10 Tips for Hosting a Dinner Party
Tried & true ways to make your night go smoothly
We are in mid-July, so summer is in full swing. In May, I began writing posts on hospitality and entertaining. Here is a recap of what I’ve written so far: Just Open the Front Door, An Easy Plan for Entertaining, and Summer Sips. To continue with the series, today’s post is all about tips for hosting a dinner party. I’m sharing tried and true ways to ensure it runs smoothly. Let’s get to them.
10 Tips for Hosting a Dinner Party
Choose your number of guests.
Decide if you want a small, intimate party (two to six guests) or something with a large number of people.
Make a plan.
Ask yourself these questions: Will it be simple or fancy? Will we eat inside or outside? What will be on my menu?
You can follow a theme for easy menu planning, such as serving Mexican or Italian, making comfort food, or building a menu around your signature dish. Ask your guests in advance if they have any dietary restrictions, and try to accommodate them. They’ll be so appreciative!
Take advantage of fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Stop by your local farmer’s market for fresh vegetables and fruit and incorporate them into your meal. Your food will taste that much better.
Give people an arrival window.
For example, you can say, “Come over anytime after 6:00. We will eat dinner at 6:45.” If you prefer, ask people to arrive at a certain time and expect some guests to be there 10-15 minutes late.
Create a timeline.
Figure out how much time your dishes take to prepare (include cutting, chopping, etc.) so that you aren’t still cooking long after your guests arrive, then plan accordingly. Allow extra time for more detailed recipes. Planning and sticking to a timeline reduces stress so you don’t feel frazzled as your doorbell rings.
Be Prepared.
Anything you can do in advance helps! Chopping veggies, making salad dressing or dip, assembling a casserole, or baking a pie can all be done the day before. It even helps to label platters and bowls with Post-it notes so you know in advance which dish to use for each item you prepare.
Clean as you go.
This is self-explanatory. You’ll thank yourself at the night's end that there are fewer dishes to wash and countertops to clean.
Bowls and platters matter.
Your table will look much prettier if you put that store-bought sour cream in a bowl, the nuts in a dish, or the watermelon on a platter. Simply put, don’t serve any food in their original containers. A little effort goes a long way.
Serve Hors d’Ouevres and drinks.
Offer your guests something to nibble on and drink when they arrive. Keep it to a minimum if you’re going to eat the main course shortly after people arrive, or have a variety of snacks if dinner won’t be served for a long while. Also, if you’re serving any alcohol, please ensure you have fun, non-alcoholic drinks for those who wish to abstain from liquor. See ideas here.
Be generous.
Be generous with the amount of food you serve, with your attention to all your guests, and with time in your home. The goal is to make your friends feel welcome and comfortable. ❤️
“The fondest memories are made gathered around the table.”
I hope these tips help you have a successful dinner gathering in your home.
With love, Natalie xx
*Coming soon*:
Hors d’oeuvres and dinner party menu ideas, conversation starters, and guest tips.
What would you add to my ten tips? What has helped you in the past?
I love that the UK is offering so many alcohol free options! I know of a few good ones here, too.
Regarding music, I do use different playlists depending on the season, how many people I’ve invited, and what the occasion is 🍾🥳😍
Creating a timeline has helped me so much! These are all great tips, Natalie! Can't wait for the next newsletter with the menu ideas! xx