Art_Of_Entertaining_2016

Planning Tips
YOU’RE HAVING A DINNER PARTY
You call of your guests and tell them you are having a dinner party. All of your guests are planning to sit down and be served a meal. A
dinner party does NOT mean this is a buffet style meal. If you are having more people than your dining room table can sit and you need
to create another seating area then hire someone to help you serve. Think about where everyone will sit and maybe create seating cards.
classic cocktail party
The Cocktail Party has been a staple of many a host/ hostess for years. Most often the party has no real theme except to be a gathering
of friends or colleagues for socializing. When planning a cocktail party, it is important to indicate attire. Often, when the party falls on a
traditional work night, guest may come directly from work; therefore business casual is the proper attire.
If your party is being held on the weekend, you may want to indicate to guest the attire you would prefer to go along with the feel of your
affair whether it be casual or , semi casual, or cocktail attire. Don’t forget to have a start/end time. Most cocktail parties last for 2-3 hours
if you are serving hors d’oeurves then you may want to start your party between 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. If you are planning on serving a
buffet or lights meals then you can start your party as late at 7:00 PM and last for 3 or more hours.
For a party as such as this, your menu should include an assortment of light to heavy hors d’oeurves. These can be both buffet or butler
style (passed) selections. If the party is a traditional somewhat formal gathering, you may want to use china plates rather than disposable,
and glassware for your bar service. The service table or buffet table can be kept simple yet elegant. A table dressing with a seasonal
floral centerpiece is enough to embellish the center of your food service. Be sure to have some type of music playing for ambiance, but
be sure to keep volume low enough as to not have your guest competing to be heard. A great suggestion is to limit musical selections to
instrumentals only.
Cocktail Party Tip: Why not put your signature on your party? Try serving a signature cocktail or martini to your guest. Pick your favorite
or invent one uniquely your own and present it to guest as they arrive. Give it a name that your guest will remember, and most likely ask
for next time you entertain!
small house or apartment
If you think your house is too small or you live in an apartment and you can’t host a dinner event. Think again! Just a little planning and
you can pull this off comfortably and successful.
• Keep your menu simple
• Consider a buffet style dinner. This will give you more sitting options and you won’t have to worry about seats at the dinner table.
• Clear all clutter (including the counters)
• Open your space by moving furniture or chairs around to allow standing room.
• Depending on the weather – allow guess to go outside. Set up chairs and tables with candles or other attractive lighting.
• If you have many guests then consider hiring help to either tend bar or manage the food.
• If you apartment is very small turn your bedroom into a siting room.
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