Hosting a dinner party can be a daunting task because it comes with a lot of responsibilities. All the decorations, designs, foods, and entertaining guests will be in your hands. But a successful dinner party is one of the greatest achievements you can claim. If you will be throwing a dinner party soon and you haven’t started planning yet, no worries because we are here to help you.
Hosting a dinner party does not have to be stressful. How? Well, here are some tips we can share with you on hosting a successful dinner party. Also check out dine in dinner as well.
1. Home Preparation
To be able to host a dinner part smoothly, your home should be prepared well. Make sure that your rooms are properly lit with soft lighting. You can also place scented candles and fluff down your pillows on chairs and sofas.
It’s also important to make sure that your dishwasher is completely empty when the party begins. This will help give you plenty of room to put all the dirty dishes from the party. Aside from emptying the dishwasher, it’s also important to empty all the trash cans in your home so that there will be more space for new trash during the party.
2. Food Preparation
When hosting a dinner party, it’s better to prepare foods ahead of time so you will be able to wash knives, cutting boards, and pots right after you’re done, making it less work for you in cleaning up after the party. You can also pre-make desserts the night before and just put them in the oven or heat them up. Preparing the food ahead of time will ensure you a stress-free kitchen during the dinner party.
The meal you will serve should depend on how many people you will be inviting. You can make a delicious pasta dish and a big salad, and some dessert. You should have a basic idea on how much salad for a big group. It should not be complicated, and sometimes, a bottle of wine can save the night.
3. Table Setting and Decorations
Dinner parties are also the best time to bring out all the good glassware you have at home. Set the table using your beautiful china, crystal, and gorgeous silver. The table setting will depend on your preferences, either you want it classic or modern.
You should not forget the linens as well. If you will be hosting a large dinner party, it’s better to use table cloths. But if it will be just a small intimate gathering, embroidered, voile or linen placemats will work.
You can also add gorgeous arrangements to your rooms and on the dining table because these can be the perfect highlights. But do not use too large or overwhelming decorations. You can just pick one type of flower and put them in antique cups.
4. Use Place Cards
You should also use place cards to let your guests know where they should sit. These should be beautiful-looking cards placed in cardholders to make them look more presentable. You can also write them in calligraphy and be sure to include your guests’ first and last names so that other guests will learn the names of the ones they do not know.
5. Choose Great Music
Music is something that will make your dinner party feel more alive and relaxing at the same time. And if you have the budget, maybe you can hire someone to play a harp, violin, or piano.
6. Set a Timeline for the Party
Dinner parties should be devoid of the stress of controversial topics, therefore, setting a timeline of activities for the party can help in making sure everyone has a great time. Of course, from the start up until the end of the event, you will want your guests to be laughing and having an enjoyable time.
Once your guests arrive, start serving appetizers. A simple cheese plate and light wine will work well. While they are having their appetizers, stick in the oven anything you need to heat so that dinner will be served in a reasonable time frame. Do not make your guests wait for longer than thirty minutes.
After dinner and dessert, you and your guests can dance together or maybe play games such as cards or board games, depending on your guests.
7. Party Favors
Having a party favor for your guests is great too. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Simple candles or maybe chocolates will be well appreciated by your guests. Everyone loves a present no matter how big or small they are.
This is the most important thing you should not forget for you to host a successful dinner party. Once your friends or your family are together, you should sit back and relax. Make sure to enjoy the moments you have with them around the dinner table. When you see them having a good time, then it means your dinner party is a big success.
8. Avoid Stragglers
Unavoidably, there are certain people in the world who have a different understanding of time than the rest of us. It’s inevitable that some of your guests may be late, but there are steps you can do to reduce stragglers. To avoid this, include a clear start and end time on your invitations so that guests are aware that snoozing will cost them. If someone knows they could miss something, they are more likely to be on time.
9. Avoid Menu Experimentation
Even while trying that brand-new recipe you’ve been dying to try might sound appealing, if you’ve never made it before, save it for another evening. Choose recipes that have been tried and true and are sure to be a hit for dinner gatherings. You’ll experience less worry, and you can be certain that your visitors will enjoy a classic. However, if you want to mix things up a little, you can always add some flair to simple dishes like a salad by adding pink radicchio or edible flowers. Little things can make a big difference.
10. Hand Odd Dessert to a Guest
Since you are providing the meal, it is okay to ask one or two visitors to bring a small treat for after dinner. Visitors are welcome to bring desserts such as pies, cookies, cheesecake, ice cream, and cupcakes, as well as specialty items like banana pudding or raisin bread. You’ll save a little time and offer your visitors a chance to participate in the fun by hiring someone else to make the dessert.
11. Accommodate Dietary Restrictions
It’s considerate to prepare a dish, especially for one of your visitors who is a vegetarian or has a gluten intolerance. Dietary limitations need to be honored, and your visitors will appreciate it if you do. The thorough preparation you put into your dinner party will make it a night to remember, so keep that in mind.
12. Order a Case of Vino
There is nothing better than a nice bottle of wine, and by purchasing your favorite by the case, you may have plenty on hand for dinner while also saving money. A great glass of wine can put people at ease and spark lively conversation. You can always offer another beverage to your guests if you don’t believe they’ll appreciate wine, such as beer or a spritz.
13. Don’t Play Bartender
While it may be tempting to want to create a special mixed drink for the evening, the main objective is to unwind and have fun. If you’re pretending to be a bartender and pouring drinks all night, you can’t do that. Make something in advance that fits well in a carafe, such as these straightforward pitcher cocktail recipes, if you’re not providing wine or beer so that guests may help themselves. Even a spiked punch bowl is possible. The less complicated the better!
14. Cut Back on the Cheese
When feeding a large group, cheese can be pricey and filling. Although many people tend to provide a cheese plate as the only appetizer, it might be a good idea to diversify your selection. Make sure there will still be enough room for dinner for all of your guests. Try setting out snacks like olives, spicy almonds, or pickled veggies as light starters. Hummus and vegetables can also be a fantastic hit.
15. Sub Paper Towels For Cloth Napkins
You can buy cheap, festive dish towels at several stores, including Ikea, and use those as napkins in place of paper towels. The good thing about that is that you can subsequently use them as dish towels. Talk about multitasking!
16. Curate an Eclectic Guest List
Meeting new people is one of the exciting aspects of a dinner party. As a host, you most likely have acquaintances from various backgrounds, including job, childhood, mutual connections, etc. A dinner party is a fantastic way to introduce all of your favorite individuals to one another. Indeed, the more friends you have, the better. However, it might be a good idea to invite a select group of friends you believe will get along well and enjoy the event.
17. Splurge on Proper Wine Glasses
Spending more money on glasses might be a smart idea if you’re hosting a more formal meal. The elegant wine glasses you choose will not only add a great finishing touch to your dinner party, but they may also be utilized for upcoming dinner parties. You won’t ever regret investing in a beautiful set, after all.
Do’s And Don’ts
When food is consumed with friends and family, it tastes better. The ideal combination of good food and good company leads many of us to say those five straightforward (if perhaps stressful) words: “let’s throw a dinner party.”
It’s likely that you’ve hosted one or more dinner parties in the past if you consider yourself to be a natural host or hostess. But organizing a successful soirée can be overwhelming for those who have never done it before.
Here are some straightforward dos and don’ts to help you host a dinner party that is enjoyable and stress-free.
Do: Set expectations early
The first, and possibly most crucial, of our dos and don’ts for dinner parties is to set expectations with your guests.
When you send out invitations, be clear about what you want guests to bring (if anything at all, maybe a bottle of wine). Is this a formal dinner gathering or a more relaxed one? Do your visitors have any special dietary needs?
For informal dinner gatherings, you most definitely do not require invitations. These days, the most popular method for keeping everyone informed is through a group chat or email/SMS thread.
Don’t: Forget the beverages
When the attention of the pre-party is all on the food, you might be shocked at how frequently drinks are neglected!
Drinks are something you can prepare ahead of time: stock up on white wine, red wine, and a wide variety of non-alcoholic options, and put them in the refrigerator the day before. This is best done after you’ve decided on your meal so you can pair wine to match.
While we’re at it, how about we discuss fridge space. If you don’t have a separate drinks refrigerator, be mindful of your available shelf space and make sure to allow space for perishable foods.
Check that you have wine glasses and water glasses for each of your guests now. If you’re matching wines to your menu, you don’t want to spend the time between white and red wines washing wine glasses in the kitchen.
Do: Create a party atmosphere
Without playlists, dinner parties are essentially just board meetings. Plan your playlist carefully because the mood will vary depending on whether it is for a formal dinner, a cocktail party, or a housewarming celebration.
In our perspective, having background music during dinner parties ought to be a must. If you don’t feel comfortable being the DJ, ask a buddy who enjoys music to play music for the evening, or create a shared playlist that all partygoers can add songs to before the event.
Party etiquette is another aspect that improves the ambiance. Mi casa su casa and all that jazz are things you want your guests to feel at home in, but this doesn’t imply table manners should be ignored. You might want to provide your visitors with a list of etiquette guidelines, depending on the formality of your event.
In 2021, proper table manners won’t involve standing up when someone leaves the table or knowing which fork to use first; instead, they’ll focus on things like a “no phones” rule and waiting to eat the gluten-free food until your gluten-free friend has had their fill.
Don’t: Neglect the table setting
Set the table and ambiance first. The magic happens at your dining table, thus you want your guests to feel excited as soon as they enter so that they can enjoy the great meals that are waiting for them.
You should set the table before your visitors come. Set out some nice place mats and table linen, if you have them. The best way to make a statement with your dinner party table is to set out the entire tableware set for each visitor, with plates or bowls for main courses, appetizers, and desserts stacked from largest to smallest.
Make sure there is enough space on the table when you are setting it for dinner so that the serving utensils can fit. If not, you might want to skip the tableware and instead focus on the glassware, linen napkins, and utensils.
If the decor in your house is somewhat basic, you can find table-stylestyle accessories in your pantry. For example, rosemary sprigs and dried fruit can be used to dress up any cocktail glass, while tiny bowls of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and sea salt provide a hint of the Mediterranean.
Do: Be mindful of timings
A excellent dinner party has a flow that tells a tale, just like a ballet. It begins by setting the scene in a rather laid-back manner, builds to a crescendo, and then drops for the final act.
Pop the bottles and set out quick and easy canapes or a simple dish of small bites for guests to nibble on as they get settled. Setting rough timings when you’re inviting people to your party is a great idea because it helps your guests feel at ease throughout the night (i.e., nobody will be asking “Is it dinner time yet?”).
One hour before you want to serve your first meal, ask your guests to arrive. While not being excessively long, that will provide those who arrive a little later some breathing room.
Your private chef will inform you of the time they must arrive to begin cooking (usually 2 to 3 hours before the first course is served, depending on the menu).
Don’t: Dismiss dietary restrictions
It’s uncommon to host a dinner party where there isn’t at least one allergy or preference to take into consideration because we’re more conscious of dietary restrictions than before.
Consider the dietary limitations of your visitors carefully. It would be inappropriate to dismiss a visitor who has the celiac disease as someone who merely chooses not to consume gluten.
This is the most significant dinner party advice we can give because it pertains to the health of your guests and their families. Ask about dietary restrictions early on so you can make plans, but make sure not to fret over them on an actual night. Your guests will be appreciative as long as there are options available for everyone.
Do: Consider leaving it to the pros
That is why we are here. Nothing is worse than organizing a fantastic dinner party and spending the entire evening in the kitchen, losing out on all the excitement.
So that you can leave the kitchen and return to the party. Having dinner party catering provided by a trained chef ensures that both guests and hosts will have an enjoyable and incredibly tasty evening.
Whatever kind of gathering you’re planning—intimate or grandiose, BBQ or degustation—our passionate and professional chefs can create a menu for a dinner party to suit your needs.
These are some of the great tips we can share for hosting a successful dinner party. It may take a lot of work but once you see your friends and family appreciate all your efforts, you will forget how tough it was to set everything up. We hope these tips will help you with planning and hosting your very own dinner party.