General Principles
Once your menu is decided begin to visualise, or even get out all the silverware, crockery and glasses you will need for the whole meal, course by course. This will ensure that:
you have enough of everything without the embarrassment of washing up in the middle and if not, you have time to buy, borrow or hire some more
These days a very formal place setting might be thought of as a tad old fashioned, however there are occasions when you would need it, such as for important guests or a very special occasion, so here it is:
Begin with the dinner plate or the service plate that will sit underneath it and set it centrally within the place allocated for the guest. It should be about an inch from the edge of the table, and will guide where you put everything else.
Next place the silverware, work backwards through the courses as you start from the plate and work outwards, try to imagine a median line through the centre of your setting, or stick to around and inch from the edge of the table.
Above the plate place the cheese knife, handle to the right and blade downwards, next the dessert fork, handle towards the left and dessert spoon at the top, handle to the right.
On either side of the plate place the main course silverware nearest, then the fish course, finally the appetiser or soup spoon.
If you are serving amuse bouche or palate cleansers then the appropriate silverware should be presented with each.
Now place the glasses above and to the right, working from right to left white wine, red wine, water glass. The dessert wine glass may be presented with the dessert course.
Finally above and to the left should come the side plate with dessert knife placed diagonally across, handle towards the right and the napkin, preferably fabric and folded to a rectangle below the plate.