Summarize the following:
This will prevent you from wasting time rearranging it. Decide which decorations you want to use, where they will go, and what direction you want the guests to follow. Imagine yourself starting at the beginning of the table, picking up a plate, dishing up an appetizer and a salad, and then moving down to the main course dish. Think about the order that you would eat a meal in, and arrange the food dishes in that order. It needs to be visible, but not in people's way. If you have a lot of guests and your room is large, set the table away from any walls so that your guests have access to the table from both sides. If the room is smaller, place the table against a wall, out of the way. If possible, leave space for people to stand on either end of the table to avoid too much crowding in the front. Either of these will create a lovely base for the buffet table, and can mask a table that you may not want to be shown. If you use a table runner, position it in the center of the table and make sure that it runs the full length of the table. Plates are the first thing your guests will need, so they should be at the beginning of the table. Set out more plates than you think you'll need, since guests often take a new plate each time that they return to the table. Having the utensils at the end of the table relieves people from having to hold them while trying to hold their plate and serve themselves food. With only two hands, that can be a difficult task! You can also have utensils at both the beginning and the end of the table, if you would prefer. Provide all of the utensils that will be needed for the food you're serving. For example, don't forget the soup spoons if you're serving soup! Wrapping the utensils can make it easier for your guests to grab the whole bundle at once, instead of having to pick up each utensil individually. Since hungry people can be very eager to get what they need and sit down, it is best to have multiple stacks of plates, cups, utensils, and napkins. That way, many people can grab one at the same time without needing to wait in a line or push into each other. This step is often missed but is very important. If a guest needs to grab another napkin or adjust something, you want them to have space to set their plate down for a moment. When arranging your table, try to leave small pockets of space where a plate could fit. This will help you to visualize the end result and see if anything needs to be adjusted. Make sure that the table isn't too crowded, and that your decorations aren't going to block any food. Do a trial walk down the buffet table as well, pretending to serve yourself. Make sure that everything is placed logically and within reach. At this stage, adjust anything that needs to be fixed and remove any decorations that are cumbersome or unattractive.
Plan your arrangement before you begin placing the decorations. Set up a logical journey down the table. Move your buffet table to a convenient location. Lay down your tablecloth or table runner. Put the plates and bowls at the beginning of the buffet table. Place the utensils at the end of the table. Set the napkins near the utensils, or wrap the utensils in the napkins. Have multiple stacks of plates, cups, utensils, and napkins. Leave space for people to momentarily set their plates down. Do a practice run.