7 Essentials for Hosting a Memorable Dinner Party

Dinner parties have never gone out of style, and it’s not just because we all love good food. Gathering with family and friends for a delicious home-cooked meal is as good for our hearts as it is for our stomachs. But when it’s a special occasion, you need to go the extra mile.

So here are the 7 essentials for hosting a memorable dinner party. 

Extendable Dining Table

There’s nothing worse than sitting at a cramped dinner table. But if you don’t have space for a large dining table, what can you do? Extendable Dining Tables are the solution! These innovative tables transform into banquet-sized tables in seconds. 

They’re available in solid wood, and contemporary designs, and make dinner party planning quick and easy. When the party ends and your guests leave, just clear the table and fold it back into its more compact configuration. It’s every fashionable housewife’s secret weapon for a memorable dinner party! 

Beautiful Dinnerware

Any meal is more memorable when served on beautiful dinnerware. You have two choices here. Stick to classic bone china porcelain or stoneware. If you have an heirloom dinner service that is in excellent condition and complete, you may want to allow it to grace a dinner table once again. 

Don’t use your everyday plates and bowls if you’re looking to make a good impression. The everyday earthenware that you use for family meals may be cracked or looking worse for wear. And keep any melamine plates for family picnics or eating snacks in front of the TV. They’re unsuitable for dinner parties.

Good Quality Glassware

Never underestimate the impact of good quality glassware for a memorable dinner party. If you’re going to be enjoying a glass or two of wine at your dinner party, they will be noticed. 

But try to resist the urge to buy colorful or printed glassware for this purpose. These can soon look outdated, and create the wrong impression, even if you know how to select the right wine. 

Appropriate Flatware

If you don’t own a set of classic dinner party flatware, consider investing in one. Basic cutlery that you use for weekly family meals is best left in the kitchen. Also, ensure you have the correct flatware for what you’ll be serving. 

It’s not all about etiquette. A proper fish knife and fork  — a knife with a sharp, curved edge and a four-tined fork — make fish easier to eat. A small cake fork makes it easier to enjoy a slice of your home-baked cake for dessert.

Stylish Placemats 

If you have a traditional wood table, you may prefer to show it off, without a tablecloth. That’s perfectly understandable, but remember to give it a polish so it looks its best for the big night. But don’t forget about the placemats. They will protect your dining table surface and are a must-have for any dinner party. 

There are many stylish placemats available in almost every homeware store. Steer clear of brightly hued or bold patterns, unless using all-white plates and bowls. Embrace the eco-friendly design trend, and opt for natural fibers like hand-woven grass, sisal, or cork. They look good with everything.

Napkins

Napkins are much more than just functional dinnertime items. Like placemats, they add the ultimate finishing touch to each place setting. So for a stylish dinner party, don’t put out those paper napkins. 

Although you can get them in colors and even prints, they will never have the same flair as cloth napkins. Crisp cotton or linen napkins in white or any solid hue will turn every dinner party into an elegant affair.

Eye Catching Centerpiece

No dinner party is complete without an eye-catching centerpiece on the table. Best of all, you don’t even have to buy one if you have a garden. A floral arrangement created from your home-grown blooms with a scented candle or two is a practical yet attractive choice.

However, the centerpiece should never stand so high that it obscures your view of the diner opposite you. Keep this in mind when arranging your centerpiece before the guests arrive. For a festive holiday table, add some shiny baubles to complete the look.