When we host a luncheon at home or have friends over for dinner, we always want everything to be perfect, our table to look attractive, and everything to be in its proper place. Which side do the glasses go on? How many should I place? These are some of the questions that arise.
How to place glasses on the table? A recurring question
The first thing to know is that the glasses are placed in front and to the right of the plate.
Another aspect to consider is whether different dishes will be served, each with a different wine, since you need to place as many glasses as there are wines to be drunk, plus one for water. The placement of glasses on the table therefore depends partly on the number of drinks you will be enjoying during the meal.
Several arrangements are possible
Normally the table is set with one glass for water, one for white wine , one for red wine and another for sparkling wine.
Place the glasses in a triangle
The water glass is placed first (always filled even if not in use) in line with the main knife. The wine glass to be served first is then placed slightly diagonally upwards and to the right and the other placed counterclockwise to form the triangle.
If there are four glasses, start with the water, then the other two diagonally outwards to form the base of the three-glass triangle, and finally diagonally inwards from the middle glass for the sparkling wine glass to complete the geometric shape.
Place the glasses in a straight line, diagonally or in an ellipse
Another form of arrangement is to place the glasses in a line parallel to the plate (and the wine is served from the outside in). They can also be placed diagonally or parallel to the plate, but forming a slight ellipse (curve).
But if the meal is a simpler or informal affair, place only two glasses: one for wine and one for water to its left.
The placement of glasses on the table: a political question
The placement of glasses on the table can be used to indicate the presence of a special occasion or event. For example, at a formal dinner, several glasses may be placed in specific locations to signal that an important meeting is taking place. In diplomacy, the placement of glasses on the table is given great attention. Depending on the number of glasses and their spatial arrangement on the tablecloth, messages can be conveyed about the formal nature of the dinner or the importance of the host.
The nature of the glasses chosen is also important
The placement of these glasses can help set the tone for a meeting or social event and emphasize its importance. Furthermore, certain types of glasses can also be used to create an atmosphere that is both elegant and fun. Whether it's crystal flutes for champagne toasts or colorful goblets for serving wine at parties, glasses can be an integral part of any social gathering. They play their own unique role in an important dinner. But let's return to more practical considerations and look at how to place glasses for a Christmas meal.
How to place glasses for a Christmas meal?
For a Christmas dinner, glasses should be placed symmetrically on the tablecloth. Place the white wine glasses on one side, and the red wine glasses on the other. If you're serving sparkling drinks like champagne or prosecco, place them in the center of the table. For water glasses and beer mugs, leave space between each glass to allow all guests easy access. Finally, make sure everyone has their own glass; no sharing!
