Luxe Dinner Party Essentials for the Perfect Gathering
Written by: D’anna Ashford
Being a social butterfly during this weather transition can be a little hard as the nights get colder. But what I also love about the holiday season, is that it provides the perfect excuse to throw a an amazing dinner party!
BUT!
Don’t fret!
Here are some key Dinner Party Essentials needed for having the perfect ambiance and keeping the party alive, so you can earn you the title of Grand Hostess (or host) with the Mostess!!
1. The Basics of Your Dinner Party
So how many guests should you cater for? 6-12 is a good, manageable dinner party number, however, we say whatever you are comfortable with depending on space and resources. If you are having your entire party catered and designed for you then the more the merrier. If not, we would say 4-6 is a perfect number to start with. It's always better to start small so you can enjoy the party and not feel overwhelmed. Also make sure to invite people that know each other so you don’t feel like you constantly need to initiate conversations and feel bad every time you have to leave the table to check on the food, etc. Always try for an even number of guests. It is believed that this ensures a successful party. 🔮🤣
"Don’t ever wait for a special occasion to celebrate, being alive is the special occasion!"
2. Decor, honey. It's very important🤩
A beautiful white linen table cloth is completely underrated. Add a variety of glassware, your good crockery and silverware (they deserve it) and white napkins… Oh and dont forget some beautiful dinner candles—that for me is ultimate, understated glamour.
Sometimes you want more then that, sometimes you want Extravagant. Touches of gold or silver can really elevate the tablescape, this can be added in your silverware or rims of your glassware as well as with vases and candles and candlesticks.
Flowers... Oh, how gorgeous. The scents you get as you sit down at a table covered in flowers is incredible and really add to the experience. You could choose to stick with a simple colour and keep it classy or have beautiful small vases of a variety of colours and sizes to bring some fun and energy. I like keeping vases shorter on a dinner table so they are not in the guests eyeline and that everyone can talk and see each other without distraction. Add dinner candles as well as small tea light candles to bring a very intimate feeling. Everyone feels at home and relaxed and as if you are all in this beautiful, illuminated, ambient bubble.
Personalized name tags are a small touch to make everyone feel special. Menus are also a good idea to add some extra sparkle and get everyone excited about the courses ahead.
If you have trouble setting the table, it is easy to google a table setting. I normally opt for a formal table setting leaving the coffee cups out as it takes up space on the table. It’s easier for the cups to be in the kitchen already when you send freshly made espressos out with dessert. A formal table setting example is added for you in the gallery but feel free to use your creativity and change it up as long as the lay out still makes sense for a fine dining experience.
3. CANDLES / INCENSE
This is also something essential to think about when you are having people over. When hosting you want to consider the senses. Smell is a major one. While you may have food cooked or catered, whichever works best for your party, it is still important for your personal space to not have any offensive smells that may be off-putting or overwhelming. Personally, I am a fan of candles. I know some people may be more prone to oils, incense, or more natural products to create a particular aroma. The key is to create that welcoming feeling as your guests enter your home. A welcoming environment always helps take the edge off the guests when mingling while the host makes sure to engage / greet everyone. Making sure everyone is comfortable helps you to focus on making sure the food is coming out correctly or being delivered on time.
4. MUSIC
Ambiance is soooo important when you have guests over! You want to set the tone and mood for your guests and honestly what better way to do that than with music. It’s like one of the appetizers of having an event. Music is just one of those universal languages that everyone understands. Now, there may be differences in genre, but if you assess your guest list you can typically make an educated guess on the perfect music to have on during your dinner. I usually start with slower music when people are first arriving and then as drinks start flowing and more guests arrive, I can start to transition to more upbeat vibes. I’m not going to lie, my music tastes are honestly all over the place, so I hesitate to recommend a specific genre for anyone. You know better than anyone the kind of event you’re hosting, so anticipate curating a vibe around what would be enjoyable for most guests and naturally as the night continues there will be song requests. Never fails lol – let it happen naturally.
5. LUXURIOUS LIBATIONS 🥂🍾
YUM. One of my favorite parts of having dinner parties are the different kinds of drinks you can experiment with. Pinterest is your best friend! Believe me. They have drinks for every single season. Since we are entering into cooler nights, Pinterest has some amazing ideas for fall drinks, including ones without alcohol, which I think is important for those who may not be interested in drinking, are on a fast, or volunteered to be the designated DD for the evening. The drinks should be all inclusive! That also aids in all guests feeling a part of the event. Some fall drinks that would be great to try as both cocktails and mocktails include:
Southern Blueberry Whiskey Smash (I have personally made this, and it is AMAZING, and I don’t even like whiskey! But be careful it creeps up on you lol)
Now, obviously there are more options for each category. I just kick started you with a couple of each category that sounded promising for a fall dinner get together.
6. FOOD, FOOD, FOOD
The reason everyone shows up! What’s on the menu? A good idea before having a dinner party (depending on the size), would be doing a poll to see what kind of food most people would be interested in. Narrow it down to three cuisine options first (ex: Italian, Mexican, Barbecue etc.), otherwise you will go mad trying to accommodate everyone’s taste lol. Either way snacks before the main course are alwayyysssss a good idea. ALWAYS. Lol. It gives people something to nibble on and whet their appetite. Charcuterie boards are almost always the perfect pre dinner morsel. Cheeses, meats, bread, fruits, nuts and jam? Perfect. Chips and dip are also a popular, but tried and true precursor to the main course. Whichever better fits the atmosphere you are attempting to create. Sometimes guest may even get full on that leaving you with leftovers from the main course.
7. GAMES
I know. I know! Games? But! One thing coming out of this pandemic taught me is the importance of having games. They help to pull people out of their shell. They are the perfect ice breaker and night cap! Especially with the cocktails flowing. You want to have options. Games that can either be played on your phone or actual card games. I promise you will not regret incorporating a few of these into your dinner parties. Here are a few games that helped me, and my friends survive the pandemic last year:
Cards Against Humanity (classic party game)
These Cards Will Get You Drunk (now this one is super fun, and will definitely have you laughing)
5 Second Rule (another game we learned to play that is now a staple must have!)
Heads Up (App)
These games are optional to include with your dinner party, but I can guarantee it will definitely help create conversation and dialogue between guests that may otherwise have not happened. Don’t knock it until you try it.
These are what I consider to be the essentials when hosting a dinner party whether formal or informal. And one element that doesn’t need to be included in the list but should go without saying is your own personal VIBE and ENERGY. How you’re feeling will have a profound effect on the success of your event. You want to make sure that you give yourself enough time to unwind and prepare for guests. The more stressed and anxious you are the less likely guests are to enjoy their time. People can feel energy, so try to keep yours light and genuine. You got this! Let us know any other recommendations you may have for your own personal dinner party below! ☺
