Are you excited to throw a dinner party, but terrified at the thought? Don’t you worry, after you read this post you will be the hostess with the mostest; your guests are guaranteed to come rushing back! These tips are designed to make hosting easy and to allow you to enjoy yourself: you deserve to have a good time too! So let’s explore, six tips at the ready.
1. Preparation is key
When I say preparation, I mean it in every way. This includes things like taking out the trash before your guests arrive, so you don’t have to do it in the midst of serving them food. If you have a dishwasher, make sure it is empty so you can add dishes as the night progresses. Imagine having to pack away items from your dishwasher while hosting guests. If you don’t have a dishwasher, try to wash the dishes before your guests arrive. While you are preparing the meal, wash big items like pots and pans so that your wash load is smaller and more manageable.
2. Have an organised kitchen
When it comes to your meal choices, prepare as much as you can in advance. Cut, dice, mix, do as much as you possibly can beforehand, especially the very time consuming elements of your courses. Planning also extends to your menu.Make sure you know exactly what you are cooking and try to avoid being too adventurous by making dishes you have never done before. Stick to the stuff you know, unless you are confident about trying something new. For example, desserts usually take up a long time, so do this the night before if you can. Tip! Be sure to ask your guests in advance if they have any dietary requirements; you definitely don’t want to go through all the effort of making food your guests don’t eat.
3. Set the table
Make sure you have clean cutlery and crockery and lay it out perfectly on your dining room table. This is also a great way to make sure that everything matches, that nothing is chipped or broken, and most importantly that there is enough of everything. You wouldn’t want to give your guest a spoon to eat with just because you don’t have enough forks! Preparing this beforehand will give you ample time to go out and buy more cutlery if you don’t have enough. When setting the table, consider perhaps adding a centerpiece to make it look beautiful and presentable. Centerpieces can include something simple like a candle in a candle holder. Alternatively, or you can place a few flowers, either shop bought or from your garden, into a small vase. Tip! If you don’t have candles or flowers, you could put some oranges or lemons in a tall vase with clear water; this is simple but effective.
4. Keep the drinks flowing
Make sure you buy enough drinks and a wide variety to suit everyone’s tastes. Consider creating a signature cocktail for the night or making some punch so that a big batch can last a few hours or maybe the whole night. Don’t forget to cater for those guests who are not planning on drinking that night.
5. Extras
Find a great playlist you can use for the night to ensure a great vibe is created at your home. Great music can make an average evening a memorable one. Don’t forget to dim the lights; when it comes to dinner parties, you want less harsh light and more warm light from beautiful candles scattered around. Tip! Place unscented candles around the food and kitchen area and scented ones elsewhere around the house to fill your home with a beautiful scent.
6. Relax!
Lastly and most importantly, you need to relax. A nervous host is like a cold: it will infect your guests, making them nervous and on edge as well. Remember it’s a party (no matter how small), so relax and have fun. As long as you prepare in advance, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy yourself with a stress free night.
