People have been hosting dinner parties for almost as long as humans have been able to cook, and even today they can be a great way to enjoy some good food and have fun with friends. They are actually a lot less stressful to host than you think, especially if you follow the advice in this quick guide.
There is a tendency among new hosts to focus on the food, but the truth is that no single element is central. It is how everything comes together to create a memorable evening that matters. Here is what you need to know:
Invites – If it is your first time, then start small and don’t invite more than eight people. Send the invitations at least two weeks in advance. This gives you time to invite someone else if somebody cannot make it. It can also be helpful to remind guests about your party a few days before.
Menu – Consult any experienced host on this topic and you will almost certainly receive advice to stick with what you know. Your evening is not the time to start experimenting, and hosting is much more fun than slaving away in the kitchen.
Drinks РIt is fine to have only one choice of alcohol. If it is wine, you can pair it with the food. The guideline is broadly to match it with the colour of the food; red with steak and other red meats, white with white fish, and ros̩ wine with pink seafood like salmon and shrimp.
Ambience – Leave any bright overhead lights off and opt instead for pendants or lamps that are not too harsh. Candles are good too as long as the scent is not too overpowering, and a modern dinner party must-have is a playlist. Create one that fits your theme or features some chilled classics.
The Table – An interesting centrepiece is great, but by no means essential. Do set it in advance though, so that all the guests’ places are ready when they arrive. Put plates and cutlery out in advance too, and serve the meals family style. That way you don’t have to spend time preparing individual plates or worrying about portion sizes or preferences.
Dessert – One thing you should definitely do when planning dessert is make sure you have enough cutlery and crockery to serve it. It is no fun having to wash up in the middle of your evening. You could also serve cookies or similar, which can be eaten by hand.
Entertainment – Have something prepared for after dinner. Classics like charades, board games and card games are still popular, as is karaoke if your guests are not too self-conscious. Plenty of other ideas can be found online.
If you have all these things covered, then you are well on your way to delivering a fun and memorable evening that will delight your guests. One final piece of important advice is to not lose sight of your aim, which is to give everyone a good time, including you! While you certainly want your guests to feel special, do not cause yourself undue stress. Remember that they will want to see you at your best too.
