We’ve all been to one: The delicious and tastefully styled dinner party put on by relaxed hosts who are now sitting back, glasses in hand, completely engaged in a guest’s amusing story. Watching them, you would think that their whole fabulous dinner had effortlessly cooked itself.
The thought of actually pulling off a dinner party like this can be intimidating. How could anyone be so confident in the kitchen? These hosts seemingly threw this whole amazing party together in a matter of hours.
But did they?
Some people actually can whip up the perfect party at a moment’s notice. Despite not being a natural in the kitchen or even particularly enjoying cooking, I used to believe that I could become like them if I just had enough practice.
But, in my case anyway, years of practice have shown me that the opposite is actually true: Planning is the key. Having enough time is the key. But whipping stuff up at the last minute and hoping for the best is definitely not the key.
So today, I’m sharing my go-to tips for hosting a successful dinner party even if you’re not a domestic diva.
These tips can also be used for hosting other types of parties – like brunches. As you’ll see, it’s all about being organized.
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Plan The Menu Well In Advance
Since my husband Chris is my co-host and always prepares the meat portion of the meal, the menu for any dinner party starts with a collaboration between us.
We take into account any dietary restrictions or preferences. We’ve hosted parties that were gluten free, nut free, low sodium, and pescatarian.
Once we have a general idea of what we’re doing, I will plan the recipes in more detail. I’m not above using recipes that I’ve used many times before – ones that are already tried and true.
But sometimes I look for new recipes to try – especially ones with in-season ingredients. I make sure that any new recipes are well within my comfort zone. After all, a recipe – or even an entire menu – doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated to be delicious.
Since I am incapable of cooking and talking at the same time, one thing that is not within my comfort zone is scrambling around the kitchen working on multiple dishes as our guests start arriving. So, I favor recipes that can be made ahead without sacrificing flavor or freshness.
Planning the entire menu in advance, including all beverages and condiments, is great because then I can write a shopping list that includes everything we will need so that, ideally anyway, we only have to make one trip to the grocery store.
Test New Recipes In Advance
If I have time, I try to test any new recipes in advance of the party. If I find the recipe online, I always read the reviews before starting. They sometimes contain valuable hints.
Doing a test run of a recipe helps me fine tune it and work out any kinks it might have – and it helps me eliminate recipes that turn out to be not quite as good as I’d hoped.
Accept Reliable Help
If someone reliable offers to help, I don’t turn them down. I can always count on Chris to be the cheerful co-host who plans the music and mixes the cocktails.

If my Mom is coming, there is no way I would turn down her offer to bring one of her amazing desserts. And a favorite guest of ours really knows her way around the Trader Joe’s cheese case – and her selections never disappoint.
Clean, Shop, Plan, And Even Cook, In Advance
Since I’m not a domestic diva or a natural in the kitchen, it would be a really bad idea for me to wait until the day of the party to pull everything together.
So I do as much as I can in advance, including:
Cleaning
One thing I’ve come to realize over time is that if we waited for our house and garden to be perfect before inviting company, we would never have anyone over. So I’ve given up on striving for perfection.
But of course I still do some cleaning.
A few days before the party, I try to make time to clean the fridge. This frees up space for the dinner party ingredients and makes them easier to find.
I do housecleaning at least a day in advance, focusing mostly on obvious problem areas and parts of the house where the guests are most likely to venture. Garbage and recycling are always taken out before the party.
If the party will be outdoors, we make sure that the patio is swept and the outdoor furniture is clean.
By cleaning in advance, I just need a few minutes on the day of the party to tidy things up and add a few nice last-minute touches.
Grocery Shopping
Except for items that might perish quickly, I try to buy all the dinner ingredients well in advance – at least a day before the party.
After all, I never know when the grocery store might be out of something and I’ll need to spend extra time looking for it elsewhere.
Planning The Table Setting And Other Details
I have to admit that this is my favorite part. I just love thinking about which china, glasses, tablecloth, napkins, and serving pieces I’ll be using. So of course I plan the table setting (and make sure all the pieces are clean and useful) well before the actual party.

I try to think about everything that we might need or want on the table: Candles, flowers, but also practical things like hand wipes if we will be serving something messy like ribs.
If the party is outdoors, we test our patio lights and patio heater to make sure they work. I have a few tips for keeping insects away from a party, so I also check that I have the items I need for that.
I focus on comfort as much as on aesthetics. Guests will remember being blinded by the late sun far longer than they will remember whether or not there was a charger under their dinner plate.

Cooking And Prep Work
Since I look for recipes that can be made in advance without sacrificing flavor or freshness, I cook ahead as much as possible.
Some dessert dishes actually call for being chilled overnight, so I can make them the evening before the party. Other dishes can be made, or at least started, the morning of the party. I do as much prep work in advance as possible.
We both clean as we prepare food, so the kitchen is usually fairly tidy when the party starts. (This also makes post-party cleanup much easier.)
It’s all about being relaxed instead of running around in a panic at the last minute.
If I wind up with actual spare time before the party, I can add fun little touches like chilling cucumber water to serve in the water glasses.
Enjoy The Party!
So far, I’ve only talked about the planning and the work. But really it’s just been a little work over the course of several days. And now that’s all behind us. The party is ready to start and, almost like those effortless-seeming hosts I talked about above, we can just relax and enjoy the evening!
Bonus Budget-Friendly Dinner Party Tip
The Granny Chic aesthetic (the mixing of old and new design items) is trending now. It’s eclectic, fun and, since vintage china and accessories are fairly affordable these days, Granny Chic can also be very budget-friendly.

A seemingly endless supply of charming vintage china and vintage table linens can be found on Etsy.
There is so much more to say about Granny Chic, and I plan to cover it in detail in a future post.
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