Whether you’re looking to welcome the new year in style or celebrate your birthday, there are many reasons why you might plan a dinner party. After all:
- Dinner parties are a great way to reconnect with old friends and family members.
- Dinner parties give you a chance to show off both your lovely home and your cooking skills.
- Dinner parties are often less expensive than other social outings, meaning they’re a great choice for those on a budget.
With that in mind, here are some simple tips that you can use to become a pro host and throw a phenomenal dinner party!
Choose a theme
Choosing a unique theme for your dinner party is a great way to turn a regular old dinner into something exciting. After all, it means you can be more creative with your drinks, food and decor – and even give your guests the chance to dress up! There are simply thousands of themes to choose from, whether you’re opting for something quirky, such as “Breakfast for Dinner” (where guests can wear their PJs) or something more sophisticated, such as a murder mystery dinner party!
Send out invites early
Sending out invites to your guests is not only a nicer touch than simply sending a text, but it can also be incredibly useful when it comes to the planning and organising stage of your dinner party. After all, it means you know in advance how many people you will be cooking for and whether or not they have any specific dietary requirements to follow.
Cook up a storm
No matter how good of a host you may be, the star of the evening should always be the food! As such, you should practice your chosen dishes a few times before the big event to ensure that you’re going to cook up a storm. If you aren’t sure where to start, choose simplistic yet tasty dishes, as these have the best chance of keeping everyone happy. For example, you could follow this delicious dal makhani recipe – which will serve as a great way to introduce your guests to north Indian comfort food!
Plan some activities
Keeping your guests entertained between courses or after eating is also important, especially if you want to keep the party going all night long. Playing some games or planning some activities is a great way to go about this, especially if guests are meeting each other for the first time and need some help breaking the ice. For example, you could play games such as Mr & Mrs.
Don’t forget about the drinks
Cocktails (and mocktails) are great crowd-pleasers at any event but are a truly great way to ‘wow’ your guests at a dinner party. For example, this Watermelon Sake Cocktail is not only the perfect way to quench their thirst but could also make a great centerpiece. Alternatively, you could learn how to make some more simplistic cocktails (and mocktails) and hand them out as your guests arrive – after all, there’s no warmer welcome than that!
Finally, don’t forget to have fun! At the end of the day, hosting a dinner party is all about having a good time and enjoying yourself. Make sure that you take some time to enjoy the evening with your guests and remember – it’s not always about how perfect it is but more about spending quality time with those you love! With these tips, your next dinner party is sure to be a hit!
