5 tips for hosting your first dinner party
Hosting your first dinner party is a major milestone.
Sure, you’ve invited a few friends over before for drinks and the like, but hosting a dinner party is different.
Hosting a dinner party is just a tad more special than your everyday meal time routine.
Taking a more formal approach to a dinner party might be the perfect special effect.
Formal doesn’t mean a strict dress code is required or that your table should be covered with more expensive silverware. But you should include a few key elements to add an extra dose of elegance to your affair. Doing it without going overboard, of course.
There are specific times when plastic cups, plastic plates and plastic forks just won’t cut it. You should always be equipped with the tricks and tips you’ll need to successfully host a sophisticated gathering. Especially when occasions like a dinner party arise.
Here are a few tips for hosting your first dinner party.
Think about your goal for the evening
What is the reason for hosting a dinner party? Who will you invite? How many people will attend the party? Maybe it’s because you have good news to share or just a much-needed catch-up session. Think about all of this before doing anything else. Think about the kind of event you’re hosting. How many people can comfortably sit at your kitchen countertop or at your dining room table? You don’t want to invite ten people but you can only comfortably host eight. It’s important for you to look into all aspects.
Make sure everyone has a place to sit
As mentioned, you should ensure that everyone has a place to sit. If you’re inviting ten people, make sure there are ten seats. Then arrange your seating . You can place name cards to indicate where each guest should sit. It might seem formal but it’s important to think about seating arrangements. At a minimum, it’ll prevent any awkward pairings. For instance, having your mom sit down next to your stepmom because that’s the only seat left at the table. It’ll also help your guests connect with new people.
You can organise your table so that guests alternate male and female. Make sure you sit at one head of the table and your partner at the other end. This is if you want to go really formal. If it’s a more relaxed event, you can still seat people so that there’s mingling of generations. Just make sure no one feels stranded without a person of their own age or interesting group to talk to.
Set the table properly
You’ll likely be working with more tableware for a semi-formal dinner party than you would with a casual potluck style get together. You shouldn’t feel like you have to go out and purchase a full set of expensive flatware and plates. You can mix different styles as long as they’re complementary and work well together. If you really want to buy a new crockery set, then you should look at an affordable one that you’ll use again. Pay close attention to the size of the plates so that none of your guests feel like they’re getting less than the other person. And be conscious of the overall effect.
A typical table setting includes a dinner plate and a smaller salad plate on top. Two forks on the left, one for salad and for dinner. Don’t forget about a knife and spoon on the right. A wine glass and a water glass should be placed to the right of each setting.
At arrival, make sure everyone has a drink in hand
Make your guests feel welcome and at home. This can be accomplished by setting out a welcome mat and serving drinks at the entrance. Make sure you’ve opened a bottle of wine and have either water jugs or juice available for the non-drinkers. There are two principles of entertaining: make sure everyone has someone to talk to and ensure everyone has a drink in hand. With that, you can also serve something to eat. A cheese platter always does the trick because guests can help themselves.
Pay attention to the little things
Menu cards may seem formal for a small dinner party but they are a great communication tool for your guests. The same goes for folded napkins, which lend an air of refinement but are easy to put together on your own. You can also add a thank you note to the table. If you want a memorable dinner party, then thinking of these little details is key. It’ll also ensure your guests have as much fun as possible.
Don’t forget to get a fresh bunch of flowers to place at the entrance. You can also make a playlist of your favourite music to set the mood. So, what are you waiting for? Throw the best dinner party ever.