how to host the ultimate dinner party
hostess with the most-ess?
Some how every time I sit down to write a Substack, I find my mind drifting back in time to my childhood and how the subject has played a role in my life. When it comes to hosting, my mind goes to my mother who always made occasions beautiful. Holidays, birthdays, graduations, whether you were the guest of honor or just a guest, you were taken care of and celebrated. One of my favorite roles as a girl was being her sous chef and assistant. As I have grown from sous chef to head chef, I have found my love for hosting has continued to grow, too.
I have had so much fun since moving into my home throwing dinner parties, holiday celebrations, or just creating a date night at home. And though I am not a perfect host, I have learned quite a few things along the way. After hosting three dinner parties in a row this past weekend, I thought now would be the perfect time to share my tips and tricks to help you throw your next gathering! In order to make hosting as seamless and stress free as possible, I try to hit the below timeline.
ONE WEEK BEFORE:
Select the menu.
When it comes to selecting the menu my motto is “smarter not harder.” When your guests come over, they want to spend time with you - not see your butt in the oven all night. A simple menu, especially one where you can prep ahead of time is key.
Make a grocery list.
Once the menu is finalized, make a grocery list of every little thing you need. This will help ensure you don’t forget anything!
Platters, plates, utensils, oh my!
Once the menu is selected, I like to plan out which serving pieces I will use for each dish, and make sure I have enough glasses, plates, silverware, napkins, platters, etc! If you are planning to serve the food buffet style, where will the food go? Do you have enough platters and serving bowls? Utensils for each platter? I may have messed up a time or two… learn from my mistakes!
Consider a theme.
A theme is not always necessary, but it is fun! Are you celebrating a special occasion? Holiday? If not, do you want to come up with a theme? This can help you figure out a menu, drinks, color scheme, have fun with it!
Decor.
Whether you plan to have a theme or not, thinking through how you will set your table and any additional decor in advance is always helpful. If you plan to use table linen or cloth napkins, ensure they are pressed ahead of time. If you plan to use paper napkins or plates, checking to make sure you have enough will prevent last minute runs to the store.
THE DAY BEFORE
Consider seating arrangements.
My in laws just took a trip with a large group of friends. My mother in law shared with me that each night, the host of the trip came up with a different way to organize seating. For example, one night they sat in order of birth date. I thought this was such a cute idea to mix it up and encourage your guests to mingle!
Grocery shop.
I always like to do this the day before vs. day of to save time!
Set the table.
Unless you plan to eat outside, I always try to set the table a day (or two!) in advance. One less thing to do day of!
Take out all of your serving pieces.
Platters, utensils, plates, etc. I like to have everything out on the counter and ready!
THE DAY OF
Floral arrangements!
Florals always make a table scape, however they can be pricy. I like to DIY my florals instead of buying premade arrangements to save! I either get individual flowers from the grocery shop or a florist and make my arrangements myself. I love adding this floral ribbon to the inside of my vases to hide the steams. It makes it look much more professional!
Prep any food possible.
Of course not everything can be cooked ahead of time, but I always try to do as much as possible the morning of. For example if I am serving a salad, I will have all my ingredients chopped and in containers so when the time comes for me to assemble it, I can just throw it all together in under a minute. I always try to cook things like potatoes and vegetables ahead of time and leave them in the warming oven.
Get yourself ready.
Guests may arrive early and food wise, there are a lot of things you can’t do until right before. I always get ready two hours ahead of time so I can spend the final hour before guests arrive cooking and doing last minute prep.
Get a good playlist going.
Set the mood! Put on your favorite playlist, whether its holiday music, bbq music, oldies, classics, music always brings good energy to the room!
Drink prep!
If you are having a large group of people over, I always think it is a good idea to have a premixed cocktail to serve in a dispenser or pitcher. About 5-10 minutes before guests arrive, I will pour a few of these drinks and have them ready to be served along with a few open bottles of wine. That way when guests arrive, they can grab a drink right away! Plus, it’s a cute way to display!
Enjoy yourself.
Things go wrong, there can be a lot to get done, it can feel overwhelming but at the end of the day, this is supposed to be fun! For your guests AND for yourself. So don’t sweat the small stuff, let loose and make some memories.