How to Host the Best Dinner Party

A dinner party is rarely about the actual dinner. Did I say rarely? I meant never.

A good dinner party has good friends, food, and fun. The best dinner parties have an attentiveness that makes each guest feel valued and at home.

The following do’s and don’ts will help you host the best dinner party possible.

Everything you need to host a dinner party can be broken down into 4 groups: mental prep, food prep, home prep, and serving prep. Once you have these down throwing a dinner party of any type or size should be a breeze.

Mentally preparing for your dinner party.

Lists and timelines will be your best friend.

You’ll want to have an idea of when you’ll need to send out invitations, when you’ll get your supplies, and a rough cooking schedule. Plan now so you’re not stressed later.

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Don’t turn down help.

If someone asks to help or to bring something LET THEM. Guests like to feel like they’ve contributed something to the night and it means you have one less thing to do.

Not everything has to be made from scratch.

If baking isn’t your strong suit don’t feel bad about buying a dessert. Maybe you want a specific side but you just don’t have the time. There is no guilt in store-bought items for your dinner party. Give yourself a break.

The day of your dinner party get yourself ready first.

Shower, hair, makeup… evreything. The day will go so fast that if you don’t get ready first you may run out of time without realizing it. Plus, you’ll be ready in case any guests arrive early.

Clean up immediately after guests leave.

You’ll still be in party/host mode as soon as your guests leave so use that energy for clean-up. The task will look much more daunting in the morning if you leave it. If you just can’t stay up long enough to finish cleaning up try to soak dishes and wipe surfaces. At least you’ve gotten a head start on the next day’s work.

Remember it’s not all about the food.

Ultimately, your guests will remeber the experience they had at your dinner party more than the food they ate. If the food isn’t perfect don’t stress. Pay attention to your guests and have fun. That’s what makes it memorable.

Prepare your home

Clean the main living spaces.

No one is going through your closet or looking under your sink. Clean the main living spaces that guests will be in and don’t stress about the rest.

Make sure the bathroom is clean and stocked.

In addition to making sure the bathroom is clean you’ll want to make sure it’s stocked with anything your guests might need. This includes extra toilet paper, soap, hand towels, etc. You don’t want to have to go in to restock mid-party.

Plan a place for coats and purses.

You may need to clean out your coat closet to accomodate your guests belongings. If you don’t have a coat closet you’ll want to designate another place for them AND make sure that place is clean. You don’t want guests coming into your messy bedroom to put a coat or purse on the bed!

Set the table the night before.

This will save you time the day of your dinner party and you’ll have the time to move your table settings around until you love them. If you’re worried about pets messing with them (or just falling dust in general) you can cover your set table with another table cloth or sheet to keep it protected until time for the dinner party.

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Make sure your trashcans are empty.

You’ll feel better starting your dinner party with empty trash cans in both the kitchen and bathroom. This will also hopefully prevent you from having to take out the trash in the middle of your party.

Empty the sink and dishwasher before guests arrive.

Having an empty sink and dishwasher when your dinner party starts helps the cleanup afterward go much faster. Washing dishes as you use them throughout the day with help with this endeavor.

Set the atmosphere.

The mood of your dinner party wil depend on the atmosphere you set. Think of decor, music, lighting, etc. You can make it anything you want, but don’t leave it for the last minute.

Have some games ready.

It’s always fun to have some games on hand for after dessert. Get just a few and bring them into the room you’ll be in after dinner for easy access. Get ready for the laughter to begin!

Dinner Party Food Prep

Ask guests about dietary restrictions.

You don’t want your vegan or gluten-free friend to only be able to eat the salad, so ask about dietary restrictions first. You could even consider putting this into the invitation so your guests can respond when they RSVP.

Make a menu and comprehensive grocery list.

You don’t have to make every dish according to dietary restrictions but you’ll want to make sure your guests have options on the menu. Creating the grocery list will ensure that you don’t have to make any last minute trips to the grocery store.

Choose simple appetizers.

The appetizers are not the star so don’t go all out on them. It’ll just create unneccesary stress, and that’s something no one needs.

Stick with what you know.

Don’t experiment with new recipes you’ve never made before. Stick with what you know and feel confident that your dish will turn out great just as it has time and time again.

Make ahead as much as possible.

There are many things (sides, desserts, rolls, etc) that you can make ahead of time and reheat the day of your dinner party. This isn’t cheating. It’s using good time management. Flex your skills.

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Chill your drinks before guests arrive.

Regardless of what your drink of the night is you’ll want it chilled by the time guests arrive. Put everything in the fridge (or cooler) early in the day to ensure it’s ready in time.

Garnish like a pro.

Whether your dish is store-bought, reheated, or fresh out of the oven a little garnishing magic will go a long way in making your dish look professional and Instagram worthy.

Serving Prep

Prep your non-food items early.

This includes everything from serving platters and servingware to utensils and linens. You want to make sure you have everything you want well before the dinner party or time to order what you don’t have.

Get out your servingware the night before.

You don’t want to be searching for platter and serving spoons while your guests are there. Get out everything you’ll need the night before to streamline the entire process.

Put out the salt and pepper.

Put it out even if you think your food is seasoned perfectly. Someone may have a different preference and you don’t want them having to ask for it.

Set up a drink station.

Your drink station can include a batch drink or punch as well as any other drinks you want to include. Your guests should also be able to find cups and other drink accessories there for an easy self-serve experience. Make sure this is set up before guests arrive.

Have tea or coffee ready for dessert.

Many people like to end their dinner party with dessert and coffee. It’s nice to have a good tea (or variety of teas) for your non-coffee guests. Having these things at the ready means no one has to wait and you don’t have to take time away from your guests to set it up after dinner.

Now, go throw the best dinner party of the season!

Be a gracious and attentive host with the great ambiance and lots of laughs. That is a dinner party to remember!

Have a blessed week friends!

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

1 Peter 4.8-9