Dinner parties are a very popular these days and are great ways to meet new people and show off your home and your cooking. It can be difficult however, if you have never run a dinner party, to know what you need and what people expect. Here is what you need to know about setting up a table for your guests

Glasses. There should be three glasses in each place setting to start with ideally.  Wine glasses are must, but it doesn’t need to be crystal glass. Guests should also have a tall glass for an alternative beverage and a tumbler for if they would like water also.

Decanters. Instead of having juice, water or other drinks in their containers, why not serve them in decanters. These not only look better than branded bottles but also do not clutter up the table like empties do and can be filled very easily

Napkins and cloths. There should be a table cloth covering the table, even if it just runs along the centre of the table. There should be a napkin at each place setting and a number in reserve if anyone needs extra or for any spills that often occur

Cutlery. This depends of what is being served but at a minimum should consist of a knife for bread, a knife for food, a food and pudding fork and a spoon for pudding. The proper method for using you cutlery is to work from the outside in as the courses continue, therefore you should make sure your pieces are set up in that order

Dressing. As long as you don’t crowd the dinner table, you can add lots of other things to jazz it up a bit.  Candle holders look great in moderation, as do glass vases filled with fresh flowers. Some tables are of an adequate size to accommodate a large centre piece