Tag: planning

How to Host the Perfect Dinner Party: Part I

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At first glance, the concept of a dinner party seems exciting: good food and drinks, great friends and even better conversation. However, there’s a lot of behind the scenes work required to make those fabulous evenings a reality.

It isn’t easy determining a budget, figuring out a guest list or designing invitations, all weeks in advance.

Putting together a picture-perfect dinner party at your lake home can be a daunting task for those who aren’t properly prepared. So we’ve created a 3-part series of easy-to-follow guides to help you achieve your most memorable, fun-filled soirée yet.

Here are some pro tips on preparation to make sure everything goes as smooth as possible.

The Preparation

Buy a fancy planner, set reminders in your phone, place sticky notes on every flat surface in your house–however you choose to go about it, planning and organization are the keys to a successful night.

Start early and finish often.

Make small steps toward preparation in the weeks leading up to your event, giving yourself plenty of time for each task. This will not only keep you on track, but save you from feeling overwhelmed at the last minute.

The Budget

This is a big deal. Before you get all excited and tunnel-visioned about what you want, it’s imperative to make sure it’s within the bounds of financial comfort.

Can you afford to feed 30 people steaks, shrimp and champagne? Are you planning on springing for live music, or doing cute little party favors for each guest?

A smart budget is a great place to start the planning process. Whether your cap is $200 or $2,000, knowing exactly how much you feel comfortable spending and planning everything around that number is essential.

The Guest List

Now that you know what you’re working with, determine a guest list.

A dinner party is a great way to acquaint new people and initiate lasting relationships. When figuring out who’ll receive an invitation, there are some things to consider:

  • How many people are you planning to invite, and is there enough room to comfortably seat everyone?
  • Are you able to prepare enough food for eight, 12 or 25 people?
  • Do your work associates have anything in common with your childhood best friends?mature friends enjoying outside dinner party by fire pit

Perhaps more important than “how many”, who you allow to wine and dine with you can make or break the evening.

Is there anyone on your list who is notorious for causing problems? Who’s that one friend who can turn anything into an argument? Think about replacing them with the person who loves to make everyone laugh, and then sit the comedian next to the friend who never runs out of things to talk about.

The company you keep is a key ingredient for an awesome night.

The Invitations

Invitations mark the difference between a regular dinner and a dinner party.

You’ll want to send them out as soon as the guest list is done, so at least one month, but no later than two weeks, in advance of the date. This gives friends and family time to adjust their calendars and increases the chances of a good turnout.

A well-rounded invitation should include the following:

  • the time and date
  • location address
  • party theme or dress code (if there is one)
  • your phone number and/or email
  • the RSVP deadline, which should be at least one week before the event’s date.

It’s also nice to ask guests to include any dietary restrictions with their RSVP.

The invitation design should reflect the aesthetic of the evening (see How to Host the Perfect Dinner Party: Part II here)  and the level of formality you’re hoping to achieve. If the vibe is more relaxed, e-vites, a Facebook event, or a descriptive text message will do just fine. For a formal evening, go for handwritten or printed invites via snail mail.

Taking the time out to send individual invitations is evidence of effort and shows a statement of intent. Your guests will appreciate it.

 

That wraps up the preparation phase.

Now that you know how much to spend and who to invite, we can move on to the fun part: planning the party! In Part II of the series, we will go over how to create your desired atmosphere and plan a stellar menu that guests will love.

 

How to Host the Perfect Dinner Party: Part III

Posted on Staff

Welcome to the last leg of the race!

You’ve reached the final portion of our series on how to host a picture-perfect dinner party. So far, we’ve gone over how to prepare for a successful night and how to create the atmosphere that’s just right for you.

In the last days before your big event, there are some final touches that need to get done. Think of these as the cherries on top.

Two Days Beforeto do list

  • Pick up all dinner ingredients and beverages.
  • Make sure you have plenty of ice.
  • Queue your playlists so you don’t have to play DJ all night.

The Day Before

  • Tidy up the house, particularly the areas that guests will see, like the bathroom and living room. If the party is outside, be sure to cut the grass or sweep the deck.
  • Make sure the trash can is empty.
  • Pick up some flowers and put them in a vase.
  • Prepare as much food as you can, including dessert.

The Day Of

  • Prepare any final dishes you didn’t get to finish the day before.
  • Set up the table and any necessary decorations.
  • Create a drink and snack station, complete with hors d’oeuvres for guests’ arrival.
  • Choose an outfit. As a rule of thumb, the host should never be outdone by the guests. It’s time to break out that dress or those shoes you’ve been saving for a special occasion.

The Host

If you want to pull off being the perfect host, there is a certain role you have to fill. Your job is to get guests who may not know each other acquainted and comfortable. You’re the connecting link between everyone there.

Above all else, you set the tone for the evening. Therefore, if you’re frantic and anxious, everyone else will be too. It’s important to appear relaxed and in control for the entire evening, even if you’re not.

The rules of etiquette are nowhere near as strict as they used to be, but some things still apply.

Mind your manners: upon arrival, offer guests a drink and relieve them of their coats and bags. While at the table, try your best to stay off your phone, even if others are doing it.

The last thing you want to do is come off as rude or disengaged. If you absolutely must take a call or respond to a text, excuse yourself from the table.

Lively conversation is an important part of a dinner party, and as the host, you are the mediator by default.

Our parents warned us never to talk about politics or religion, but realistically, those make for some of the most interesting conversations. Topics that may elicit controversy or differences in opinion are okay in moderation, as long as no one is rude or feels insulted.

It’s good to serve dessert or coffee in the living room or another setting to mix up the groups and unwind after dinner. This would be a great time to break out the board games or start a bonfire.

When the evening is over, you may not have the energy to clean the entire kitchen from top to bottom. However, doing a little work on the front end makes it a lot easier for the morning after. At the very least, clear off the table, put away leftovers and soak the dishes.

Hopefully this series gave you all the tools you need to host the dinner party of your dreams. It may be a lot a lot of work, but if done right, you could succeed in creating a night you’ll never forget.