Simple Formal Dinner Rules of Etiquette

Fancy table manners you can easily remember.

An invitation to a formal dinner party can be intimidating. With all the rules and regulations, making a good impression can seem difficult. Good manners are important at all times, but a formal setting calls for special considerations when it comes to etiquette. Here are some easy tips to help you look and act as impressive as the other “fancy” guests.

Arriving

Always arrive on time, and take the time to remove your coat before heading to your table.

A gentleman will always help a lady remove her coat and will hand her coat to the coat-check person, before he removes his own.

Sitting

Never sit down before your host or before being informed that it is okay to do so.

Ladies, sit to the left of the gentleman.

Gentlemen, wait for the lady to sit down before you sit down.

At the Table

An easy rule to remember is that all cutleries are placed on the table to be used in the order you eat your meal.

The outside fork is for your first course. If the first course is soup, you will use the outside spoon.

Place the used cutlery on the right side of your plate. If you had soup, place your spoon on the plate that the soup bowl is sitting on.

Never place a used napkin on the table, unless you are leaving. At that point fold your napkin nicely and place it on the table, to the left of your setting, with the fold away from you.

Do not cut your bread. Tear it pieces with your fingers and apply butter to the piece you are about to eat, not to the entire slice.

When eating soup, scoop away from your body and sip your soup from the spoon. The spoon should not be put into your mouth whole.

Do not tuck your napkin into your collar.

Hold red wine glasses by the bowl, and white wine glasses by the stem.

Never cut your entire steak or chicken into pieces. Cut off pieces bite by bite.

Never lick your fingers or hand if sauce gets on them. Wipe them on a napkin.

And there you have it! Are you still in doubt? Here's a hint - watch what everyone else is doing and follow suit.



15 Dec, 2008 |Kate Leighton (Courtesy: MindBody Newsletter)
© 2008 MindBodySanctuary.com.