Enjoy a night of good food and great company when you invite your loved ones to a dinner party to remember. Hosting a dinner party is a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday, commemorate an anniversary, or ring in the holidays with seasonal dishes and artisanal drinks.
The key to a successful dinner party is in the planning, letting you relax and enjoy yourself when the day arrives. Learn how to host a dinner party with Southern Tide’s easy-to-follow guide, complete with table setting ideas for a dinner party, menu suggestions, and our favorite dinner party attire for any style.
1. Start Planning Early
A great dinner party looks like it came together at the last minute, even when that’s the furthest thing from the truth. Planning weeks or even months in advance ensures that every detail falls into place—and eliminates last-minute scrambling.
Items on your to-do list for hosting a dinner party include:
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Choosing a date and a time
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Making a guest list
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Deciding where you’re hosting
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Planning a menu
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Selecting decorations
Once you’ve got the basic details ready, send invitations to your guests so they can mark your dinner party in their calendars. If you’re hosting a party around the holidays or another busy time of year, try to get your invitations out at least a month in advance (if not sooner) so guests have time to RSVP. We recommend opting for a mailed invitation over a digital invite unless you’re in a pinch — physical invitations have a certain personal touch that digital might lack.
2. Prepare Your Space
Transform your home into a beautiful dinner venue to set the scene for your dinner party. Use candles and dim lighting to create a cozy atmosphere, decorate your dining room with fresh flowers, and set up an elegant tablescape with vibrant cloth napkins, china and glassware, and formal name cards.
Other table-setting ideas for a dinner party include:
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Adding seasonal centerpieces to your table, such as fall pumpkins or a vase of winter pinecones
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Setting your tableware along a jewel-hued runner as a gorgeous backdrop to your serving dishes
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Adorn wine glasses with distinctive trinkets so guests can tell their drinks apart
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Place party favors on each plate, such as celebration crackers or small bags of candied almonds
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Use glassware from designers like Estelle Colored Glass, one of our favorite Southern brands.
Brighten up the rest of your home for guests to enjoy, whether with decorative bowls of potpourri or coastal bath towels for the restroom. The goal is to create an inviting and welcoming space with timeless elements that enhance the atmosphere.
3. Prepare a Delicious Menu
Whether you’re hosting a casual dinner party with friends or an extravagant multi-course meal for your co-workers, the food is the main attraction of any dinner party. Consider a culinary theme to tie your dishes together, such as:
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Italian courses with wine pairings
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Seaside servings that transport you to the ocean
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Tapas to complement a Spanish or Mediterranean meal
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A selection of warm soups or stews for guests to sample
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Desserts that tie into an upcoming holiday or celebration
When planning your menu, consider your guests' dietary restrictions and preferences. You may also want to plan a mix of appetizers, entrees, and desserts to ensure everyone is well-fed and satisfied.
4. Consider the Drinks
While no one expects a full bar at a dinner party, it’s always nice to offer your guests a variety of drink selections. You can serve wine, beer, and sparkling water or try a few of the following:
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Punch bowls for a large crowd
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Customized cocktails for the occasion
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Non-alcoholic options, such as Shirley Temples or fountain drinks
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A pitcher of sangria to pass up the table
A Couple Cooks has great recipes for a newbie mixologist to become a seasoned mixologist. Consider your guests' preferences and provide a range of options.
5. Choose Your Dinner Party Attire
Southern Tide’s selection of classic and elegant clothing makes it easy to choose attire for a dinner party. If you’re the hostess of your event, find beautiful dinner party attire for women that lets you flow easily through the room while looking sophisticated and effortlessly put together. Possible outfit options include:
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A high-quality top or blouse paired with pants
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A comfortable, classic dress
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A stretchy performance dress for outdoor parties
For men’s dinner party attire, choose stylish pieces like:
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Sport shirts and button-downs in a variety of patterns and styles
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Khaki pants and chinos that transition from office to party
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A lightweight blazer to finish any sophisticated outfit
Southern Tide has outfits that are perfect for casual dinner party attire as well. From our women’s new arrivals that’ll guarantee compliments to our Charleston Collection with plenty of options for men, you’ll find just the right dinner party attire to keep you comfortable and stylish.
6. Be a Gracious Host
When the day of your dinner party arrives, most of your arrangements should fall neatly into place. But you’ve still got a few host or hostess duties to fulfill, including:
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Greeting your guests warmly as they arrive
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Making introductions between guests who may not know each other
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Ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and included
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Handling any last-minute issues, such as parking needs or accommodating surprise guests
Hosting a dinner party is much more enjoyable when you’ve taken the time to plan the event's details. That way, you can sit down and enjoy the meal and conversation with your guests rather than get caught up in the hosting details.
Dress To Impress With Southern Tide
Overall, hosting a dinner party can be an excellent way to connect with one another while creating lasting memories. By following these tips and thoughtfully preparing a successful evening, you’re sure to have a wonderful time hosting your next dinner party.
Prepare for your next occasion with Southern Tide’s attire guides. From what to wear on a cruise to date night outfit ideas for men, we’ll help you find the right clothes for any style.
