Hosting a Dinner Party | Home Decor

10 Party Hosting Tips Every Hostess Should Know by Lifestyle Blogger Laura Lily,

10 Tips For Hosting A Dinner Party Every Hostess Should Know

I love hosting a dinner party in both my own home and any home away from home. I want everyone to be comfortable, well fed and having fun. With that said, there are a few tips that I always follow no matter where I am, what the occasion is, or how many guests I’m having. Here are the 10 Tips for Hosting a Dinner Party Every Hostess Should Know…

Have an assistant. They can help you with the small tasks such as filling ice, taking out the trash, etc while you’re conversing with your guests. My assistant is usually my mom, my sister or a friend who is willing to help out.
Create a schedule. Last year I managed to cook a 4 course Thanksgiving lunch for 9 people. I couldn’t have done it without a schedule to tell me when to put what in the oven. I also had a menu written out so that I didn’t forget anything and my guests knew what to expect next.
If you’re hosting a sit-down meal, create personalized nameplates. It adds a special touch and ensures your guests are sitting next to who they’d prefer (or not prefer) to sit next to.
Cloth napkins will always look better than paper napkins. Find fun ways to fold them or use pretty napkin rings like the ones in this post. If it’s just a casual get together, I love to pick up fun napkins at the Dollar Spot at Target.
Have a variety of beverages available for your guests, both alcoholic and none. Depending on the time of year, I like to fill my bar cart with either summer cocktails or holiday beverages. Have pitchers of water and other beverages handy for your guests to get their own drinks. I always have a glass of water already poured with ice for when my guests sit down at the table.
Appetizers! When your guests arrive they are going to want to eat! I created a how-to guide for a charcuterie board. It’s the best appetizer plate because it has something for everyone!
Leave yourself enough time to get ready! I ALWAYS make this mistake. I factor in how long everything is going to take to cook and set-up, but somehow I never give myself enough time to get ready! Again, this is where it helps to have an assistant helping you to ensure nothing burns while you go get yourself together.
Be ready to greet your guests when they arrive. Especially if they are new to your home. Step away from the kitchen to grab them a cocktail, hang their coat, show them around and introduce them to everyone. This will help get them comfortable.
Have music playing in the background it always adds a nice touch. My favorites are the classic oldie channels on Spotify with artists like Frank Sinatra.
Stock your fridge the night before so you don’t have to worry about it during your party. The more you can do before everyone arrives the better! Make sure you have enough ice for ice buckets, coolers, and drinks! The host should never leave their own party so if you find you’re running out of something, have your assistant go and grab it or ask a friend/relative to grab it on their way to the party.