There’s nothing like a dinner party to get together with friends or family members and enjoy spending time together and eating great food and drink. It’s a chance to catch up, as well as exercise your culinary skills in a way that you probably wouldn’t just for a normal weeknight dinner! Yet while throwing a dinner party is undoubtedly fun, there are also some things you need to be prepared for.
Sort out the house throughout the week rather than the last minute
Give your house a good tidy to impress your guests! If you have any issues such as plumbing, you might find tree roots affecting sewer lines for example, you want to get this sorted as soon as possible. The last thing you want on the eve of your dinner party is your guests unable to use the toilet! By being prepared with the house ahead of time you can relax on the day and know everyone will just have a nice time. By gradually sorting things throughout the week you also don’t need to have a mad rush tidying on the day!
Get as prepared as you can ahead of time
When throwing a dinner party, the last thing you want is for your guests to be here but you’re in a big mess in the kitchen. To avoid this from happening, be as prepared as you can ahead of time. With cooking there are plenty of things you can prep ahead of time, such as chopping and peeling the vegetables and potatoes (if using these), marinating the meat and pre-cooking the dessert so it just needs to be warmed up once the time for pudding comes. This means on the night you can relax and enjoy your time with those you’ve invited.
Think of the overall setting as well as the food
Another thing you need to consider when throwing a dinner party is the setting. You want the place to feel special and there are simple ways to do this. You could create a cocktail station for people to make drinks at, decorate your table nicely with a tablecloth and napkins and set the scene with music. For the music it’s a good idea to have a playlist created ahead of time. You should also think about lighting candles to add to the ambience, and turning on lamps instead of having a large light on.
These are just a few tips for throwing a dinner party that are sure to help you have the best time possible. Dinner parties are a fantastic way to getting people together and making memories that will last a lifetime. No matter if you cook a complex menu or something simple, invite lots of people or just a couple, it’s sure to be a success. What are some top tips you have for throwing a dinner party? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!
