How to set a table

I decided to keep some of Janelle's Hope Chest items here on my blog so that as she grows I can check to make sure I'm teaching her the things she ought to know. Also it won't be a collection of papers that I'll end up moving around and loosing. And here I'll always be able to find what I'm looking for.
One of the things I think she should know is how to set a proper place setting. I'm 28 and I'm still not sure which side of the plate to put the fork on. So I found some instructions on ehow.com. I'll have to have a little dinner party so that we can practice.

Dinnerware
Step 1 Dinner plates are placed directly in front of the seat, about two inches from the table's edge.
Step 2 Salad plates are placed to the left, above the fork.
Step 3 Bread plates vary. If there is a salad course, they are placed on the right, above the knife (to the left of the glassware), higher than the salad plate. If there is no salad course, the bread plate goes to the left above the fork.
Step 4 If serving a soup course, the soup bowl is placed directly on top of the dinner plate.
Step 5 Clear dishes after each appropriate course. If several dinner courses are served, replace dinner plates as necessary.


Flatware
Step 1 For a formal place setting only the appropriate silverware should be used, never any excess. Utensils are lined up about 1/2 of an inch away from the plate and lined up evenly at the bottom.
Step 2 Forks are placed on the left side of the plate. Knives (with the cutting edge facing inward) and spoons to the right of the plate. Butter knives are placed directly on top of the bread plate.
Step 3 Silverware should be placed on the table in the order it will be used, so the furthest from the plate will be used first. For example, salad forks are placed on the outside of the dinner forks.
Step 4 Dessert silverware is placed sideways about 1/2 of an inch above the plate, toward the center of the table. The spoon is placed first, closer to the plate with the spoon-end on the left. The fork is placed above the spoon, facing in the opposite direction with the fork-end to the right--so that if the guest were to pull the handles of the silverware down around the plate upon dessert service, the fork would still be on the left and the spoon on the right.

Stemware
Step 1 Water glasses should be placed on the right, directly above the knife.
Step 2 Wine glasses (and any additional beverage glasses) are placed to the right of the water glass.
Step 3 Coffee cups and saucers are placed on the table to the right of the knife and spoon.

About Table Settings

Elaborate rules of etiquette govern formal table settings. Most people do not know these rules anymore. Some people may never attend a function with a formal table setting, but if you collect china you will be interested to know how all the pieces of antique china were used.If you do plan to attend a formal dinner, use this primer as a way to learn (or brush up on) your formal table etiquette.

Significance
The most important rule that governs a formal table setting is to place everything so that the whole effect is visually pleasing. The formality signifies a certain gentility and civility but has a functional purpose, too. Setting formal place settings allows guests and their host to enjoy the meal and appreciate its complexity.Formal dining etiquette dictates that the spaces between place settings are even and about two feet apart to allow both for room and for pleasant conversation between the guests. According to Emily Post, the centerpiece has to be in the exact middle of the table. The middle crease of the tablecloth should line up with the center of the table and be perfectly straight. The formal table should be lit with candles.

The Facts
The forks go to the left of the place with the salad fork placed closest to the plate. Next, the meat fork and the fish fork. The order of the utensils can be deduced if you know the order in which they will be used. The utensils closest to the plate are for the first course. The ones furthest from the plate are for the last course. The knives go to the right of the plate with the meat knife nearest the plate and the fish knife next to it. To the right of the knives are the spoons, beginning with the soup spoon. Dessert utensils are not placed on the table until the dessert is served.

Features
There are several different kinds of glasses set on a formal table. Water glasses belong above and slightly to the right of the knives. The wine glasses go to the right of the water glass. The bread plate sits above the forks parallel to the glasses. A butter knife sits on top of the bread plate with its handle parallel to the edge of the table facing to the right.Several other items complete the table setting. A place card goes above the plate on the tablecloth to tell each guest where to sit. Cloth napkins, neatly folded in squares, sit in the middle of the plates. A set of salt and pepper shakers are placed on a formal table for every two guests.

Function
There used to be a proper division of labor for who should serve which food. If a husband and wife were the hosts, the man served the meat and vegetables while the woman served the other courses. Everything from the main savory part of the meal had to be cleared off the table before the dessert would be served. The very last thing served was the coffee. Very fancy meals ended with finger bowls filled with water to get any food residue off of the guests' fingers.

Benefits
Knowing the geography of a formally set table is not only important when you are the host of a fancy event. It is also key to participating as a guest at this kind of meal. Now you can attend without wondering which fork to use for your salad. It should allow you to enjoy your evening savoring the good conversation and the excellent food.