How to Host a Memorable Dinner Party

Your table becomes the centerpiece for a dinner party.

Hosting a dinner party is a great way to get together with your friends
to enjoy a relaxing evening of food, fun and creating memories.

Things You'll Need

• Dinner theme
• Decorations
• Creative mind

Instructions

1. Having a theme for a dinner party creates a flow that helps your plans run more smoothly. Cultural themes such as Mexican or Italian are good ideas. If you do not want a theme that limits your food or décor, you may simply decide that your dinner can be elegant, casual, festive, celebratory, etc.

   -To create a dinner party that your guests will remember choose a theme and cook and decorate around it.
   -For Italian your table will be the centerpiece of the party when you wrap it or the glasses with strands of artificial grapes and vines.
   -A sombreros centerpiece and green pepper cut outs for place cards will spice up your Mexican theme.
   -Use your best china, crystal and linens for an elegant theme.

2. Decorations add a nice element to a dinner party. Carry your theme through to the decorations which can include a centerpiece, place cards, napkins or more.

   Centerpiece:
   -Place a mirror under your centerpiece to create an elegant look.
   -Potted herbs wrapped in foil and tied with a colorful ribbon can serve as a centerpiece.
   -A tropical mood can be created with tropical fruit in a colorful bowl of ocean blues and sunny yellows.
   -Use a series of small centerpieces down the center of your table. This way guests can see and interact with each other.

   Place cards:
   -To instruct people where they should sit and to encourage conversation, use place cards when entertaining more than four people.
   -Place guests near people they might enjoy getting to know.
   -Set place cards on the dinner plate, on top of a color coordinated napkin.

3. Food presentation for your dinner party is just as important as the food itself. Your dishes should be presented in a way that stays with your theme and in a nice fashion. Your guests will be just as impressed with a simple meal verses a more complex one.

   -When setting the table use a linen tablecloth with matching place mats, napkins and rings
   -The use of a nice pitcher for beverages and decant the wine
   -Use your best china to ensure your meal looks and feel elegant.
   -Use a tall wine glass or flower vase to serve bread sticks.
   -Dessert plates can be garnished with mint leaves, strawberries, powdered sugar, cocoa, a twirl of chocolate sauce or raspberries.
   -Dim the lights and light a few candles to create your ambiance.

4. Wine,Liqueur, and Beverages:

   -On the average, expect guests to drink 2 drinks or servings of a nonalcoholic beverage the first hour and 1 each hour thereafter.
   -When serving wine, plan on one 750-milliliter bottle for every two guests.
   -When serving bar drinks allow 1 ½ ounces of liquor for each drink.
   -When ordering beer for a party, allow about 12 ounces per guest for every half hour to hour.
   -Always have nonalcoholic beverages on hand for your guests. *

   evite.com

Resources

• How to Stir Up A Few Friends - Cocktail Party
• How to Host a Tuscan Dinner Party