Hosting Dinner Parties
Dinner Party Planning Top Tips
Not all couples can afford to eat out often, and even for those who do, this probably doesn’t include dining out in high-class restaurants. Yet did you know that you can create a wonderful dinner atmosphere in your own home—and not only that, but create an elegant experience for your closest friends or family members at the same time? With a bit of romantic music, subdued lighting, candles flickering from a centerpiece, and the table set with fine china, you can transport a handful of friends to a “world class restaurant” in New York or the French Riviera. And you can accomplish this delightful feat with just a little imagination and dinner party planning!
Hosting A Dinner Party need not be much more difficult than hosting a regular party. In fact, in some ways, it’s easier! For one thing, you have fewer guests to invite since your invitees will be seated around your dining room table, not mixing and milling around your entire house from the living room couches to the patio. This focused atmosphere, aided by the elegant setting and romantic candlelight, automatically creates a more intimate atmosphere. And while food is an essential part of any festive gathering, in a dinner party it is even more so—since you are emulating dining in a classy restaurant.
The number of guests you invite is determined by the size of your dining room table, so this will probably mean six to ten people—three to five couples total. As to whom you invite, they need not just be family members or close friends; often a dinner party is a good time to introduce two friends to each other. Since the romantic atmosphere will hopefully prohibit much of the normal workaday chatter that takes place at tables, you’ll want to be sure that your guests have enough common interests to talk about. You’ll also want to consider whether the guests you’re thinking of inviting get along. In addition, if you’re inviting couples, make certain that if you add a single or two that they won’t feel out of place.
While you may wish to include as many couples as possible in the magical night, remember that there will always be other evenings to Host A Dinner Party. You don’t wish to over-invite and make your guests feel crowded around the table. Each participant should have ample room, as the place settings will require more space than usual, and guests will also need a comfortable amount of room to push their chairs out from the table.
By the way, you can greatly add to the experience by setting a dress code: have the men come in suits and the women in evening dresses. Also, you can hire someone’s teenage son or daughter as a waiter for the evening. Having a well-dressed maitre-de serve you the wine and bring out the various food courses can help create a truly memorable
evening.
Speaking of food and wine, you’ll want to plan your menu carefully, do your food shopping a day or two in advance, and cook your tastiest dishes. You will also want to buy a couple bottles of high-quality wine. Remember that the meal will be served in courses. Also, if you own fine china or a porcelain dinner set, now is the time to bring it out. But even if you don’t, or you feel that what you have doesn’t fit the occasion, you can rent such items. You can also rent silverware, cloth napkins and a fancy tablecloth. Just be sure to make such arrangements well in advance to avoid a last-minute scramble.
Normally a dinner party starts off with guests being served a few cocktails and aperitifs shortly after they arrive, so you’ll want the
living room and other rooms ready to accommodate them while they chat. And again, you will need the living room set up to receive them after the meal. You will have just treated them to a delicious full-course meal and they’ll need a comfortable place to sit down and drink some tea or coffee while they digest.
You are the host/hostess, so it will be up to you to keep the conversation from lapsing into awkward silences. Don’t just expect it
to find its own way: it would be worthwhile to deliberately come up with a few romantic or intelligent topics of conversation ahead of
time. You can create a marvelous experience for your guests with a little extra planning and forethought—so make this an evening to remember!
About the Author
Stacy is a Party Planning expert. For more great tips on dinner party planning, visit http://foodpartyplanning.com
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