What Decorations And Settings Should Be Use To Decorate For A Formal Dinner Party?

The formal dinner party is an occasion to bring out your best:  Best linens, china, crystal and silver.  Everything should be sparkling.  If you have chargers or service plates (these are approximately 12" in diameter) place them on the table, evenly spaced and all the exact same distance from the table edge.  A starched napkin may be placed in the center of the service plate.  No bread and butter plates are used in a truly formal dinner, and all plates are brought out one course at a time and placed on the service plate, which stays in place until the dessert course.  Silver is placed with the pieces in the order used, from the plate to the outside for the first piece (usually fish fork or appetizer fork.)  Dessert spoon and/or fork may be placed at the top of the plate.  All crystal is placed to the right of the plate, including water, white and red wines (assuming both are being served) and champagne, if a toast is to take place.
Decorations for the formal dinner may be as simple or elaborate as you wish.  Beautiful flowers are always in excellent taste, be considerate however that guest are not blocked from each other, or craning necks to converse with other guests.  Individual tiny arrangements at each place can hold place cards.  Wired ribbons in colors to complement or accent your place settings can be tied to the chandelier with little nosegays tied to the ends or you may wish to curl a ribbon along the center length of the table.  Candles add a beautiful ambiance, but after dusk only, please.  Use your imagination and enjoy your party!