5 Tips to Throw the Best Dinner Party Ever

It’s time to cook up a feast, gather your friends and family together and laugh the night away over carefully crafted cocktails and delicious hors d’oeuvres– but a dinner party need not be a stressful undertaking.

If you want to pull off an effortlessly chic dinner party (without losing your head), follow our 5 tips for making the night go smoothly.

• 1) Set Your Menu the Week Before

  Set the menu the week before your dinner party, being mindful of guest’s dietary restrictions.

  Guests typically let it be known that they have restrictions, however, it never hurts to ask. You don’t need to make anything complicated, just make sure they have options.

  Cook something you are familiar with, and keep it simple– but chic.

  Be mindful of the portions you will need: How much pasta should you make for 6? How many bottles of wine for 8?

  We cooked up some handy guidelines to follow when considering portions:

  

• 2) Shop The Day Before

  Give yourself plenty of time to gather the ingredients you need so that you are not running out last minute for the staples like butter, milk or eggs.

  Make a list, scanning each recipe for the ingredients you are missing.

• 3) Start the Evening With a Clean House

  This is one of the most important tips we can give you.

  Make sure that your house is clean and guest-ready, the garbage is empty and the sink is clean and ready to go so you can show off your cooking skills.

  You won’t be distracted from cooking and entertaining, and your guests won’t see you frazzled.

  If you tend to feel the pressure when you have people over, this tip can take your mind off the ever pressing question at the back of your mind,“is my house clean enough?”

• 4) Set the Mood Early On

  Set the table, light candles, and turn your ultimate chill playlist on. Keep the music as a background at a low volume so as not to impede conversation.

  As soon as your guests arrive, they will feel welcome. Set up a bar area for your guests to make their own cocktails. It will keep them distracted and relaxed if you are not quite finished dinner yet.

• 5) Have Balance

  Above all, enjoy yourself! No one can relax fully when the host is up and down all during dinner stirring, taking things out of the oven, or doing piles of dishes.

  You threw a dinner party spend time with the people you care about, have fun!