad knife, soup spoon, and teaspoon
• Step 6: Ensure that all flatware is evenly spaced and the bottom is lined up with the bottom of the serving plate
• Step 7: Place the dessert spoon directly above the serving plate. It should be horizontally aligned with the handle towards the right
• Step 8: Just above the dinner knife, place a water glass
• Step 9: Above the water glass, slightly to the right, place the white wine glass
• Step 10: Next, place the red wine glass slightly to the right, just above the white wine glass
• Step 11: Lastly, place a cup and saucer above the soup spoon and slightly to the right

Note: There are several variations that a multi-course meal could have when it comes to a place setting. For instance, there could be a soup and palette cleansing mint sorbet course, meaning two spoons will be used or will have to be added during the course of the meal, or there could be soup served between the main course and a salad, which means the spoons will have to be placed between the two knives.

Informal/semi-formal table setting

Informal table setting also referred to as semi-formal table setting, incorporates the use of fewer utensils and serving dishes. The informal table setting is common in most high street restaurants and private settings.

For the informal table setting, the desert utensils can either be set above the setting during the entire meal or brought out with the dessert. If the utensils are being set for the entire meal, the fork should be placed with the handle pointing toward the left and the spoon placed above the fork with its handle facing the right side.

The butter knife should be placed pointing the right side to make it easier for right-handed diners to pick it up using their right hand and use it.

Additionally, the butter knives should be placed on the butter plate with the blade facing toward the diner and the forks on top of the napkin. Although some people prefer not to place the forks on top of the napkins, you may consider placing them next to the napkins.

Lastly, if the wine will be served at the table, the wine glasses should be placed to the right of the water glass.

Super formal place setting

Super formal place setting, also commonly referred to as the royal family table setting, is the most elaborate and complex of all the place settings. Super formal place setting template incorporates the use of all the utensils needed for all the courses rounding out to a total of seventeen pieces. It incorporates a full course meal including the appetizer, salad, soup, starch, protein, dessert, dinner, and multiple beverage options.

Following are some free downloadable templates for you:

It is important to determine who will sit where and how many people will sit at each table when setting up the tables.

When place setting, ensure that you consider the following:

Use place cards

Place cards are important as they help guide each guest on where they should sit and ensure some level of order at the reception and during the event. However, it is recommended to only use place cards if you are hosting more than six guests to not appear to be overly controlling. Each place card should have the full names of the guest and the seat/table number.

Seating arrangements

Order at any event is usually determined by the seating arrangements. Depending on the type of event or occasion and the number of guests attending, you should consider organizing the tables based on your guests’ personalities and common interests.

For example:

If it is a wedding party, you should consider having the couples seated on the same table, singles on a separate table to help them interact, and children on a separate table from adults.

Seating guests of honor

Guests of honors usually want to feel special and welcomed in any event, and it is your duty to ensure that they do. There is a rule of thumb when it comes to the seating arrangements of the guests of honor- A male guest of honor should sit to the left-hand side of the host, and a female guest of honor should seat at the right side of the host.

Large dinner parties

When hosting a large dinner party or a large event, it is important to ensure that there is order and that everything is neatly organized. To do this, consider using a seating list or guide at the reception or at the entrance. This will ensure that each guest is seated at the right spot or table, thereby avoiding confusion.

Place Setting Examples (PDF)

Here are some free editable samples for your ease:

The place setting template is very useful for any event, occasion, or gathering. It helps ensure some level of organization and helps avoid confusion during the event, occasion or gathering. Place setting templates can be used for any type of event or occasion. By understanding the different types of place settings and utilizing the different place setting templates, you will be a step closer to ensuring your event is a success and that all your guests feel welcomed and happy during the event.