If you love to entertain, or you don’t, but are going to anyway, there are a lot of things to prepare. Indeed, the key to a successful dinner party lies in your preparation, and with that in mind, here is a checklist to ensure nothing is overlooked.
- The Menu –This could be anything from a three course meal to a casual buffet, with appetisers like cheese, crackers and gherkins. If you are not the best of cooks, you could enlist the help of an outside caterer. Which makes things that much easier.
- The Table – Obviously, you want your very best out for this special occasion, and there are online suppliers of elegant dinnerware sets, among other things, and with a single shop, you can buy everything you need for the table.
- The Background Music – Some easy listening at just the right volume will set the scene and go a long way to creating a warm and inviting ambience. Depending on the company, music might play a louder role as the night progresses, so have some upbeat stuff handy.
- The Drinks – No dinner party, or otherwise, would be complete without a well-stocked fridge and spirit cabinet. Of course, you know the guests, so choose suitable drinks, making sure there are natural fruit juices for those who don’t drink alcohol. You will need ice and mixers, so stock the fridge up a few days prior to the occasion, and everyone will have their favourite beverage.
- The Lighting – Nothing too bright, add maybe just some wall lighting, to keep the ambience soft, and, of course, lamps can be used for some low-level lighting. Lighting is a major ingredient to a good dinner ambience, and why not experiment with some LED solutions from an online supplier?
- Preparing the Kitchen – This will be the nerve centre, and we suggest giving the kitchen a deep clean a few days before the dinner engagement, then any food item that can be kept in the fridge can be made first. You somehow have to work it so that you will have ample time to chat with your friends, plus the food will be delivered when it should, but with your kitchen checklist (not this one), you can tick off each item as it is prepared. Everything that you need should be there on the morning of the dinner and the rest is easy.
- Common Theme – If you all have a common theme, you might like to prepare a couple of games, just in case your guests want to play, or you could tailor the décor to a period. There might not be a common theme, but if there is something that you al connect with, that would be the basis for some activity.
The important thing is to relax and enjoy the experience, and with a little planning and forethought, you can carry off being the perfect host with a special menu and great company. Casual is the style, and if your friends are the type who love to pitch in and help, why not invite them to assist in some way?