7 Tips on How to Host a Memorable Dinner Party
7 Tips on how to host a memorable dinner party + FREE Menu Printable
Hosting a dinner party for your friends and family is a great way to bring everyone together for a fun evening.
But if you’ve never hosted one before, or you have and found it overwhelming, you may be apprehensive to plan one.
From amazing food dishes to entertaining party games, hosting a memorable dinner party can feel a little daunting when you don’t know where to start.
So, to help you smash the game when it comes to hosting a dinner party to remember, I’ve got some top tips for you!
The following tips will help you create the best possible experience for both your guests and yourself.
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7 Tips on how to host a memorable dinner party
1. Create a menu
The first step to creating the perfect dinner party menu is deciding what you want to eat.
Since this is your event, you should obviously cook whatever you want, but consider these guidelines:
Try to choose dishes that are in season. If strawberries are in season, for example, try serving a strawberry dessert or incorporating them into other courses, think strawberry shortcake!
You can also use fruits and vegetables with shorter growing seasons as garnishes, like mint on a lamb chop or lemon slices on grilled fish, to add flair without compromising flavour.
Decide what type of dishes you’re going for before making decisions about the menu.
Do you want an appetiser-heavy spread? A buffet? A sit-down formal dinner with multiple courses?
Your answers will help guide your choices about which dishes go where on the menu and how much time they require from prep through clean-up.
Make your menu memorable with this free menu template!
Since hosting a memorable dinner party is what you came here for, take it one step further by printing out a menu for your guests!
This free menu template will be sure to get everyone talking when they see it.
I recommend printing it out on A4 paper and putting it in a photo frame that you can set up near the dinner table.
Personally I would find a side table to put it on along with a drinks tray that has champagne flutes filled with some bubbly.
This way you can guide your guests to help themselves to a drink and point out the menu for the night.
Little touches like this go a long way in making the night memorable.
Menu can be fully customised on Canva straight from your browser on your phone, desktop or tablet. A free account is needed to access.
Link to template – Free Dinner Party Menu Template
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2. Clean your house a day before the party
The day before your dinner party, consider cleaning your home so that it’s nice and fresh for guests arriving.
Cleaning your space beforehand will help alleviate some stress on the day of the actual dinner party and allows you to put anything you don’t want on display, out of the way.
Go around your kitchen and make sure that you have all the items you will need for cooking and preparing drinks.
Also make sure to clean your bathroom and put fresh hand towels in and toilet paper.
I also recommend getting some air fresheners to dot around the house to ensure your home smells clean and fresh when people enter.
Add in fresh décor pieces
Whilst you’re focusing on cleaning your space up in preparation for the dinner party, consider adding in some focal points with décor pieces,
This can really freshen up a space and make it feel homey which is a great vibe to have at any dinner party.
Think about things like:
- Fresh flowers
- Dried flowers
- Throws on couches or chairs
- Large pillows
- Unique prints
3. Serve three to five dishes so you don’t overdo yourself
For a small dinner party, serve no more than five dishes.
If you have 12 guests, aim for three or four. And if you’re having a big gathering of 20 people or more, stick to two or three dishes.
You can always supplement with store-bought appetisers and desserts as well as to not take on too much cooking.
The key is not to overdo it when it comes to cooking time and effort; otherwise, everyone will be too full and sleepy before they even get started on the good stuff (i.e., drinking).
Don’t worry about serving everything from scratch either; a lot of recipes can be adapted with store-bought ingredients or substitutions that are just as good as homemade ones.
For example, instead of making your own pesto at home with pine nuts and basil leaves (which takes forever), try using ready-made jarred pesto instead!
And make sure that whatever you’re cooking, you’re comfortable with it. There’s no use in planning a big fancy 5 course meal that you’re not used to cooking.
Go with things that you know you can cook and cook well.
4. Prep beforehand, but don’t do all the cooking ahead of time
You’ll want to prepare as much of the food as possible beforehand, so you can focus on spending time with your guests and enjoying the party.
If you have time before your guests arrive, try cooking a few components at once (i.e., boiling potatoes while prepping another dish).
This will give you more flexibility when it comes time to heat everything up again in front of your friends!
It’s also a good idea to prep all your cooking utensils ahead of time and create a system that will help you move through the night seamlessly.
Think of items such as:
- Cooking trays
- Table cloth
- Setting the table
- Pots and pans
- Cutlery
- Serving dishes
- Glasses
5. Don’t forget about yourself
Remember that even though this is an event focused on entertaining others, it’s not just about them, it’s also about you!
Make sure that while everyone else is enjoying themselves over dinner and drinks, you’re having a good time as well.
This is supposed to be a fun event where you spend time with friends and family, so make sure you’re present and in the moment.
Having someone to help you with the dinner party is very beneficial because then you won’t feel so alone in making sure it’s all going smoothly.
You’ll have someone by your side for support which will make the evening feel relaxing and enjoyable.
So, consider enlisting your partner or a friend to help you host the night.
6. Make sure drinks are accessible and plentiful
A good host should have a variety of drinks available for their guests.
Make sure you have enough alcohol or soft drinks for the number of people who will be attending and that there are enough glasses and ice for all those drinks.
Additionally, make sure someone is designated to drive home safely if you’re serving alcohol or have taxi’s booked.
It’s a good idea to make this known at the beginning of the night so no one feels pressured by drink or food intake later on and you have a plan for everyone to get home safe.
Jazz up the drinks with a drinks cart!
When it comes to the drinks portion of the night, consider creating a drinks cart or a mini bar of sorts so that you have a designated drinks area.
This elevates the dinner party and brings a fun element to it.
You could have it stocked with different spirits and mixers, wine, champagne, whisky, the choices are endless.
Make sure that you have chilled drinks at hand as well and plenty of ice!
7. Set the mood
When it comes to the type of atmosphere you would like for the night, go for something relaxing and cosy.
I recommend using the likes of lamps or soft lighting, maybe even candles as well.
It’s best to avoid using main lights as they can be a little harsh and ruin the mood of the night. Going for something soft and relaxing will help your guests feel more relaxed and help them lean into the dinner party.
Also consider the sort of background noise you would like for the night.
Going with mellow playlists like acoustic songs will help take your atmosphere up a notch. You don’t want a party with no ambiance as that just makes it boring.
You’re trying to create a party to remember for the right reasons, so take some care in choosing your lighting and background noise.
Final thoughts
And there you have it, 7 top tips to help you host a memorable dinner party!
As I said at the beginning, hosting a dinner party can be daunting if you’re doing it for the first time. But, if you follow these tips and get everything ready ahead of time, then your guests will have an unforgettable experience.
I hope that this post has helped you remove some of that anxiety and given you some great ideas on hosting a dinner party that is sure to wow your guests.
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