Formal Setting

• A formal wedding place setting is beautiful and elegant. The large place settings use many dishes and utensils, which makes a formal place setting best for an indoor wedding with a full kitchen nearby for cleanup. A formal place setting is used for a meal that has several courses. Use the same number of plates, bowls, glasses and utensils as you have courses. In general, a formal place setting comprises a charger under the dinner plate and a dinner plate and a salad plate stacked on top of each other. A bread plate is set to the top left of the dinner plate. A wine glass and water glass sit to the top right of the plate. The napkin is placed in the middle of the plate. The name card goes just above the plate. To the left of the plate are the forks in the order of use, starting from furthest away from the plate. The right side contains all necessary knives and spoons.
  
  

Informal Setting

• An informal place setting for a wedding can have many of the same elements as a formal setting, just with fewer items. Informal settings are ideal for buffet-style weddings or for weddings that have fewer courses or even just a dessert line or simple appetizers. Place the main plate in the middle, but skip the charger. The fork goes to the left of the plate along with the napkin. The knife and spoon go to the right of the plate. The glass goes to the top right of the plate. The name card still goes at the top of the plate or on the plate if you wish.
  
  

Outdoor Setting

• An outdoor wedding should have the simplest form of place setting for ease of cleanup. Use an informal setting style, along with outdoor touches to make it whimsical and fun. Do not use paper napkins outdoors as they can easily blow away, causing litter. You can, however, use nice-looking plastic plates, cups and utensils. Let the formality of your wedding dictate the kind of place setting you use. If you like, you can use tableware that looks like it belongs outdoors, such as earth tones or bright florals.
  
  

Nontraditional Setting

• In a nontraditional place setting, anything goes. You can mix and match formal and informal place setting styles and mix plate, cup and utensil patterns. When you go with a nontraditional setting, you can set each table a little differently, mix colors throughout the entire wedding or mix plastic and paper goods with real plates and utensils. A nontraditional setting is the most whimsical and eclectic and will match well with an outdoor wedding or a nontraditional wedding.