How do you envision a perfect evening of entertaining at home? It's possible that your experience has taught you that a special get-together has very little to do with fine china, polished silver and perfect decorations. Instead, it's about sharing time with your guests and making them feel welcome in your home.
A casual, family-style dinner party is the perfect way to give your friends and family an evening to remember. Here are some tips for creating a cozy atmosphere where your guests can help themselves to delicious food, and feel comfortable laughing, talking and having fun with one another.
Set the Mood
Create the tranquil, informal atmosphere with simple decorations. Dot the table with pretty, understated floral arrangements of cut flowers. Instead of tall vases that interfere with your view and conversation, put flowers in short glasses or mugs, or even lay them on glass trays. Set candles around the area to create a dreamy, relaxed ambiance. Again, instead of tall candles, opt for some that are small, like tea lights, which will contribute to the soothing, laid-back ambiance without being obtrusive.
You don't have to take out the fine china and crystal if you don't want to. Set the table with an eclectic, colorful mix of everyday plates and glasses. It's perfectly fine to use mismatched dinnerware—in fact, doing so adds to the casual feeling you're trying to create.
The Menu
Family-style dining is about letting your guests serve themselves. Instead of serving guests set portions, set the food out in large dishes or use a buffet line. A dinner party is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy home-cooked favorites that evoke memories from a treasured time, such as a family vacation or a traditional holiday dinner. However, this doesn't mean you have to stick to tried-and-true family favorites. Feel free to try new recipes and experiment with different ingredients—but remember that you're going for comfort food.
Consider any of your guests' special dietary needs and include options on the menu. It's always a good idea to serve a vegetarian dish. Also, if your main course is rich and calorie-laden, consider offering a lighter alternative.
Pick dishes that can be prepared ahead of time. Skip any recipes that require a lot of last-minute preparations that take your time away from your guests. If there is any prep work to be done that evening, invite guests to join you in the kitchen. This will only contribute to the homey, casual atmosphere you're trying to create. Remember to set out lots of appetizers for guests to nibble on before the main dishes are served.
The occasion of your gathering could very well dictate the type of dessert you serve. A birthday party definitely calls for cake. But a friendly winter gathering might call for something warm and filling, like pumpkin or apple pie. Choose something your guests will feel comfortable serving themselves, and that complements the theme of your dinner.
Music and Entertainment
Quiet, mellow music encourages guests to relax and feel at home. Craft an appropriate playlist and have it on before guests arrive. Additionally, fun games are a great way to help guests mingle and get to know each other; games that have your guests working together to solve a puzzle, guess a song, or name a celebrity get people laughing and talking and lighten the mood.
When all is said and done—no matter how much your guests enjoy the food—what they'll really remember is how you made them feel welcome in your home and how much they enjoyed spending time together. Keep it simple, keep it classy, keep the focus on your guests, and your next family-style dinner party is sure to be a success.