If you’ve never thrown a dinner party before, but have always wanted to – now is the time. Who said it had to be difficult and stressful?
Planning is the key, so as long as you know exactly what you’re cooking – you’ll have an amazing time!
Guest list
A good number of people to invite is usually around eight to ten, but this all depends on how you feel. If you want more of an intimate setting, then keep the numbers down.
Go all out – instead of just sending them an email – make some fancy invitations. It will just add that formal feel to the upcoming event. – Also, make sure you ask if anyone has any dietary requirements!
Main dish
If people have dietary requirements, make sure you work around them, finding something everyone can eat, or just an alternative for those people. If you’re seafood lovers, then companies like Crab Dynasty can have the freshest of seafood delivered right to your door. This is a great option, especially if you plan on practicing the meal a week or so before the big night, so you can see how long things take, and if there’s a certain technique that should be learned.
If you prefer meat instead, then there are plenty of local butchers situated all around with incredible cuts of beef, pork, venison and more. Beef is a good choice though because you can do a lot of different things with it, and people have the option of eating it ‘blue’, well done, or in between.
Drinks, starters, and desserts
If you have cocktail drinkers that will be going – learn some yummy recipes. The good thing about cocktails is you can offer them to all your guests, but in some, you just don’t add the alcohol, that way your non-drinkers still get to feel included.
You have the option of making a real starter, or just going with appetizers instead, which would be more a finger food that people can just pick at themselves like olives, chips and petit fours. If you do plan on making a starter, then remember you don’t want anything too heavy, otherwise people will end up full. You want something to awaken the tastebuds, leaving people wanting more. A common starter is a small soup, but if you’re not keen on that idea, maybe you’d prefer a mozzarella, tomato and basil entree, seasoned with salt and pepper, with a pesto jus. …Yum.
Now onto the dessert. If you enjoy baking, then you’ll probably have an idea as to what you want to make already. But if not, ask Granny! (Or Google…)
Cheesecakes tend to go down a treat and they aren’t difficult to make, so you could even do a few different ones with other flavors. One chocolate, one strawberry and one vanilla.
Music
Set up a playlist with a variety of music that you know your guests will enjoy. You don’t want anything too slow that’ll put your people to sleep, but having said that, you don’t want anything too upbeat (yet) because it may be too much of a distraction from conversation and eating. So it’s your job to find a happy medium that will compliment the meal.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

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