planning the perfect dinner party

you’re either reading this title and saying to yourself “how hard could that be”, or you’re about to learn a few things. either way thanks for taking the time! NOW LET’S GET STARTED SHALL WE?

the guests

we’re going to start off with the most important thing for any dinner party. the guests of course! sure it sounds like common sense. how could someone have an event without guests? what i mean is making sure the guests all mesh. define mesh? simply making sure the dinner won’t be awkward silence for hours on end, or inviting that one guest who wants to talk about money or politics could really throw a knife in the night. see what we did there …

the music

next is a personal preference, and that’s music. truthfully the good tunes go on the minute i go in the kitchen to begin prepping the dinner. however, the playlist should definitely change once guests begin to arrive. setting the tone with music can really make or break the night in my opinion. sure you don’t want the volume too loud to where you can’t hear your guests and carry a conversation, but i find that music can always bring people together.especially if you need a conversation starter! scared your music taste isn’t for your guests? we’ve got you covered! yes, we’re plugging ourselves here, but we have a variety of playlists available only on Spotify. head over to our instagram highlights tabs to listen.

the menu

time for the hardest part, the menu. i say it’s the hardest part only because in today’s world everywhere you look someone has a dietary restriction. so, the first thing you’re going to do is kindly ask your guests if there’s anything off limits. i find that fish is the typical dish guests prefer not to have but it’s more for personal reasons than allergies. if you really want to win your guests over, have options on the table to chose from. that way everyone leaves full and happy and not restricted to one dish.

the drinks

everyone’s favorite topic … alcohol. you can go about this two ways. the first is simple, tell your guests when they ask (which they should) what to bring. just tell them to bring their drink of preference! that way you don’t stress about providing for everyone. especially since that will begin to get very pricey. having your guests bring their own alcohol has the added benefit of you now knowing their favorite drink. they think they’re just bringing their favorite beverage, really for future events you have their favorite bottle already at your house ready for the next time they show up or if you want to return the favor back! option two is making a signature cocktail. sure maybe not all your guest prefer it, but it’s a nice gesture and shows creativity. want to go the extra mile? garnish each glass and put out a sign explaining the drink. it’s going to bring the wow factor every dinner party needs.

the decor

the last item on our list is decor. we love a more monochromatic simple style for any place setting. whether it’s flowers, napkins, glassware or candles. typically i base my whole table around how my dishes look. that way nothing clashes in the end. one major thing to taken into consideration is where to serve the food if it’s not being plated prior to seating. because if it’s a family style dinner then you’ll either need room in the center of the table or a buffet table nearby. however, if the dinner is plated prior or the buffet is located elsewhere, feel free to decorate the center to your liking. remember if you plan on using flowers to keep them super short and trimmed, that way you’re not playing peek-a-boo with your guest throughout the dinner. same goes for candles. don’t want to risk tipping a lit flame. you don’t want to be remembered for that dinner party …

the emergency

• always plan for the uninvited guest or for someone to cancel last minute

• always prepare dinner early. leaving you time to shower and get ready for your guests

• light a candle to set the mood (also because they smell good)

• use an overhead fan when cooking so the whole house doesn’t smell like dinner

  we hope all these tips and tricks helped you for your next big event. don’t forget to give our playlists a listen, there’s something for every event!