What Is Formal Dining?

It's that time of year. Office holiday parties are coming up, families get together for the holidays, and we slowly start to dread the fancy, formal parties that flood our calendars. Don't worry! As long as you know what to expect, formal affairs aren't difficult. With a little knowledge and some common sense, you can even enjoy them. Here's how.
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My kids call our dining room the "Thanksgiving Room." My husband says that we should put caution tape at its entrance because I don't let anyone in there. And I guess that tells you what you need to know about how often we use our formal dining room! I love our dining room and I'm glad we have it, but truthfully, it's mostly a showpiece, and I think I'm an exception among a generation that has mostly said goodbye to the formal dining room.

The Emily Post Institute offers a comprehensive guide to setting a formal table, with a visual diagram and description to instruct on dining etiquette and proper placement.
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