Hosting a dinner party is a fun and rewarding experience. In addition, it’s interesting to bring different groups and types of friends together to see what kind of chemistry might develop.
But one of the dangers of playing host is that it’s all too easy to break the bank on food and décor. You shouldn’t have to take out a second mortgage; it is possible to host a dinner party on the cheap. Potluck and BYOB have their merits, but your guests should know well enough to bring a bottle or a dessert. And really, potluck and BYOB aren’t the best ways to impress.
If you’re stuck for ideas, have no fear: I’ve scratched out a few tips to help you host a thrifty dinner party. They will help you combine style and substance, which will impress all your friends.
Choosing the guest list
The first step to planning a dinner party is to carve out an invite list, and one of the best ways to bring together a good dinner party is to mix guests who otherwise wouldn’t associate with one another. A properly planned guest list filled with interesting people will enhance the experience for everyone, and the diversity may serve to hide any of the corners that you’ve cut regarding the food or décor.
Preparing invitations and planning the meal
Do you want to really impress the group? Sending invitations (that’s hard copy, not e-vites) really adds a touch of class to any gathering, and it’s not necessary to buy fancy, heavyweight cards with gold-embossed printing. If you have a few minutes to be creative and you have a decent printer (or access to an office supply store that can do your print job for you), you can personalize the standard templates from your word-processing program. You can also search the web for some ideas and create your own. Just remember to handwrite names and addresses on the envelopes to make them seem more formal.
How to plan your meal and create ambiance…
Plan your meal according to the coupons that are available to you. There’s no sense going broke when you can create a delicious meal with items that are on sale. What’s more, if you take a few minutes to troll around on the internet, you’ll likely find some great sites for e-coupons and incredible bargains on quality food; just remember to check delivery times.
Creating the ambiance
Here’s where you can really get ahead of the game and deliver an air of sophistication without spending too much money. To this end, I give you two words: dollar store. Seriously, the dollar store is the party planner’s best friend. Cheap decorating supplies abound!
For an informal dinner party, such as a birthday, pick up a few streamers and candles, but if you want to dress up the occasion, select decorations that are dark and rich in color. For the table, pick up matching sets of cutlery and glasses; nothing cheapens a party more than the mismatched, hand-me-down utensils, glasses and mugs that you pilfered from Mom and Dad when you moved out. You will also need a centerpiece for your table. It doesn't have to be lavish or ornate, but a centerpiece really brings things together and adds a touch of class. A few carefully arranged flowers in a vase will go a long way toward dressing up the table.
Finally, you can help the ambiance along by asking guests to dress appropriately. It’s not always a necessary component of the party, but dresses for the ladies and button-down shirts and blazers for the men will add to the evening.
Serving appetizers
When your guests arrive, offer them some munchies. The old veggie-and-dip or chips-and-salsa options are solid standbys and great party starters. They get people mingling and snacking, and they’re usually well-liked by everyone. People also love prepared hors d’oeuvres bought from the grocery store; all you have to do is stick them in the oven 30 minutes before your guests arrive.
Creatively presenting the appetizers is a surefire way to impress your guests. If it’s in your budget, select a luxury ingredient to be accompanied by a cheaper one. Such combinations can include foie gras or smoked salmon with generic crackers or cured meats paired with garden-variety mozzarella cheese and dill pickles. You can also serve grilled sausages with some nice mustard. If need be, serve rolled-up deli meat with a couple of quality cheeses and olives.
Save time and money, and have more social opportunities with your guests…
Impressing your guests with the meal
When it comes to the meal itself, you can cut a few corners by preparing a big dish that everyone shares. You may want to consider fajitas, soups or chili. If you want to take a more formal approach to the meal, match main ingredients with cheap fillers. Think of rice- or noodle-based Asian dishes or pasta and potato dishes with lots of carbohydrates. Different varieties of breads can also help round out the meal and fill up your guests, which will give them the sense that you’ve invested a lot of time and effort into the meal.
If skimping on ingredients isn’t your style, consider making a couple of very exotic or original dishes the centerpiece of the meal, and surround them with simpler foods. A good place to start is with peasant dishes, as they’re trendy, economical and look impressive. The best part about peasant dishes is that they’re usually loaded with filler ingredients. Another option is to go with a tried-and-true recipe that you’re familiar with and you know will work, but back it up with a salad, a loaf of crusty bread and dessert.
Saving on alcohol
Alcohol can be a killer expense at any party. Hopefully your guests know enough to bring bottles, but don’t forget that you must provide a few. You can cut corners by presenting a modestly priced wine in a nice decanter.
Party Pauper
When it comes to hosting a dinner party, you can either go chic or cheap. But if you go low-budget, don’t assume that the party has to look and feel cheap. I’ve just given you quite a few little cheats that will help you get away with spending next to nothing while still being impressive. Start planning your guest list and show your friends a great time.
[Via Askmen.com, James Raiswell]
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