Plan A Dinner Party To Get A Foodie IQ
- by Amber Winter
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Hosting a dinner party can be both stressful and exciting. Stressful because it can sometimes be a little overwhelming if the host is new to planning. Taking into consideration guests’ dietary restrictions, what is expected, what type of food and how much to serve, what forms of entertainment to include. The list does add up quickly. However, if a person has a great group of close friends or family, hosting a dinner party can be so much fun. It’s a great way to catch up with the most important people, eat delicious food and just unwind and have some fun.
There are so many elements to consider when planning a party. Some that most people don’t even think of. Themes can be fun, especially if the party is for a specific occasion like a birthday or an anniversary. Deciding on where to have the dinner party – if its nice weather it can be a backyard barbecue filled with outdoor games and sunshine. It all really depends on the type of things the host enjoys and can handle to plan. For example, a host who doesn’t have any experience with hosting might not push the limits and have multiple course meals, but opt for a potluck style meal.
Pick an appetizer:
Appetizers are always a favorite among guests, especially if the dinner party is going to be somewhat lengthy. It’s basically like a small, delicious snack to compliment the meal. Depending on what a host has chosen to serve, appetizers can be anything from chips and dip, fries, spinach and artichoke dip, or even a soup.
Pick an icebreaker game:
Icebreaker games are essentially small activities in which a small group get to know each other, and it’s usually made to be fun to repress any awkwardness. For adults, icebreaker games are normally done in a workplace setting between colleagues, but they can be useful for a party where multiple groups of friends are coming together as one.
Pick a font for name plates:
Designing stationary of any kind can be really fun. Depending on what kind of dinner party is being hosted, name plates are a cute way to organize tables if the guest count is over ten. If it’s a major event that where the entire extended family is invited, name plates ensure that there will be no chaos when it comes to eating.
Pick a venue location:
For some who thrown dinner parties, the venue normally consists of the household of the house. It makes it easy so there is no need to book a venue, or pay any additional costs in reserving said location. However, depending on how many guests are attending and how much space is at the host’s home, the only option available might be eating at a restaurant or outdoor patio.
Pick a fictional guest you’d like to invite:
It is always fun to fantasize about what it would be like to meet a fictional character, let alone have them as a guest at an event. There are so many different fictional guests that could be included on this list, so these characters come from different genre of movies.
Pick a salad:
Depending on the type of dinner party, the meals can vary quite drastically. A dinner party for one person might just be a small gathering where each guest brings a food item and everyone eats potluck style. Or it could be a very detailed and planned dinner with multiple courses which all complement each other.
Pick a table style:
When it comes to planning a dinner party, whether at home or at another venue, selecting set ups can be quite important. For example, choosing the table style which the host/hostess will serve the dinner upon. Some of the most common table styles include rectangular, circular, or a dinner bar with high stools.
Pick a time of day to host:
This may seem like an odd question because a dinner party would obviously be planned for later in the day when most people eat dinner. However, there are certain sections within the evening that the host could plan for a dinner. An early dinner would be anywhere between 4-5PM, a later dinner could be between 6-7PM, and a late night dinner could be any time after that really.
Pick a place setting:
Planning a dinner party is both fun and exciting but there are many different elements to take into consideration. Food is the number one priority, but there are also so many things that can be included to really set the mood. Place settings is one of those things, which is probably near the bottom of the list but can tie the whole room together.
Pick flowers for a bouquet:
Here is another thing that many people who are thinking of organizing a dinner party don’t consider. Flowers are a great way to decorate a table or a room to make the evening feel more special for the guests. Of course they don’t have to be anything expensive, but a bouquet for the middle of the table is always something nice to look at.
Pick an entrée:
The entrée is probably the most important dish of the entire dinner party. It is the meal that all of the guests will be looking forward to. Depending on the style of the event, the entrée can be just a collection of different main meals and the guests can pick and choose what they’d like on their plate, or it might be just one single large meal altogether.
Pick a theme:
Themes are always a fun thing to include for a dinner party. Especially for those who have the same circle always attending the same kind of dinner party every few weeks. It also can make planning much easier because deciding on meals and/or what to serve is significantly narrowed down when considering a theme.
Pick a playlist:
Aside from the actual food being served at the dinner party, music is also on top of the list when it comes to planning. Nothing ruins a party more than the sound of crickets in the background. Having an awesome playlist will ensure the host and the guests have an amazing time.
Pick an outdoor game:
Although games are not technically a necessity at a dinner party, it’s always a nice added bonus to have for your guests to do more than just sit around, eat food and chat with friends/family. Games are fun for all ages, and if it’s nice weather why not bring the fun outside.
Pick a centerpiece:
Centerpieces are a final touch that is either last on the list or is overlooked depending on the host/hostess’ experience with throwing a dinner party. It, like many of the other things that are associated with the appearance of the table is just an added element to make the night feel fancier.
Pick a room style:
Depending on where the dinner party is being held, sometimes the room style can be customized to however the host wants it to be. For example, if it’s a large dinner party, table could be arranged in a certain way to not make the room feel so crowded and there is room to get up and socialize with other guests.
Pick a famous guest to invite:
This quiz already featured a question about the potential of inviting a fictional character. However, this question refers to a famous person, and not just a character. And they could already have passed on. Perhaps a well-known reality star who has their own television show. Or a famous actor/actress who have been in dozens of films to date.
Pick an occasion for the party:
Although some people host dinner parties just for the sake of getting together with their closest friends/family, they can also be for an occasion of some kind. Birthdays and major holidays are two of the most common reasons for a person to host a dinner party. Others include graduation, anniversary or engagement celebration.
Pick an invitation style:
Invitations are one of those things that seem to be really fancy because no one really sends paper invitations in the mail anymore. The only invitations that a person will receive is a wedding invitation or a birthday invitation (usually for a child). But why not make the evening more special with a fancy invitation.
Pick a color scheme:
Color schemes are either determined at the very beginning of planning a dinner party or they’re not really considered at all. If color scheme is important, than it is taken into consideration when basically decorating the entire table down to the place setting, the type of flowers, and perhaps even the food choice.
Pick a number range for guests:
Although there are a number of things that are made a priority for the dinner party when beginning the plans, the number of guests should be at the top of the list. There is no point in trying to figure out how much food to buy or order if there isn’t a definitive number of how many people will be attending.
Pick an hors d’oeuvre:
Hor d’oeuvres are very similar to an appetizer. The only real difference is the setting in which the food is served. For example, it’s normally called an appetizer during a formal sit down meal, whether at a restaurant or at the event. It’s called an hor d’oeuvre when the guests are mingling prior to the meal and no one has taken their seats yet.
Pick a dinner style:
Picking the dinner style is crucial in the beginning because switching half way through planning can ruin everything. It can also determine the type of dinner party a person wants to host – whether it be more casual and laid back, or a more sophisticated style where the entire evening is planned accordingly.
Pick a dress code:
Dress codes are not normally thought of when organizing a dinner party. The only time a person is usually worried about their attire is if it’s for a very formal event like a wedding or a business event. However, the location of the dinner can have an impact one what the guests will wear.
Pick a dessert:
While entrees are the most important meal because they are the actual dinner for the party, there is no denying that many guests also look forward to the dessert following. Having a special soup, salad or appetizer are all added bonuses. Desserts are the perfect way to end the evening, especially served with tea or coffee.
Pick a signature beverage:
In the midst of planning, it’s always fun to come up with special meals and drinks to serve at the event, especially if they have a quirky twist on the name. Signature drinks are especially easy for larger crowds, because a big batch of iced tea can be made and placed in a big jug with a spout for easy pouring.
Pick a board game:
Games are the easiest ways to keep guests entertained either before or after the meal is served. If guests arrive well before the dinner is going to be ready, having a couple board games on hand is extremely important because sometimes conversations can go nowhere real fast – plus, they’re loads of fun!
Pick a thank you favor:
Thank you favors are definitely not a necessity, and are normally never expected, but they are a nice addition to a fancy dinner party. They’re also acceptable to give to guests if they’ve contributed to the dinner party, such as bringing food for a potluck or offering assistance in clean up.
Pick a silverware style:
Depending on the occasion, venue, or type of dinner party that is being hosted, silverware can often be overlooked. Unless someone has a set of real silverware lying around that is just itching to be used, the most common utensils a host will use is whatever is in their kitchen drawers.
Pick a time of year to host:
Some people only host during specific times of the year. Other people like to have a dinner with family and friends every few weeks (although the location and host might switch among the group). For the most part, the most common time of year to host is the summer months because it’s the easiest to cook and clean.
