Terri Ramsey Beavers The holidays will be here before we know it! In just a few months, everyone will be sitting around a table with their family and friends celebrating Thanksgiving. While it is one of my favorite holidays and I am always glad to host it when needed, it can also be stressful for the host.
In fact, a lot of people do not know how to throw a successful dinner party. Most people throw together a list of their favorite dishes and that’s all, but there are a few tips and tricks that you should follow in order to succeed, with ease. Before we jump into them, I just want to say that hosting Thanksgiving, or any successful dinner party is meant to be fun. At the end of the day, what matters is family, friendship, and happiness. If the table is not perfect, it’s okay. Just prepare, do your best, and have fun!
Now, let’s jump into some tips to help you have a successful dinner party:
Draw Up The Guest List
Drawing up the guest list is important. It’s a bit easier if it is a family event (I guess, depending on your family), but when you are inviting friends and family, or just friends, it can be a bit harder to navigate. Start by writing down your non-negotiable invitees. This may be your best friend or your sister. Whoever it is, start there and go down your list of friends. Make sure you are inviting people that get along and will keep the party flowing, instead of stopping it. The worst thing you can do is to invite a few people that will not get along (especially if they are seated next to each other).
Another tip that is very important, in my opinion, is to know that you should not feel obligated to invite anyone – this is your party and you get the final say. Invite the people you want to invite and do not invite those that you do not want in your home.
Create A Menu
The reason you create your guest list before your menu is because you need to know if anyone has any food allergies or aversions and you also need to know how many people you have invited to know approximately how much food you will need to have. Of course, this will change once the final headcount comes out closer to the event, but it will give you a head start. Once you know what kind of food you need to avoid, you can create your menu. Write down your dinner party classics such as rolls, mac, and cheese, or whatever else that you love to cook and serve. Then, see how many other dishes you think you might need and think of a few more that you can add to the list.
After you create the menu, you should do a timeline for the day of. Of course, it is easy if you have a cheese board and a salad, etc. so that you can prepare them ahead of time and do not need to work too hard on the day of, but a lot of the time, you will have a few dishes that will need to go in the oven. Creating a timeline will help you make sure you get everything done, with limited stress and on time.
Accept Help
Don’t stress out too much about this – as I said, this is supposed to be fun! Southern Living says, “Do not be too proud. This is important. Nothing ensures a Thanksgiving hosting disaster like biting off more than you can reasonably chew. If someone offers to come over and help you move your furniture around, say yes. If a friend needs somewhere to go and feels like they need to earn their keep by swinging by the liquor store for wine and beer, let them. Does Grandma still want to make her cranberry sauce? Yes, please bring it.”
Set The Mood
Set the mood by turning on music, lighting candles, and creating a pretty tablescape. Know your audience and cater to that. If they like to have a good time, add beer and games. If they are more traditional, turn on some classical music and get the party going!
Proper Appliances
Having and using the right kitchen appliances can help you tremendously, especially when you are cooking many different dishes at once. For example, having a double oven, a microwave, and a warming drawer can be very helpful. If you think that your kitchen might need an upgrade to make things easier and less stressful, I highly recommend going over to the Guy Gunter Home showroom and appliance gallery, which is a 5,000 sq. ft. gallery showroom that redefines the appliance shopping experience. Guy Gunter Home has been in the business for more than five decades and three generations, making their showroom THE place people in Metro Atlanta go when they want upscale and efficient appliances for their home. Guy Gunter believes that “Your home is more than just a shelter from the elements. It’s the place where you can find refuge in a fast-paced, twenty-four-seven world. Home is where you find comfort, in the people and the passions you cherish,” and that you deserve to enjoy a well-lived life. Guy Gunter Home is committed to helping you find beautiful products and appliances that add quality to your life, so if you are looking to update your kitchen or home in general, I suggest starting with Guy Gunter Home in Atlanta, Georgia.
