Hosting a good dinner party can be one of life’s great pleasures, but it takes a little planning and forethought to make sure the evening goes off without a hitch. Here are 8 simple tips for ensuring your dinner party is a hit with adult guests.
1. Understand the Preferences and Favorites of Your Guests
Everyone has a different palate, taste in drinks, and general preferences. As a considerate host, you’ll want to tailor your food, drinks, and other offerings to your knowledge of your guests and what they like.
2. Start Your Planning and Prep at Least a Day Before the Party
You’re not going to fully appreciate the party if the entire day leading up to it has been stressful and harried. Be sure to plan your party before the big day, and prepare as much as possible in the days leading up to it.
3. Consider Pairing Certain Foods With Drinks
Drinks have always been one of the best ways to enhance food, pairing specific tastes to bring out the best of both elements. This is often a wine/food pairing, but other alcohols and non-alcoholic beverages also work.
4. Consider Pairing Cigars With Alcohol
Not everyone drinks alcohol or enjoys cigars. But for those that do, a post-dinner combination of a nice cigar and spirit can be the perfect capper for the night. The internet is an excellent resource for researching good pairings, and you can also check with local tobacco or liquor stores.
5. Do Your Shopping the Day Before the Party
There are several big advantages to shopping the day before the party. First, it frees up the day of the party for any other preparation you might do, like cleaning your house or apartment, choosing and prepping your outfit, and so on. Second, it lets you make a plan B if you realize that you’re not going to be able to buy something you were planning on as part of the party.
6. Aim to Have Everything Ready an Hour Before Guests Are Set to Arrive
This one might be easier said than done, but aiming for everything to be set up well before your guests’ arrival can considerably reduce stress. And while it’s a little inconsiderate, guests have been known to show up early occasionally, and being ready early means you won’t be torn between trying to say hello and entertain them and preparing for the party.
7. Don’t Be Afraid to Set Expectations for Your Guests
Often, as the host of a dinner party, you’ll be wearing many hats. Entertaining guests, serving appetizers, drinks, and other offerings, and finishing cooking the main course can all pull you in many directions at once. Don’t hesitate to explain your priorities to your guests, who will certainly understand that you’re a busy person that night.
8. Remember That It’s Important to Have Fun
Most people want to be the perfect host, and it can be easy to put pressure on yourself to have everything work out just the way you planned. But keep in mind that everyone is likely to have a great time even with a couple of little setbacks, and being overly stressed can take away your own joy from the party.