Dinner Parties are one of those things that can be quite difficult to get right, and this is usually down to the fact that we overthink them far too much. The key to throwing a great dinner party is to simply create a fun and social environment for you and your friends to have a good time. There are different elements that add together to create an overall excellent party, however it’s down to personal taste and experience on how you wish to throw yours for your friends and family. Dinner parties are a perfect way of getting friends and family together in your own home, to talk the night away with good food and plenty of great wine. The following tips have been put together to help you in becoming the perfect party host.
First things first, your menu. One thing that people will take away with them from any dinner party is their dining experience, so you need to make it a good one! There are certain dishes that will work so well for your party, however there’s a few other things to consider before jumping straight into the main course. Nibbles and snacks are the first key thing to think about, as these will be on the table from the beginning, whilst the rest is being prepared. Having small bowls of nuts or Bombay Mix dotted around your living are is really good for encouraging your guests to socialise, without having to stand huddled in one corner, as they will float towards the carefully positioned bowls of nibbles. Other small snacks such as bowls of Olives; Dates or even Crisps will just keep your guests happy before you sit them down for the main event. Moving on to your starter, again something light as you don’t want to make your guests feel too full or tired. Perfect starter ideas are simple yet classy recipes such as Soup, always a great choice for any meal, Pate, Garlic Mushrooms or even a light Prawn Cocktail. Having these exciting dishes will warm your guests up for the next two courses, without making them feel bloated or full. Your main is something you can really go to town on, showing off your culinary skills. Steaks, Chicken and Lamb are great if you’re wanting to serve a dish with potatoes, vegetables or even salad. You could go down the route of a classic Bolognaise or Carbonara, dependant on your guest’s requirements. Dessert is something that again, needs to be light yet indulgent. Cheesecakes, Fudge cake or even something as simple as a Cheese Board will finish off the meal perfectly, adding a sweeter note for the rest of your evening. You could always keep a few items such as biscuits or cheese to bring out a little later on, for when the food has settled and everyone becomes a little peckish again.
How you present your home is another really important thing to consider. You don’t want to have to worry about how your home looks, you should feel proud and show it off. Make sure that you have a good clean and sort out, moving any items into their designated homes and just making your house look clean and fresh. The one room to focus on is your dining area, as this is where you will spend the majority of your evening. Whether you have a grand oak dining table or a delicate glass frame, you can really create a gorgeous look and make your guests feel comfortable and relaxed. Dress your dining table with a classic table cloth, with a detailed runner, or even juts adding stylish placemats will add character and personality to the rooms overall look. Be sure to have napkins, as these come in extremely useful and look neat. You could even go as far as to add name plates or small table tokens, such as a little chocolate or something exciting to give to your guests as a thank you for attending. Be careful not to overdo it however, you don’t want the table to be too crowded as you need to be able to have space for the three course meal, without having to be cautious of knocking over a glass.
The final thing that will make your dinner party perfect is the ambience. The ambience of your home will determine whether or not your friends have a fun, relaxing time, or if they feel on edge or unsettled. There are so many simple yet effective ways in which you can create the ideal ambience, one of which is through using candles. Candles are perfect for adding a beautiful aroma as well as capturing that elegant, relaxing evening atmosphere you want for your dinner party. With the gentle flicker of the flame adding to the ambience you can rest assured your guests will feel relaxed and calm throughout the evening. Lighting is another key element to consider, as you need to get the balance right. Having a gentle, yellow tone is exactly what you need, nothing too bright however not to dull either. Even though conversation will be a main element in the evening, background music is still necessary. You don’t need anything to interesting, just a classic, chilled out playlist to quietly play in the background, filling in any silent moments and emphasising the overall ambience. Finally, the most exciting part to any dinner party is games. Board games, card games, or even just a simple game of ‘Guess Who’, you can never create a better atmosphere than when you and all of your friends are getting heated in a game of Monopoly or Charades. The perfect way to socialise and interact whilst having a great time, games are the perfect end to any fantastic evening.
