CHARM YOUR GUESTS WITH AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENING…
Organizing a dinner party may appear challenging, but allocating sufficient time for planning will help to ensure a smooth and pleasant evening with your guests.
Regardless of the size or formality of the event, effective organization and planning are crucial to ensuring your party flows smoothly. Although, I must say that I have put together a formal dinner in three hours! I have been a Navy spouse for over thirty years, and this has often been the scenario. My grandmother Lilian taught me about etiquette, table setting, and good manners. I learned to appreciate chinaware, dinnerware, and silverware. Dinners with her were always delightful and charming.
Whether it is a casual dinnerware set, or a formal dinnerware set it enables you to show off your style and your vision of creating a beautiful table. Versatile patterns are practical because they suit various themes and dinner styles.
As a military spouse for thirty plus years, entertaining goes with the territory. I have learned quite a lot, which has added to what I already knew and helped to shape the way I entertain. I have participated in numerous committees responsible for organizing large-scale events, and I have hosted a variety of luncheons, afternoon teas, and dinner parties, both formal and informal. You can make your gathering as casual or as formal as you wish. I just love the chance to get together with loved ones, friends, or acquaintances. A casual lunch, barbecue in the backyard, dinner with family or a formal evening, but no matter what you prefer, you can make a memorable and charming event for your guests.
I love the entire process of organizing a beautiful dinner or event. Here are some tips.
DINNERWARE SETS
- Having at least two sets of dinnerware is a clever idea, a casual set for everyday use and then another set for formal family dinners. Choosing your dinnerware set does not have to be expensive either, you do not have to buy all at once. You can gradually collect pieces over time. You can find sellers online offering complete sets and ordering any missing pieces. Personally, I love the older sets and have collected quite a few of them or they have passed down to me from family members. This also helps with a layered table setting. Mixing it up and making it work. One of my personal favorites is pairing colorful plates with elegant charger plates and mixing the sets and accessories. My grandmother always had place settings for twelve or more.
SILVERWARE
- Having two or more sets of silverware is also a good idea. I have a casual set for everyday dinners, a silver set and a gold set as you will see in my tablescapes.
WINE GLASSES
- I love a beautiful wine glass; it can be very ornate or quite simple looking. Again, pick your wine glasses to suit your table. You may have a set of wine glasses that you use for everything or two separate sets, one casual and one formal. Matching water glasses look amazing but equally you can mix them up with different styles.
CENTERPIECES
- Adding a flower centerpiece will add so much beauty to your table, even if it is faux centerpiece, or you can mix up the two together. For example, at one of my ‘last minute’ dinner parties, I did not have time to run out to the store, so I used the arrangements I had in my house, and it worked wonderfully. Additionally, creating your own centerpieces can be an enjoyable and rewarding activity.
It does not have to be a flower arrangement, look around your house and see what you can use.
TABLECLOTHS & LINENS
- Your dining table is not just a place to eat but it is where your guests will gather, laugh and get to know each other and create a wonderful memory. Your table will set the tone for the evening, and your guests will appreciate the effort. I do love the look of a beautifully polished wood table but also a table set with beautiful tablecloths and linens. I do have a lot of neutral, pastel tablecloths which are very versatile. There are so many kinds of placemats to choose from and can create a distinctive look to your tablescape.
CANDLE ETIQUETTE
- Adding candles to an evening dinner really does set the ambiance for your evening. Single candles holders of all assorted sizes, matching, or candelabra’s make your table look enchanting and relaxing. Wax candles are a usual staple on a table and do omit a lovely fragrance, but I recommend a candle snuffer to omit the smoke. I also use battery operated candles to avoid the drips on my holders and table. It is exceedingly difficult to get wax out of a tablecloth. When to light your candles? Usually, candles should be lit at dusk but if it is an overcast or rainy day for a luncheon, they are a great light source without turning on the room lights.
TABLE FAVORS
- Complimenting your guests with a table favor is a wonderful way to say welcome and for your guests to walk away with a little gift from you. You can order favors online, but you can also be very inventive. Create your favors to match your theme or add a simple chocolate or candy. For example, I hosted a nautical themed dinner party and on each side plate I placed an anchor bottle opener, which was in a gift bag with a tag attached. Make can also make your own chocolate lollipops. Order a chocolate mold, lollipop sticks, treat bags and tie them up with tag and a bow!
TABLE ARRANGEMENTS & TABLE MENU’S
- When it comes to seating arrangements, I like to mix everyone up, male, female, so that everyone gets to chat and gets to know each other. On the other hand, sometimes the ‘boys’ like to sit together and so do the girls. If it’s a business dinner, then the key guests should sit next to or opposite each other. It is up to you. There are some beautiful place cards you can buy online with assorted colors. A white one with a fancy edge looks lovely.
Some hosts include an individual menu at each place setting, but it can take up room on your table. I like to have a dinner menu on the appetizer table, so my guests can see it before they enter the dining room. You can also buy menus or download a blank menu online.
So now you have finished setting your table, look from all angles and see what is missing or anything you may want to add or subtract. Look at the beautiful table you have set; you should be proud of yourself!
