Top tips on how to throw the perfect dinner party. From the invitation to the food to staying cool with minor faux pas, we have collected the best tips for a successful evening for you.
Who doesn’t know them, the classic dinner parties from the American films? A smartly dressed hostess makes the organizational feat look as effortless as serving ready-made pizza. She also entertains the guests, smiles charmingly, and always looks freshly peeled.
Still, anyone who has ever organized a dinner for several people knows how difficult the dinner party can actually be. We have collected the best tips and tricks for a successful evening for you so that your guests feel comfortable and you don’t get stressed during the party.
Tip 1: The right guests
Before you decide to throw a dinner party, you should think about who you want to invite. That one neighbor who always finds fault with everything might not be the best choice if you want to make your party a success. You should invite close friends and family members, especially at your first dinner party, who will overlook one or the other faux pas – or who do not even notice it. In addition, you should consider whether the planned guests are good entertainers.
Tip 2: Successful invitation cards
In addition, the right flair for a successful dinner party begins with the invitations. Think of something that will delight your guests and get them interested in your party. A little insider tip: With high-quality invitation cards that you can design yourself, you can impress your guests with your individuality and ingenuity. But digital invitation cards can also have a great effect, enriched with a suitable GIF or image. Also, note the most important tips for party planning.
Tip 3: What will my guests eat?
A good hostess will ask guests about their preferences and allergies before the dinner party. This point is very important because nothing is more unpleasant than realizing that a guest suffers from a peanut allergy while eating duck in peanut coating. If you love a challenge, feel free to invite guests who eat vegetarian or vegan food – this increases the level of difficulty when cooking. Not everyone likes fresh fish. Therefore, before you plan the menu, you should know who is not eating what. Check out our housewife-approved recipes for inspiration.
Tip 4: What should be on the table?
In general, several things should be on the table: the food, but also the right dishes, and the right decorations. You can find out how to set the table correctly in the useful rules of conduct from Etiquette. You can match the decoration to the season (e.g. beautiful Easter decorations or festive Christmas decorations), but you can also decorate in a very classic way with just beautiful candles. The choice of tablecloth and napkins is just as important as the decoration. If you don’t consider yourself a professional decorator, it’s best to go for plain colors without big patterns.
Tip 5: keep calm!
Back to the dinner party goddess from the American film: There is a very simple trick to appear confident and to charmingly cover up any mishaps. Just pretend it’s meant to be! The dessert is slightly burnt? That’s how it should be, you learned in the French cooking class that light smoke aromas perfectly underline the taste. Good luck with the (almost) perfect dinner party!