Host an Elegant Themed Dinner Party
Throwing an intimate dinner party is a great way to mingle with your friends, and is cheaper and more fun than going to a fancy restaurant as a group. Plus, people can stay as long as they want. Gather invitation supplies, decorations, place settings, china, food and beverages, and in no time you will be throwing an intimate dinner party that neither you nor your friends will soon forget. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Make formal invitations. Cut the parchment paper (found at craft stores and Kinko's) into 6-by-12 inch squares or any other shape you desire. Use a calligraphy pen to write the details of your dinner party on the parchment paper. Include a header--such as "You are cordially invited to a formal dinner party at the home of Julie"--the date and time of your party and your address. Mention that formal attire is required and print the phone number where you can be reached for R.S.V.P. Ask your guests to bring a date. A good number of guests to invite is around six to eight. Roll up the invitations and tie them with ribbon of various colors.
2. Create the decorations. Top the dining-room table with a linen tablecloth in a color scheme of your choice. Good combinations include white, yellow and gold; and black, white and red; or follow a holiday theme if it's that time of year. Fill vases with flowers and fruit of different textures, such as red roses and red apples. Fill the vase halfway with the fruit, then add water and top with a flower arrangement on top.
Design placecards for each guest in a simple, elegant manner--such as by buying miniature picture frames and placing cards inside them with each guest's name written in calligraphy. These frames can be purchased at a discount or 99-cent store, as can the fruits and vases.
Spread clear or silver votive candle holders weaving in and out of the vases to provide soft lighting.
3. Make the place settings. Use the nicest china or crystal you have, or purchase elegant place settings if you have the extra money. Be sure to place an entree plate, salad plate, soup bowl (if you are having soup), salad and entree fork, knife and spoon, and a water glass in the proper spots. The forks go on the left side of the plate, from smallest to largest, and the knife and spoon go on the right side of the plate. Place champagne flutes or wine glasses with the place settings (if you are having either beverage).
Create custom-designed napkins for each guest by purchasing cotton handkerchiefs from a discount store. Use a picture or image you think your guests would like, or that correlates with the theme of your party, and color-copy the image onto iron-on "heat transfer" paper (which can be purchased from an art store). Iron on the image and fold each napkin to place it on the plate so the image is visible.
4. Decorate the chairs. Dress up your chairs with some elegant, homemade covers. Purchase around 2 yards of 60-inch-wide fabric (taffeta is a favorite) and drape it over the chairs. Pin the fabric around the chair with straight pins, at different angles, to make it fitted, then make a small pair of holes (side by side) in the fabric beneath the chair arms. Thread trimmed strips of the fabric through the holes to give the chairs the finishing touch. If desired, tie the loose ends into bows.
5. Prepare the meal. Choose whatever food you think is appropriate and delicious. Start with a soup or light salad, like one made by combining mixed greens with edible flowers, raspberries, orange slices and chives; or prepare a creamy butternut squash soup with creme fraiche. Recipes can easily be found online or in cookbooks. For the main course, try fancy focaccia-bread finger sandwiches, or a roasted herb chicken. Another fun idea is to have random platters of smaller entrees after the soup and salad, such as finger foods like mini quiche, crudites, tarts and bacon-wrapped shrimp or scallops. For beverages, serve champagne with raspberries, a wine appropriate to the meal, or sparkling apple cider with chopped fruit.
Propose a toast to friendship at the start of the meal, than watch your guests enjoy their elegant surroundings.
Tags: place settings, each guest, your guests, dinner party, dinner party, Elegant Themed, Elegant Themed Dinner