Dinner Parties – Things To Do BEFORE the Meal is Served

When hosting a dinner party, there are many things that need to be done to ensure everything runs smoothly. For example:

• There are things that are required to be done before the party even starts (see earlier post - Dinner Parties – Planning Is Essential!)
  
  
• Things that are required to be done before the meal is actually served
  
  
• Things that are required to be done during the meal itself
  
  
• Things that are required to be done after the meal has been finished
  
  
• And even things that are required to be done AFTER the party is over!
  

In this post, we will focus on some of the important things to do BEFORE the meal is actually served. These things are important as they set the tone for the entire evening. Spend a little time getting these organized, and you will go a long way to ensuring your dinner party is a great success. So:

• Be Dressed and Ready When Your Guests Arrive
  Sounds obvious I know, but you would be amazed at how many people hold a dinner party, and get so wrapped up in preparing everything, that they are not ready when their guests start to arrive! This is REALLY important – you don't want to leave your guests waiting while you have a shower and get dressed!!
  
  
• Let Your Guests Know Where Your Home Is Located
  Have something outside – near the door to greet your guests as they approach; a wreath, a potted plant, a festive decoration, garden tea lights or luminaries (preferably not balloons – keep those for a child's party!). Make sure your guests know what to look for though!
  
  
• Have Someone Greet Your Guests as they Arrive
  It is important to have someone greeting your guests as they arrive (it is good if you can arrange a friend, or family member to perform this task as it keeps you free for other tasks). Have the person direct guests to where they can place their belongings. Ensure this 'greeter' introduces people, and ask them to accept host gifts graciously on your behalf.
  
  
• Ensure Guests Have Pre-Dinner Drinks
  It is always a good idea to have pre-meal drinks and hors d’oeuvres, as it helps people relax. Make sure you offer guests a drink as soon as possible after they arrive, and have two or three hors d’oeuvres on the coffee table. This will help put them "in the mood" for communication!
  Prepare the EntreeDuring hors d’oeuvres, slip out to get the first course on the table before the guests are asked to take their seats. The exception here is if the first course is hot; then you would wait to serve until the guests are seated.

As I mentioned, there are many, many things you need to consider for a smooth-running dinner party – and I have only touched on one small component here! Always keep in mind though, the more you plan for a dinner party, the smoother things will run – which of course means more fun for you – and your guests!

A dinner party can be a wonderful social occasion and a fantastic chance to catch up with great friends in a completely relaxed environment, so long as you have ALL the bases covered! Make sure you know all the tips and tricks of hosting a perfect dinner party by getting your very own copy of Dining Etiquette – The Concise Guide For Everyone! In it I cover all the important things you need to know so you can host the perfect dinner party! To get your very own copy, or for more information, simply click here to be taken to the website.