The charger plates should be on the table when the guests are seated. The soup, fish or salad course are served on top of the charger plates. It is customary for the charger plates to be removed prior to the serving of the entree or dinner course. Some people however, prefer to leave the charger plates on the table during the entree because they enjoy the appearance of the charger plates. Regardless of if you remove the charge plates after the soup, fish, salad or entree, the charger plates should always be removed before the dessert course.
