You've sent out the invites, you've ordered the champagne, and now to the food! Party food needs to be that little bit special, delicious (of course) but fun and fabulous enough to get people talking too.

If you can make your food about sharing, then the party is already in the swing of things! Dishes with dips and skewers are ideal and encourage people to graze and congregate around the food. Tasting plates are a great idea too – lots of little portions of different things for people to try (a bit like tapas). And bowls dotted all over the house or venue can encourage people to move around and socialise while they eat.

This article will explore what need to be done to have a great dinner party. Whether it's a big shin ding or a small quiet gathering, there are some fundamentals that need to be planned to make sure that the evening goes off without a hitch.

We'll explore them in a number of parts -

1) Some simple maths.
How many people are coming? Did you invite 2 people or 12 people? Will your guests bring some welcome, but unexpected, people too? Knowing the number of people, even as a rough guide, helps to plan things better.

When I think back on my childhood, I don't have any memories of my parents hosting a party other than the occasional holiday. I don't even remember them having any friends over for dinner. In my adult life, I have come to learn that the idea of playing hostess is very stressful for my mother. I have also learned that she is not alone in feeling this way.

 

When I got married and set up my own home, I found that I enjoyed entertaining friends and family, but with no motherly advice to work with, I didn't have a clue whether or not I was "doing it right."