Dinner is a great time to reconnect with loved ones. It’s also a fantastic time for a little dinner party planning.
But when it comes to dinner parties, there are a few things to remember such as a detailed shopping list, choosing the perfect date and planning the perfect first impressions for when your guests arrive.
Here are a few quick reminders for planning a dinner party that’s sure to inspire.
Choose a theme
Picking a theme for your dinner party is an excellent way to build anticipation for your event. Choosing a theme can also help guide you when preparing food, decorations and party games.
For example, if you’re throwing a football party, you may want to choose traditional tailgate foods, such as sliders and ask for guests to come in attire adorned with their favorite team.
Build your dinner party menu
While table settings and managing a cooking schedule might seem like the biggest part of planning your party, you may want to consider guests with food restrictions.
For example, some guests may have a gluten-free diet, and others may be fine with everything except tomatoes. Review any dietary restrictions before starting your shopping list. This way, both you and your guests feel confident in the hors d’oeuvres and enjoy your get together.
Enhance your atmosphere
When planning your dinner party, examine the type of mood you want to set. Are you going for a more relaxed, fun and casual vibe? Or, are you trying to set the right mood for a formal gathering?
Determine your lighting, main course decor and table spread based on your desired mood to ensure the atmosphere hits the mark. You may even choose to add a little extra music to keep the air light.
These tips are sure to help you keep your calm and embrace your loved ones as they arrive. Remember, preparing charming place settings, serving dishes topped with edible decorations and turning your dining room into a cozy yet chic dining experience is sure to get your guest list craving your next dinner party
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
