Sharing a meal with family and friends is a fun and special way to reconnect. All you need is a few key ingredients for a fun and stress-free evening. Here’s our formula to make hosting your dinner party a breeze.
Tablescape
Creating the perfect tablescape doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with your table linens, cloth is a must and a neutral linen fabric always looks chic and effortless. When it comes to the centrepiece, in-season greenery and flowers add life and colour to a table. Try creating one larger arrangement for the middle and then adding smaller vases of greenery around it. Scatter some candles into the mix for easy mood lighting and coziness. Just be sure to keep your centrepieces low so your guests can see each other over the table.
Perfect Basics
A good set of dinnerware goes a long way. If you have a jumble of mismatched or chipped dishes, it might be time for an upgrade. You don’t have to blow the budget to get a quality set, there are plenty of options to suit a variety of styles and budgets. Ceramic is popping up everywhere at more affordable price points and most home stores stock a quality porcelain set. White is always classic and look for a set with clean lines and simple designs. All you need are the basics: dinner plates, side plates and bowls.
Playlist
Music really helps set the tone at a dinner party. Think about it as complimentary background noise that your guests can still have conversations over. It’s best to prepare playlists ahead of time so you can put it on and forget it. When creating a playlist, opt for a combination of new music and classic favourites. Put together multiple playlists that will work at different times throughout the night: upbeat and light for when guests arrive, a little more mellow for dinnertime and back to upbeat if you want to keep the party going after dinner.
Theme for Menu
Have fun with your menu! A theme helps you narrow down the endless possibilities for what to serve. Food can also help set the vibe of the party. Want to make things a little more elegant? Opt for classic French dishes. Looking to have a little fun? Try family-style taco platters for people to build their own. Just make sure to check with guests about any dietary restrictions. While you don’t have to accommodate every single nuance of people’s diets, allergies need to be considered and you’ll want to provide a variety of options.
No-Fail Dessert
One way to ensure your dessert course goes smoothly is to make a dish that you can prepare well in advance. Pies, cakes and tarts are tried-and-true favourites that can be refrigerated overnight. Or try something a little different and go for a cheese plate and dried fruit, berries and cream or a platter of fresh fruit. And if baking just isn’t your forte there’s absolutely no shame in going the store-bought route. (We won’t tell!) Pick up a cake stand or a tiered serving tray to make the presentation a little more special.
