Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Dining Etiquette A Name Place Card Correct Creative Table Setting and Seating Assignments


Over the Counter Etiquette
Harold Almon

Be at Ease School of Etiquette Austin


A name place card is to be set at each place setting at a table of eight or more. It is used to let a guest know where to stop. It can be used to help people to remember the names of people held in high esteem. (In a commercial dining room this may be done by pre-arrangement. You could send ahead the seating plan, and cards, along with any centerpiece.) At a table of less than eight, place cards might be omitted.

Formally, a place card is to be in the color crème or white. Informally it can be in the theme color for the event. It is to have at minimum, a two by three inch surface, for a flat card or for each side of a folded one. The place card may contain a logo or symbol center the top. The name on a place card is to be written center the card, in calligraphy, typed, or printed in black ink, in the language of the host. It can also contain the name of the guest in the language of the guest (underneath) - when the languages are different.

Guests are to be listed by position title when they are high-ranking officials such as, "The President" or "The Mayor." Guests are listed by rank and last name, if they are mid-level officials, officers, or retired such as, "Mayor Almon," or "Major Almon." They are to be listed by social title and last name, when they are noncommissioned officers or civilians, including former Presidents such as, "Mr. Clinton," or "Mrs. Clinton."

A guest can be listed by title or rank then first and last names, when two guests have the same surname. They may be listed by a first name only when all guests are known to each other.

A place card is to be set to the center of a place setting flat or folded on top of the napkin. It can be set, above the place setting, to the center or to the left.

A place card may be used during a rehearsal dinner to show service personnel where people will be seated. The card for the host and hostess is to be removed before people come to the table.

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