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Having a dinner party, no matter how small, can often be a stressful event. You want everything to go just right and for everyone, including yourself, to have a nice time. If you plan ahead, use a little creativity, and stay organized, you are bound to throw a dinner party that all your guests will fondly remember. Following are a few tips and ideas to get you started.
*Decide on a theme - While themes are often incorporated into big parties, many people tend not to have a theme when hosting a small party. There is no reason that a small dinner party should not have a theme. It does not have to be a complex theme and certainly does not have to be one the guests are even aware of prior to arriving to your home. Just a simple theme to help pull the food and decorations together will help the plans run more smoothly. Depending on the type of dinner you wish to have, cultural themes such as Mexican or Italian are good ideas. If you do not want a theme that limits your food or décor, you may simply decide that your theme will be elegant, for example.
*Send out invitations - Most people enjoy receiving non-verbal invitations, even if they already know about the party. If you have selected a specific theme for the party, you may want to incorporate your theme into the invitations. If your guests are Internet savvy, you may want to simply send them an electronic invitation via one of the many electronic greeting card websites. These do not have to be fancy invitations, just something simple that includes the date, time, and location of the dinner party.
*Prepare the food in advance - The last thing you want to do is be stuck cooking at the last minute for your party. Select menu items that can be prepared in advance and frozen. On the day of the party, you will then only have to thaw and heat your food and prepare the garnishes. This will save you time, hassle, and the stress associated with cooking up to the last minute. Remember that your food selection does not have to be fancy to be appreciated. Often, the presentation of the food is just as important as the food itself. If your dishes are presented in a nice fashion, your guests will be just as impressed with a simple meal as with one that required significantly more time.
*Don't forget to decorate - Decorations always add such a nice element to a dinner party. Again, if you would like to carry your theme through to the decorations, that is appropriate. If you would like more of a traditional centerpiece, consider using candles and/or flowers. Just make sure that your centerpiece is not too high so that conversations across the table are difficult. Another nice table decoration idea is to have a decorative place card for each guest. This adds an element of personalization to the event.
These are just a few ideas to help make your small dinner party a memorable one. One of the most important things to remember is that you too should have fun at the party. Try not to stress so much that you do not have an enjoyable time. With a little advance planning and creativity, your party will go more smoothly and be an enjoyable event for everyone.
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