Whether you have just moved into your own home or are hoping to impress with your culinary skills, your first dinner party can be exciting but also quite a daunting prospect.
It’s natural to worry about hosting a dinner party for a group of people, especially if you aren’t a whizz in the kitchen, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful occasion. Advance planning will make the entire occasion much more straightforward so that you can enjoy the evening too.
Need some help and inspiration? Here are some top tips that may come in useful for hosting your first dinner party.
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Decide who to invite
It’s not always the best idea to be overly ambitious for your first dinner party and invite a roomful of people you don’t know too well. Start off by inviting a small group of up to six guests so that you’re not too overwhelmed.
Inviting a group of friends who have never met before may be awkward – especially if you’re going to be out of the room cooking for most of the evening. Instead, invite people who know each other or a group of couples who can hold the conversation while you’re away.
Always be sure to ask your guests about any dietary restrictions or allergies weeks beforehand so that you can plan each dish accordingly and make the necessary amendments.
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Plan your menu
If you’re not much of a culinary genius, preparing and cooking the dishes is likely to be the aspect of the evening you’re dreading. While it’s always good to try out a new challenge, don’t choose a menu that you’re unfamiliar with or are worried could go substantially wrong. Not only will it boost your stress levels, but it may put you off hosting dinner parties in the future. Cook a meal that you have tried before or is relatively easy to follow so you don’t get any nasty surprises. For example, you could try this simple lemon butter fish dish using fresh fish from sandysfish.net. It’s straightforward, healthy, and will cater to most diets.
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Choose the correct ambiance
It’s always good to set the ambiance of your dinner party depending on the type of atmosphere you’d like to create. Is it formal or more casual? Intimate friends or a group of acquaintances? Couples or a group of singletons? Everything from the table décor to the music, lighting and activities will all have an impact on the atmosphere, so ensure you get it just right so that there’s no awkwardness or confusion.
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Finally – be easy on yourself
Organizing a dinner party isn’t easy, and if this is your first time, there are bound to be hiccups along the way. Try not to worry too much. Your guests will appreciate your efforts and shouldn’t judge you if you happen to make mistakes. Getting nervous won’t affect how well you perform, so try and enjoy the evening to make your hard efforts worthwhile. As long as you prepare in good time, everything should go smoothly.
