Thursday, November 10, 2011




10 Tips on How to Throw the Perfect Dinner Party

Throwing a dinner party may seem like a daunting task. But with the right amount of preparation and planning, you can orchestrate a lovely get together that you guests will rave about for weeks!

There are many elements to a successful dinner party. You have the ambience, the food, and of course, the company. Keeping yourself organized is key to making sure you don't leave out any important detail. Here are 10 tips on how to throw the perfect dinner party:

Why are you having a dinner party? The first thing you need to determine is the reason for your small get together. This will help set the tone for the evening. Are you celebrating a promotion at work, a nephew's birthday, or is it a "just because" get together?
Mood. Next, decide on the mood. Are you going to have a formal dinner party or do you want something a bit more playful and relaxed?
Venue. Decide whether you want to throw your dinner party at home or in a restaurant. These days, a lot of people prefer to entertain outside the home because you get more help with the preparation and the cleaning up and really focus on the guests. If you decide to have your party outside the home, make the reservations as early as you can.
Draw up your guest list. You want to keep your dinner party intimate. Having 6 to 10 guests is ideal. It's customary to invite spouses and partners, too, unless you're having a singles only party. If you have guests that are coming alone, it would be nice to also invite other singles. That way, the won't get left out if everyone at the table is with someone.
Let you guests know in advance. Two weeks in advance is ideal. It's early enough to make sure they have nothing planned, and if they have something important and cannot make it, it gives you plenty of time to invite others, if you wish.
Call - don't just email! It's nice to call up your guests aside from sending them an invitation or email. It adds a warm personal touch and makes your guest feel really welcome. Call to invite and call a couple of days before the date to remind them about the party.
What's on the menu? Food is very important in any party. Aside from satisfying the appetite of your guests, food also serves as conversation starters. A number of the most memorable dinner parties I've gone to are those where I had sampled something new. Doing something new is always a great way to bond people.
Conversation. The hallmark of a successful dinner party is when you can keep the conversation going. Great conversation doesn't happen by chance or by accident. It takes a bit of planning, too. The more you know about your guests and their interests, the more you can prepare in advance and engage them in something that they enjoy. You can also seat guests according to their interests - this is a great way to keep them engaged.
Dinner party favor. Give your guests something interesting to bring home. This isn't strictly necessary, but if there's an opportunity to do it, go ahead. It's a nice way to extend the goodwill and the bond you build during your get together.
Follow up with your guests. The party doesn't end when your guests leave the table. It's always a good idea to call them up the next day to let them know that you think they're great company and that you'd love to go out again with them some time.



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