The winter is the perfect time to host a dinner party. The weather outside is cold and miserable, money is a bit tighter due to the upcoming festive season and it’s a good excuse to get everyone together. Yet if you’re hosting a dinner party, it can sometimes feel stressful getting everything done and knowing exactly what you can do for it to be a success. In this article we take a look at some top tips on how to host the perfect dinner party for maximum enjoyment and minimum stress.
Plan as far ahead as you can
As with anything, preparation is key and when it comes to a dinner party, the more you can have done in advance, the better. Find a convenient time and date for your guests and if it’s a holiday or special occasion, send invitations well in advance so they are less likely to have other plans booked in already. Sort a guest list and try to keep it smaller (under ten people) if you haven’t hosted before or don’t have a very big dining space/ kitchen.
Choose food that impresses without being too high-maintenance
The food is, naturally, one of the most important elements of a dinner party, yet you don’t want to be slaving away in the kitchen for hours and not seeing your guests. To avoid this being an issue, find recipes you can prepare in advance, such as making fajitas where you can add the fajita seasoning mix to marinate the chicken and vegetables ahead of time and really imbue the spices and flavours. This way when it comes to the night, you only need to cook it and make the wraps. It’s a lot easier than making something overly complex which everyone would enjoy the same amount anyway! Be sure to find out guests dietary requirements ahead of time and don’t forget drinks! You could find wines that pair well with what you’re cooking, consider making some cocktails and opt for non-alcoholic options too for those that don’t drink or who are driving.
Set the scene
When it comes to a dinner party, ambience is everything. You want people to come in and instantly feel relaxed and welcome. There are a few things you can do to help this, including adding low level lighting such as lamps and candles or fairy lights. You can add a scent to the air through a reed diffuser, candles or a room spray and should have music playing in the background. You could also consider adding a moving background to your TV such as a fireplace or coffee shop scene which is great for setting an ambience without being too distracting. Decide if you want a theme and if you want a dress code as part of this.
These are just a few things you can do that can help you to host the perfect dinner party. Whether you’re looking to host a large number of friends, or just a few, these tips are all sure to help. What are some of the best things you find to help you run a seamless dinner party? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.
