How to Host Your First Dinner Party

The holidays are quickly approaching, which means hosting season is upon us! But, if you haven’t done it much before, hosting can be intimidating! Here’s a step-by-step guide to how to host your first dinner party.

I don’t know about you, but as soon as fall arrives, I find myself wanting to host all the time. I would be happy to have friends over every single weekend for dinner or a game night! But, sometimes I hear from friends that hosting makes them nervous. It feels like too much pressure and they aren’t sure where to even begin.

Friend, if this is you, I’m here to help! Today, we’re chatting about how to host your first dinner party. If if you find yourself longing to have all of your favorite people over for a casual gathering but are completely intimidated by the idea of hosting, this post is for you.

10 Steps to Host Your First Dinner Party

Step One: Make a Plan

Obviously, the first step to hosting a dinner party is to decide to host a dinner party! When I first get the itch to host, I think about what exactly I’d like to do. Do I want to have friends over to watch a specific movie? Or maybe a watch party for a favorite show? Do I want to host a game night, or just have some friends over for dinner so I can try a new recipe?

It helps if you go into things knowing what your goal is. Often, this time of year, we’re just looking to spend some time with the people we love without a big agenda. Those are my favorite kinds of gatherings!

In this stage the big things to figure out are:

• Who do I want to invite? Will they all know each other already?
• Do I have an activity planned aside from dinner (like a game night or a watch party)?
• Will I cook everything or have people bring food? Or, will we order in?

Once you’ve got those basic questions answered, you’re ready to get the real planning started.

Step Two: Send Out Those Invites!

Now, it’s time to plan your guest list. In these busier times of the year, I like to give guests at least 2-ish weeks notice – more is even better. Generally, I keep things casual with a quick text to invite my guests, but sometimes it’s fun to throw a cute invite together in Canva to make things feel special! There are tons of simple templates to get you started, and you can download it and text it off to your invitees.

Step Three: Keep the Menu Simple

With the guests invited, we’re ready to officially make a menu. My number one recommendation here is to keep things really simple. Sometimes, I’m tempted to make a really fancy or elaborate menu, but that often makes things too complicated. Instead, choose something you know you can do well and stick to that.

A few menu ideas?

• Roasted chicken with vegetables and some crunchy bread
• A big ol’ bowl of spaghetti and meatballs with a fresh salad
• Some yummy enchiladas with chips and dips
• Literally anything in the crock pot
• A bring-your-favorite-dish potluck
• Or, order in your favorite pizza and call it a day!

Remember that the point of your dinner party isn’t to showcase your culinary skills (unless that is the point and then you don’t need my advice on the menu!). Just make sure to check in with guests on dietary restrictions and preferences and then stick to something simple that won’t take you too long or cause stress.

Oh, and a bonus tip – I always plan on a small appetizer or some snacks that can be eaten standing up. My go-to is a simple charcuterie board. Some cheese, olives, and crackers tossed on a platter are such a stress-free precursor to the main course!

Step Four: Spend Some Time on the Table

And now it’s my favorite part – the ambiance! I love to spend a little extra time setting the dinner table and making it feel special. Remember that this doesn’t need to be over the top. You can keep it super casual while still feeling like you’ve put some effort in. I particularly love these disposable plates for bigger gatherings, but we almost always stick to our regular dinner plates. I use cloth napkins because they feel fancy and it’s easy to toss them in the washer afterwards. Oh, and a couple of candles and fresh flowers in a simple vase go a long way!

As for place cards, I only use them for bigger gatherings where people may not know each other. It can eliminate the “who am I going to talk to?” worry and make conversation flow easier. But, otherwise, guests just plop down where they feel comfortable.

Need some ideas for table setting? I’ve got you covered. Here are some simple everyday table centerpiece ideas, and here are a few easy and affordable table setting essentials.

Step Five: Don’t Forget the Playlist

Having some background music going as guests are arriving creates the coziest and most welcoming mood! Stick to music that won’t distract from the conversation – I love some to play some like Frank Sinatra and Etta James, mixed in with of my old college favorites (Augustana and Iron and Wine are always must-haves for me).

Step Six: Greet Guests With a Drink

The best way to make people feel welcome and settle into the dinner party is to make sure you offer them a drink when they arrive! I usually have a couple of wine options, and if I’m feeling fancy I might have a cocktail prepared ahead of time. But, this applies even if you aren’t serving alcohol – mix up a simple mocktail or even just have some sparkling water available. Everyone feels a little more comfortable with a drink in their hand, it’s just science.

Psst: this is a great time to show off your favorite glassware and wine glasses! Here are some gorgeous options if you need to stock up.

Step Seven: Have Some Icebreakers Ready!

I always like to have a couple of simple icebreaker questions ready, especially if you’ve got guests who don’t know each other well! Try not to make this feel too formulaic or weird – instead, just casually toss out a question to the group. Here are a few ideas:

• If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?
• Are you superstitious about anything?
• If you had to give a 30-minute lecture on something, what topic would you choose?
• What television show could you watch over and over?
• What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

A simple question is almost guaranteed to get the conversation flowing and make your guests feel comfortable!

Step Eight: Keep Dessert Casual

I’m a firm believer that dessert is a must at a dinner party, but it doesn’t need to be complicated! You can prep ahead with some homemade cookies or a quick dump cake, or you can just set out a few pints of ice cream and some bowls of candy. You can’t go wrong with keeping things simple, and if the conversation is flowing already, it’s helpful if the dessert is casual and doesn’t have to be eaten at the table.

Step Nine: Have an After Dinner Plan – But Stay Flexible!

You don’t want your guests to rush out the door as soon as dinner is over, right? So, it’s helpful to have a plan for after dinner if you need some help keeping things going.

I always like to have a few small games set out in case the vibe feels right. A few favorites for casual dinner parties are Play Nine, Rack-O, and Just One. They’re crowdpleasers and only take a couple of minutes to teach your guests!

Of course, if the conversation is flowing, a game can interrupt it! Be prepared to go with the flow and feel out your guests. Maybe all you’ll want to do is move into the living room and continue chatting. A backup plan is always nice to have, though.

Step Ten: Save the Cleanup for Later.

Often, at the end of the night, guests will gravitate to the kitchen to try and help them clean up. I always say a very sincere thank you and then gently usher everyone out of the kitchen. If you make it clear that you aren’t worried about the mess, your guests will relax too. My goal at a dinner party is always to stay in the moment and be present. Plus, there’s nothing better those quiet minutes after everyone leaves when you can clean up while you reflect on the great time you had!

And there you have it – everything you need to know to host your first dinner party! I know I personally find myself constantly looking for excuses to have people over this time of year, so hopefully this leaves you feeling inspired to give it a shot!