Hosting a dinner party: 4 Expert tips

by Carolyn Kay 10/30/2022

Hosting a dinner party can be as malleable a process as you choose to make it. Depending on the occasion, level of formality or food involved, the process might seem daunting. However, there are plenty of ways to make sure your party is a perfect success.

Here are five basic tips for hosting a great dinner party:

Make a guest list

When thinking about whom to invite to your party, consider the size of your home and where you plan to focus your attention. For example, when hosting a formal dinner party, you may wish to invite only a few guests to comfortably fit at your dinner table. A sprawling outdoor barbecue, however, allows you more flexibility to invite a crowd.

Send invitations

Whether through text, email, social media or a card in the mailbox, the party invitations should go out well in advance of the event. This gives your guests enough time to plan or ask questions. Make sure to include important details like directions, timing and food suggestions.

Plan a menu

The more planning you do, the less stress you’ll have during your party. This is especially true for your menu. Plan what you want to cook and serve at your party, and make sure you have the proper ingredients available. For added security, try any unfamiliar recipes beforehand.

Create atmosphere

Once you’ve established the details of your dinner party, focus on setting the scene. Create an atmosphere to enhance the experience, but not draw away from it. For example, festive string lights create a sparkling ambient light your guests will enjoy all night long.

Dinner parties can seem intimidating. However, the more planning you do before your guests arrive, the better chance you have at a successful dinner party. Keep these basic tips in mind when preparing for your next gathering.

Party Planning

Home Entertaining

About the Author

Carolyn Kay

As a Real Estate professional, I specialize in helping my clients buy, rent or sell properties in Westchester County. I am passionate, dedicated and committed to my clients and my first priority is to provide them with first class service and guidance throughout the entire process. It has been said that I go above and beyond for my clients to get the deal closed! I have experience working with clients who have financed their purchases with either a conventional, VA or FHA loan and have a good understanding of how they work; no sale is too big or too small for me to take on. My family and I relocated to England for 2 ½ years, this was a wonderful experience but at the same time, it was overwhelming. I have first hand knowledge of the challenges as well as the positives in discovering a new community. I was born and raised in Scarsdale and once married, my husband and I decided to raise our two daughters here. Both of our daughters successfully graduated from the Scarsdale schools and are both married, living and working in Manhattan. After living in the same house for 30 years my husband and I took the leap, sold our home and bought and renovated a condo townhouse in another town. Once again we are discovering a new community and fully understand the highs and lows of selling a home we loved and buying and making a new home. I feel that my personal real estate experiences have made me more in tune with my client’s needs and therefore better able to help them navigate through the complex process. Please call me so that I can put my knowledge and experience to work for you.