Dine in Style: A Dinner Party Hosting Guide

If aesthetically pleasing dinner parties have taken over your TikTok and Instagram feeds, you’re not alone. These parties are a perfect opportunity to spend quality time with friends as well as creatively express yourself through decor and food. Still, you may have seen these beautifully set tables and impressive menus and felt intimidated at the thought of hosting one yourself. But fear not, Party on Butler is here to help – it’s kinda our thing. Through this blog, we’ll give you all the tips and tricks to throwing a gorgeous dinner party.

A Theme

The first step to hosting a fabulous dinner party is establishing a theme. Your theme will dictate everything that follows – the colors, decor, menu items, even dress code! Keeping all aspects cohesive with the theme is the key to a polished and professional party. Here are some themes we’ve seen and loved recently: Spring Fling, Italia, Zodiac Signs, and Backyard Fiesta.

Menus

After choosing your theme, it’s time to figure out your menu. One of our favorite dinner party touches are printed-out menus set at each spot. While they can easily be created on Canva or Adobe Illustrator, this professional touch will wow your guests. The great thing about planning your menu is that it’s totally customizable – you can make everything on the menu yourself, make it into a pot-luck style meal, or simply pick up your favorite takeout and plate it nicely!

Tableware

Tableware can really make or break the vibes of your dinner party. If you plan to host these regularly, it’s worth it to invest in high-quality table linens (tablecloths, napkins, table runners, etc). Make sure all of your plates, serving dishes, and utensils cohesively match the color scheme, too. 

Decorations

Decor time! This is where you can really show off your theme. Easy decor ideas include candle sticks, floral arrangements, balloons, disco balls, and fairy lights, but once again, it all comes down to the theme!

Signature Drink

A signature drink is a great way to impress your guests and tie in with your theme. You can create a cocktail or mocktail that reflects the flavors of your menu or opt for a classic favorite. Using decorative glassware will make your drink even cuter. 

Treats

No dinner party is complete without a sweet treat to finish off the meal. While you can definitely use this as an opportunity to show off your baking skills, this might be something you want to buy beforehand – especially if you already worked so hard on the dinner menu. If you’re local to Pittsburgh, we absolutely recommend any treats from Lola’s Eatery or Mediterra Cafe.

Extras

When it comes down to it, impressive parties are all about the little details that add a special touch. Once again, this all comes down to your personal vibe, but here are some ideas to get you started:

• Disposable cameras to capture the night on film

• A DIY craft such as painting canvases or making bouquets

• A wine tasting (this would go great with an Italian menu)

• A conversation card game (Table Topics or After Dinner Trivia)

Hosting a dinner party can be a daunting task, but with the right preparation and planning, it can be fun and memorable experience for both you and your guests. Remember to stay true to your personal style and keep things fun!

At Party on Butler, we offer decor and event planning services that can help you plan your perfect dinner party! Visit our Pittsburgh store, browse our online shop, and check out our Instgram for all of your party planning and decor needs.

Find out how you can transform any venue into the perfect event getaway with Party on Butler’s stunning balloon installations today!