You have decided to host a dinner party at home but what next?
Where do you start?
We all know enjoying the company of family and friends is a wonderful experience.
Welcoming and enjoying the times with guests in your home is what memories are made of.
Like everything, a little planning will make the event go off without any problems or hassles. We share with you 10 tips that will help you plan and have the perfect evening or event.
Before we start though we know to set some ground rules or questions you need to be clear on before you host a party.
Six Key Questions:
With any event you need to be clear on the following 6 questions to get you started:
The Guest List
Be strict about the size that fits your space and try to find a good mix of people who would make an interesting group.
Determine the Location
Evaluate your space like a critic -- don't excuse a small oven or single bathroom -- and don't exceed the space and equipment you have.
If guests will be standing, the average-size room can generally accommodate 30 people, a three-room expansive about 60.
For any form of a buffet, you must provide seating.
10 Tips For Your Next Dinner Party
1. Welcome your guests in styleYou always want guests to enter your home feeling welcome and excited and you want to make sure that first-time guests know they are in the right place.
With decoration include something decorative outside or on your front porch. It may be a festive wreath, signage, theme props, or balloons; select something that fits your occasion and style.
This will get your guests excited before they even enter your home.
As the hostess, try to stand by the door to greet each of your guests as they walk in. This way you will have at least talked to everyone at some point, plus they will think that you really have your act together instead of running around!
2. Don’t Do It All Yourself
When entertaining at home, stick to your strengths.
If you are not a cook, order food that you know will sit out well and pick it up or have it delivered.
This way you can focus on the parts that most interest you.
If you have a few close friends or family there, delegate them to keep an eye on things and let you know when items need replenishing. That way, you don’t feel like you are constantly having to run back and forth to the kitchen checking on things.
If decorating isn’t your thing, ask one of your friends who are good at it to come over early and help you arrange some flowers.
If there are items such as dinner plates, decorations etc that you fill are not right you can always hire a caterer or decorator to help fill in the gaps of what you need help with the most
3. Less Cleaning
Don’t feel like you need to bring out all your best china.
Keep it simple!
Order a stack of coloured paper plates, napkins, and plastic ware.
No one will think twice about it and it will save you lots of dishes later in the night.
Be sure to set out a few extra trashcans and have plenty of trash bags so guests don’t have to go searching.
4. Choose Your Music
It is important to have at least some background music playing, particularly as guests arrive and then just to keep the party going.
If you don’t have a Bluetooth speaker or sound system, at the very least turn on your TV and search for a music channel to play in the background.
Some nice music will add to the atmosphere of the event. Think about when you dine out at a top restaurant they always have some nice background music.
5. Have People Moving
A good party has people up and moving around, not all just sitting the whole time.
Put the food in one room, but maybe desserts in another.
Have the bar set up in one area, but may be separate from the food slightly.
Depending on your home, try to set up multiple sitting areas in different parts of the house so guests have plenty of space to sit, but can still bounce around from one place to the next without having to feel like they need to camp out to hold their seat the whole time.
6. Entertainment
If you have the budget for it and are looking to kick it up a notch, hire a fun entertainer for an hour in the middle of the party to keep guests on their toes.
This could include a magician, a fortune teller, trick bartender, etc can be a real hit.
If there are going to be kids present, be sure they are entertained as well. A puppeteer or balloonist can keep kids entertained long enough for parents to get some time to eat and catch up with other guests
7.Photos
If you are busy hosting then ask a friend or family member to take photos during the party and send them to you after.
You will want to remember your great party!
Guests also love a fun photo op, so if you have space for it create a space with fun props or background that they can take their selfies.
8. Other Important Items
You become focused on the food and decorations that you may forget about some of the more practical things.
Don’t forget to have extra toilet paper in all the bathrooms, and extra paper towels on hand just in case there are any spills.
It is also a good idea to have some wipes on hand just in case someone gets a little too happy on red wine.
Ice is another one of those things that we tend to forget, so be sure to have an extra bag in the freezer just in case.
9.A Parting Gift
Everyone likes free stuff, so if you send them on their way with a small box of candy, wine accessory, glow in the dark necklace, or throw beads for the kids, they will remember your party long after they have left.
10. Keep It Simple
Last but not least, keep it simple. People like to get together to have a good time. They are not there to critique your cooking or how clean your house is.
They have come to your party because they want to catch up with friends and are thrilled that you are hosting so that they don’t have to!
Don’t put too much stress on yourself – keep it fun and simple.
By using these 10 tips as a checklist you will be prepared for any dinner party or event at your home.
Remember to enjoy yourself so a little planning will help you with this.
Here is to your next successful Dinner Party.
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