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Dinner parties are fun. Everyone gets together and eats and drinks and has a good time. Sometimes there are games involved where everyone can compete and laugh and get to know each other. It is always a good time and everyone always has fun. Unless you’re the host. That’s when things can get stressful, especially if you have never done it before. Here are a few ways you can host your first dinner party without stressing yourself out. 

Plan

Just do it. Make a plan. When you know what you’re going to serve, what day and time you’re going to host, and who is going to be in attendance, you are going to be unstoppable. There are a lot of boxes to check off before having your friends over, but if you get a comprehensive list on paper, you can tackle anything that may come your way.

Once the list is completed, start sending out your invites and see if your day and time works for everyone. Then you can start preparing for all of the fun. 

Keep It Small

This is your first time out of the gate, so you don’t want to overwhelm yourself with too many people who may cause you a bit of stress. Keep it simple and invite six to eight people. That is the perfect amount. Any recipe you get will yield up to four, and all you have to do is double the recipe and you will be right on point. That will reduce the stress of making sure you have enough food. 

Find An Easy Recipe

Don’t try and hit a homerun your first time hosting. Find a recipe that is easy to make, so that you can easily feed everyone good food without losing your own appetite. Recipes like baked chicken florentine are excellent because they are flavorful and fancy, yet they are easy to put together, and all you have to do is leave it in the oven. There’s no active cooking involved. 

The rest of your free time can be spent preparing sides, making sure hors d'oeuvres are out, and drinks are full.

Know Your Bar

Make sure you have the basics to offer your guests. A vodka, gin, tequila, and whiskey should be on hand with a white wine, red wine, and beer. It seems like a lot, but you can get reasonably priced bottles of each. A standard mixer like club soda is all you need. Otherwise, guests will drink spirits on the rocks. 

Knowing that you have enough in the drink department will also make hosting the party easier. There is no need for a signature drink yet, that can wait until you’re a dinner party pro. 

Set the Ambiance

To set the mood, make sure you have fun games to play, good music going, great lighting, and a tablescape that is festive. All of these small touches will make your guests feel welcome, feel relaxed, and feel hungry for the great meal you have planned.