How to Throw a Thrifty Dinner Party
My family was throwing a dinner party last weekend and my mother called me up to ask for help. She didn’t know how to make her dinner party fabulous on a budget. This is a pretty common issue. You get excited and want to meet up with friends while brushing up on your cooking and conversation skills, (for the latter, you may find it helpful to glance at my article, here.) but when you get on Pinterest and start scrolling, after searching “dinner party”, you realize these tables look amazing! Amazingly expensive, that is. Not everyone can afford to hire a sous chef and professional decorator for their gathering. Worry not, as always, I am here to help. Here are some ways to make your thrifty dinner party spectacular.
1. Food
It is a dinner party, after all. Most of the guests will be waiting with watering mouths to see what magic you have worked in the kitchen. If the presentation is done correctly and with enough pizazz, your regular old chicken piccata can be deliciously dazzling. Pick a simple recipe, perhaps one that you are familiar with. Don’t skimp on garnishes and pretty serving ware. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare and make sure you have all of the necessary ingredients. Your fabulous feast does not have to cost a fortune! Soup and pasta with a vegetable side or salad will ensure that any surprise vegetarians are appeased. Find a recipe that doesn’t have extensive preparation time and follow it. Pay attention to serving size and adjust accordingly.
Appetizer Ideas:
Cucumber Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
Entreé Ideas:
Dessert Ideas:
Chocolate, Pistachio, and Tahini Truffles
*Tip: Adding a garnish, (mint leaf, edible flower, lime wheel, berries, cherry tomatoes) will elevate your dish and give it a little je ne sais quoi.
2. Cocktails and Drinks
What’s dinner without a beverage? If you don’t drink alcohol, that is perfectly fine. You certainly don’t need it to have fun! There are fantastic mocktails that can just as easily amaze your guests. For many people, a dinner party or cocktail party is a time to show off drink recipes and cocktail skills. Be sure to use the correct glasses and don’t hold back on pretty garnishes like a salt rim or a fresh fruit. The details are so important when it comes to a dinner party. It’s the little things that make your guests feel extra special and cared for. Go from okay to amazing with a beautiful, handcrafted drink. Here are some that are sure to wow your guests.
Cocktail Ideas:
Spiced Apple Cider Pomegranate Moscow Mules
*Tip: An apéritif is a cocktail served before dinner, to relax the guests and spark the appetite.
Mocktail Ideas:
Strawberry Pineapple Shaker-Upper
*Tip: Mocktails are perfect when there are little ones over at your home! With a garnish an a lovely glass, you’re sure to impress guests with these.
3. Decor and Table Setting
The setting of the table is one of the first things guests will notice, so it is important to get it right. You don’t need giant floral arrangements and expensive dishes to impress your guests. Your table can go from drab to delightful with a few additions.
Add tealights and a tablecloth. This will make your table look more sophisticated. Have soft lighting around the room. No bright fluorescent lights or direct overhead lighting. The goal here is soft indirect lighting. Invest in some string lights and if you don’t have a good place to hang them, place them on the tablescape. Also, employ the use of candles all around the room, but be careful not to overwhelm your guests with clashing scents. Unscented candles can be found at the grocery store.
Then, make sure your table is properly set.
Make a menu! Even if it is printed off of your home printer and cut yourself, it will instantly make everyone feel special. Along with this, use name cards to indicate where people are to sit. Because it’s fun!
Invest in dishes. It can be super easy to find dishes on a dime, and investing in pretty dishes may make you want to throw more dinner parties! Be certain you are using the right glasses for cocktails and water. After all, nobody wants champagne in a sippy cup. (Glasses chart)
Adding a simple vase and flowers will also add to your table. You can find inexpensive flowers at your grocery sale, look out for sales and coupons too.
*Tip: Keep your flowers in a low vase so they don’t obstruct conversation and eye contact.
4. Music and Ambiance
It is important that when your guests walk into your home they immediately feel welcomed and relaxed. You can instantly tell when the host has taken care to make the atmosphere comfortable. These tips are cost-free and easy to do but make all the difference in the dinner party experience.
Pick a playlist that is relaxing and fun. You definitely don’t want your music to overwhelm the conversation. Make sure the volume is low and place the speaker somewhere in the corner of the room, so it isn’t in anyone’s ear. Spotify has many “mood playlists” and Pandora does too. Here are some that I like:
Jazzy Dinner (Spotify)
Classical Intimate Dinner (Spotify)
Dinner Party (Spotify)
Hipster Cocktail Party Radio (Pandora)
Dinner Party Radio (Pandora)
*Tip: This is your party, so pick the music you like! These playlists are in the “easy listening” genre, so if you aren’t sure what to pick, give them a try.
Check the temperature! If you like your house to be extra warm or cold, make an effort to adjust the temperature to a comfortable level for all of your guests. It is awful when you are invited to someone’s house and it’s too cold or too hot. A considerate 68 to 70 degrees is recommended.
Keep throw blankets out on the couch as well as lots of pillows. It not only makes your living room look cozier but also makes guests generally more comfortable when sitting and chatting. Plus, if there is a blanket out on the couch or nearby, a guest will not feel guilty for using it if they get chilly.
*Tip: Prepare a day in advance so you have time to thoroughly tidy and spot potential problems before the party.
Spray some air freshener. Even if you think your home smells delightful, it can’t hurt to take this extra step. Light a candle or two while you’re at it! We get used to our home’s smell and we might not detect an unpleasant aroma. Nothing is more unsettling than going to a friend’s home only to discover it is smells.
As soon as they get in the door and remove there coat, offer them a drink. This is an easy way to make your guest feel taken care of before they tour your home. The drink can be coffee, water, a cocktail, beer, etc.
Give out the wifi password! You can get a chalkboard and write it out if you want to be extra fancy. If it is horribly long with numbers and symbols, consider shortening it for convenience.
Turn on outdoor lights so your guests aren’t wandering in the dark, searching around for the doorbell. Curb appeal is important. Tidy up the yard and declutter your porch. If you are in an apartment, make it easy to see which door is yours with a wreath or fun welcome mat.
Make seating easy to get to and around. Nobody likes tripping over the dog bed. So declutter and provide enough after-dinner seating for all of your guests.
Keep bills and magazines out of sight. Declutter the space before guests arrive. Having an open, clean space will put guests at ease.
Greet everyone with a smile and hug. This is a completely free and easy way to instantly make your party feel more welcome.
You can tick these inexpensive to-dos off your list if you want your dinner party to be top notch. These tips will make your guests feel so comfortable that they may not want to leave! Remember, you want to enjoy your dinner party, so don’t get stressed by overplanning. The main objective is spending time with friends over a good meal, so dine on, ladies and gentleman!