Picking your Center Piece-  When it comes to centerpieces for a dinner, of course we tend to think of flowers and candles. These are by far the most popular.  However, you don't need to be stuck with the traditional look. Think outside the box! A beautiful tray of perfect fruit arranged in a pyramid can be simple but elegant. Or try a grouping of pillar candles in varying heights placed on a mirror or tray. The most important rule though is that you do not want your center piece obstructing your guests view of each other!

Deciding on the Linens to Use- A white tablecloth and linen napkins are considered traditional for a formal dinner. On the other hand, if your looking for a more informal look, a patterned tablecloth or placemats work well. For a more unique look, you can use runners as your placemats. Just place the runners horizontally across the table. 

Selecting Your Dinnerware- When it comes to dinnerware, it's not important that everything be an absolute match. You can use different style plates as long as they have the same color pallet. You can also use a charger to spice things up. These plates go under the dinner plate for a decorative look.

Placing the Flatware- The general rule for arranging flatware is that it is placed in the order of the courses to be served, starting from the outside and working in toward the plate. Forks are always on the left with knives and spoons on the right. The blades of the knives should be facing inward toward the plate. If you use bread and butter plates, the knife is placed across the plate.