Proper Utensils for Your Reception

Whether you’re going the wedding catering route or not, it’s a good idea to know what should be placed on your reception dining tables. Your wedding reception flatware is such a prominent piece on the tables that it should be presented in a formal, and decorative manner. If that element is off then it could have a negative affect on the overall look of your reception dining tables.

Flatware
There aren’t any specific rules when choosing which type of flatware for your reception, however sterling silver tends to look best.

• The dinner fork should be seated to the left of the charger plate.
• The salad fork goes to the left of the dinner fork, however, if your salad is going to be served after the entrée then the salad fork should be placed to the right of the dinner fork.
• If your wedding caterers serve fish, make sure the fish fork is situated to the left of the dinner fork.
• The dinner knife goes to the right of the charger plate.
• The knife designated for fish should be placed directly to the right of the dinner knife.
• The salad knife goes to the right of the fish knife (if fish is served).
• The soupspoon should be situated to the right of the knives. (This is only necessary if the soup is going to be served as the first course.)
• Oyster-cocktail fork goes to the right of the spoons. (Necessary if shellfish is being served.)