Throw a Small Dinner Party

Throw a small dinner party and connect with your loved ones on another level! I’ll show you how to keep it simple, affordable, and with plenty of energy to entertain your guests! Here’s how I do it…

Why a SMALL dinner party?

This pastime evolved while I was in the military. I was a nurse in the Air Force, working night shifts, rotating weekends, and alternating between 12 and 8-hour shifts. Most of my friends were also in the military and served in the medical field. You can imagine how difficult it was to find one day that we could all get together!

At one point, my friend had to plan a “Friendsgiving” almost a year in advance, just so everyone would be able to request time off from work.

Naturally, we were not going to be able to plan every social gathering a year in advance! In order to have some kind of social life, I decided to start having dinner parties at my house. When I had roommates, they joined in on the process and we really enjoyed it. Our turnout was usually small (about 3 to 5 people) each time.

Over time, I preferred the smaller groups. It was easier to manage. I loved setting up my dining room and making it a nice occasion for everyone. It was a great way to welcome a new person who had just moved to our duty station. Before I knew it, my roommates and I were having people over almost on a weekly basis. We loved it. You might think that preparing dinner for people as often as every week could get a little daunting. However, I figured out how to throw a small dinner party by following five simple steps…

Throw a Small Dinner Party in Five Simple Steps!

Step One: Guest List

I try to get my dinner party invitation out at least a week or two in advance. This gives most people enough time to look at their schedules and plan ahead. I usually ask which day and what time people are free. I try to get a solid answer from everyone about one week to five days before the party.

Once I have that information I will make sure everyone is aware of the plan IN WRITING. Yes, this is a semi-casual affair, but keep in mind your guests are busy during the week and they will likely not remember exactly when your dinner party starts.

I like to send a text message and an email to everyone attending with the date, the time, and my address, and the best way to get ahold of me if they have any questions.

This is the perfect time to find out if anyone is going to bring anything. I never expect anyone to bring anything unless it’s a potluck kind of occasion. That being said, most people will offer to bring something to the dinner. It could be wine, desserts, a side dish, or even a board game. This is a great opportunity to figure out what you will need to prepare ahead of time, plus it’s less stress for you to worry about! You can focus on the main entree and prepping your house for the gathering.

Step Two: Get as Much Done the Day Before!

This can not emphasize this enough. Those of you who host parties know it can be a lot of work. Even a small party can get overwhelming if you are not careful. My advice is to always keep it simple, do everything you can beforehand and choose a dinner menu that is not too complicated.

Choose a meal that you can make ahead the day before the party, something you can put in the fridge overnight, then heat up in the oven before your guests arrive. An example would be lasagna, or try my low-carb keto-friendly stuffed bell pepper recipe!

If I’m free the day before the dinner party, it is not uncommon for me to do almost everything. I go to the grocery store, get all of my food for dinner, pick up fresh flowers for the table, cook an entire “make-ahead” meal, clean all the common areas in the house, clean the guest bathroom, set the dining table, set up a coffee bar… then collapse. By the time this is all done, I am tired. There is no way I will have enough energy for my guests if I did all of this on the day of the party. No way!

You can certainly do my “everything the day before” approach if you want, but y’all don’t have to be crazy like me. I recommend spreading out the tasks a little bit more if possible. Get the groceries a few days ahead. You can cook most make-ahead meals a day or two in advance. Clean the house and set the dining table the day before and take some time to remind everyone of the place and time of the party. This way your tasks are spread out and you will have plenty of energy to entertain your guests the day of the dinner party!

Step Three: Take Care of the Obvious Things

What do I mean by “the obvious things”? Earlier I touched on making sure your guests have your home address, the date, and the time of the party. That’s pretty basic, and it’s as detailed as most hosts will be.

I like to take it a step further and put myself in my guest’s shoes. Have they been to my house before? Have I ever hung out with this person before? Do they know how easy it is to miss the turn for my house because the road sign is blocked by a bunch of trees? Do they have the gate code to access my driveway, apartment complex, or housing development? Do they know which door to come into?

Details like this may seem tedious but are much appreciated by your guests! Especially if it is someone that had never been to your house before. Maybe they are new to the area and are a little nervous to meet new people. Take this opportunity to clear up any confusion your guest may encounter.

I will even visualize the drive to my house and do a quick walk-through of my driveway, front entry door, and house, just to be sure my guest enters my house with ease knowing they came to the right place and feel welcomed.

Another thing to keep in mind is the initial greeting at your front door. This is your party so it should be you answering the door when the bell rings! Make sure you have a dedicated place for your guest to remove their shoes coat and a place to put their dish to pass if they brought one. Make sure they know where the guest bathroom is, and offer them a drink and a place to sit!

Step Four: Make Your Guest Feel Comfortable

It may sound just fine to some people, but for others, “make yourself at home” in a complete stranger’s house can be paralyzing. Don’t do this to your guest. Give them a warm greeting, introduce them to everyone take care of the obvious things I mentioned above (shoes, coat, side dishes, etc.) Give them a quick house tour, most people will want to tag along during this, and it’s a great way to bond the group together.

With drinks in hand and a nice place to sit, your guest will feel welcomed and can relax. Because you did most of the prep work the day before, you will have far more energy to focus on your guest and have some great conversation while your make-ahead meal is heating up in the oven.

Step Five: Make Your Guest Feel Special

Providing your guest with clear directions to your home, greeting them at the door, taking their coats and bags, and showing them around is already off to a great start. But why not take your dinner party a little step above the norm and make the occasion every more special?

Do you have china dinnerware stashed away somewhere? Now is the time to bust it out. Sure you could use some paper plates and call it a day, but this is a nice dinner for your friends. Show them you appreciate their company by serving them with the best.

Don’t have a nice water pitcher or wine decanter? Don’t be afraid to check out your local thrift stores, Goodwill, garage, or estate sales. You would not believe the nice tableware items I have found for a fraction of the price. Everyone should be able to have nice things to put on their dining table without breaking the bank!

Another way to spruce up your dining room is by providing a beautiful centerpiece on the table. Maybe some fresh flowers or candles. Why not invest in some good-quality linen napkins? I use these linen flax blend fabric napkins from amazon. I love using them because they go with almost all of my décor, I can throw them in the washing machine and dryer and they barely shrink at all. We have even saved some money using these every day instead of paper towels and paper napkins.

What about the temperature in your house? Do you have any music going on in the background? Are the candles lit? What about a fun game to play after dinner is over. Make sure your coffee bar is ready at the same time you serve dessert. Your guests will really appreciate these details and really enjoy their experience.

Throw a Small Dinner Party Checklist:

I hope this post inspires you to throw a small dinner party of your own in the near future. If you have never done something like this before, no worries, I have prepared a checklist for you (click the download button above). This will touch on all the steps I’ve mentioned in this post as well as my YouTube Video below. Feel free to print this list out and save it somewhere (maybe in your kitchen or inside a cookbook) for future use!

Throw a Small Dinner Party Video on YouTube:

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What about you?

Do you like to throw parties? Any advice on how to host a party of your own? Leave a comment below!