10 Essential Tips for Hosting a Dinner Party

If you don’t know how to get the party started but want to make a great impression on your guests, follow these 10 tips for entertaining at home.

1. Make your invites more personal

A handwritten invitation on a beautiful card is a personal and meaningful way to connect with your friends and guests.
Custom invite cards – iPrintery

2. Prepare versatile drink mixers

Just like one-pot cooking, make cocktail mixers that can be also great on their own for non-alcohol drinkers.
MENU Vignon Multi Carafe – $60.00 Amazon

3. Add a splash of color

Colorful drinking glasses add an element of fun on your table and can also sparkle conversations.
Unique Colored Wine Glasses 16-oz, set of 4 – $39.99 Amazon

4. Invest in beautiful plates

Even the simplest hors d’oeuvres, salad, crostini, or cheese are impressive when served on beautiful plates.
Hutton Bone China Dinner Plate – $40.00 B By Brandie

5. Scale up your salad bowl

Make a bold statement on your table. A large salad bowl will enhance your presentation and prevents the greens from spilling out while you toss it.
Alessi Stainless Steel Salad serving bowl – $94.00 Amazon

6. Don’t spend too much time in the kitchen

What a party is about if the hostess is stuck for hours in the kitchen? A one-pot make-ahead dish is a must for the main course, so you can spend more time with your guests. Prepare a delicious slow-braised, melt-in-your-mouth dish that you can bring directly to the table.
Commercial Grade 8 QT (Quart) Heavy-Gauge Stainless Steel Stock Pot – $40.97 Amazon

7. Opt for a double dip dessert

Get Champagne and ice-cream in one dessert! Pre-scoop the balls of ice cream or sorbet and keep them in the freezer so you can put the desserts together in a cinch at the very last minute.
Get the Champagne sorbet recipe here.

(Headline picture via Caramelized Blog)