Don’t arrive on time to a dinner party—this practice has become taboo. Fashionably late is the way to go and the socially acceptable lag time sits at about 15 minutes after the “official” start time of the party. 

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about how to host a dinner party at your new house. It is a great way to show off your new digs and have fun with friends. 

Follow this guide to take the stress out of planning and throwing the party. By the end of this article, you will be left with nothing but excitement about hosting a dinner party, so be sure to keep reading!

Prepare the Basics

The first thing to discuss when it comes to how to host a dinner party is all of the materials you will need to set up your house. Don’t be intimated because once you have collected everything you will need, the rest is easy. 

When preparing your house for the party, you will need a table cloth, napkins, utensils and plates catered to the meal courses you plan to have, water and wine glasses, and flowers or another similar table decoration to create a festive vibe. Gathering these items ahead of time will make setup easy on the day of the event.

Guest List

Decide on the perfect date for your dinner party at home. Fridays and Saturdays are usually the way to go to create a more relaxed atmosphere because people won’t be worried about work and other commitments. 

Then, determine the guest list. Consider whether you want to have an intimate party and only invite a few of your closest friends or if you prefer to host a large gathering to bring as many friends together as possible.

Send invitations a couple of weeks before the event so that people have time to organize their schedules and RSVP in advance so you can plan for food and drinks appropriately. 

Food and Drink

If you are hosting a small and intimate dinner party at home, you might be able to prepare all the food on your own; if so, pace yourself, and start meal prep a few days before the event. If you go the big dinner party route, you might want to have it potluck style. Consider making the main course yourself and having each of your guests bring something of their choice to share. 

Make sure to have plenty of drinks of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties. If anyone asks what they can bring, tell them drinks! That way, you won’t run out, and you will have a little bit of everything to appeal to all of your guests’ tastes.

Decorations

Decorations always add a festive flair to parties. Consider setting up some candles for ambiance and buying fresh flowers. This will make your house feel like a fancy event venue, and your guests will feel like they had a classy night out. 

Cleaning and decluttering your home a couple of days before the event will also add to a fancy feel. Plus, your guests will be more impressed with your new house.

The Rest of How to Host a Dinner Party Is Easy

Now that you know how to host a dinner party, all that’s left is the event itself. Sit back, relax, and enjoy some good food and company. Your dinner party is bound to be a night to remember and repeat in the future. 

For more on using your house to its full potential and finding the right home for your needs, be sure to visit our blog.