Have you ever thrown a dinner party? Or, are you trying to plan for your first one? I don’t know about you, but I love getting together with my friends.  That being said, I am not a big “let’s go out” kind of person. The bar scene isn’t really my thing and as the boring adult that I am, I really don’t like spending gobs of money on a night out on the town, be it at restaurants or bars. For these reasons and more, I LOVE throwing a good dinner party! I love surrounding myself with friends and family and having a wonderful time in the comfort of my home. I love to be a host. I love cooking and preparing appetizers, snacks, meals and desserts for my loved ones.

So, let’s talk about my favorite tips for planning the perfect fun, yet casual dinner party dinner party. So here they are, my top tips for the perfect dinner party:

• Plan your guest list. This needs to be the first thing on your list for several reasons, one of which is you need to know how many people are coming. You can’t cook for two when you are expecting 10, right? Make sure you are prepared for how many people you are going to have. It seems obvious, but I know I’m not the only one that has had a party with not enough food before.
• Prepare - A good dinner party absolutely requires preparation. Prepare your menu, your decor, even your outfit. Also, I know you won’t forget, but I always need a nice little reminder to prepare my house. Yep, clean the house accordingly for the guests. Wipe down your counters, clean your windows, take out the trash (very important so you don’t have to do it with your guests there.
• Cook - Seriously. Any food that can be made beforehand, do it! You want to enjoy your guests company, not be stuck in the kitchen while everyone else visits. Sure, there will be some stuff that you need to do while you are there, but if you cut down on it as much as possible, it will be better!
• Serve Appetizers - Trust me, if your guests are hungry, they are not having fun.. You need to make sure to keep appetizers on hand for them to much on while they wait for dinner. My favorite way to keep my guests snacking is with cheese platters and Charcuterie boards. They are always a hit at my parties. Have you ever made a Charcuterie board before? I like to make mine with crackers, olives, cheese, meats, and a dried fruit and nuts mixture. Of course, it gets served on one of our great cheese boards from right here at Sassafras:

  • Rectangular Baselina Board - this beautiful board looks terrific on your buffet or coffee table when serving light appetizers. the cool marble surface prevents your cheeses from over-softening. also use the board to serve crackers, smaller bread loaves or fruits. Hand Wash Only. Lightly oil the wood to preserve the wood.

  • Round Marble and Mango Wood Board - Our bread and cheese boards add an artisan aesthetic to your serving table. The smooth mango wood adopts a weathered patina over time and the marble stands in cool contrast to the warm texture of the wood. Hand Wash Only. Lightly oil the wood to preserve the wood.

  • Rectangular Marble and Mango Wood Board - Our bread and cheese boards add an artisan aesthetic to your serving table. The smooth mango wood adopts a weathered patina over time and the marble stands in cool contrast to the warm texture of the wood. Hand Wash Only. Lightly oil the wood to preserve the wood.

If you are unsure of how to create a Charcuterie board, this is a great post on how to do just that. The most important thing, though, I think is that you really can tailor your charcuterie board to your own preferences. I typically add two different kinds of meat, several types of cheese and lots of fresh fruit. My boards always end up empty by the end of the night, so I guess they are a hit, and I have had more than one question about the serving boards I use.

Also be sure to check out our blog and recipe section for more great tips on recipes, party decor, ideas and more! Plus, did you know that we have a recipe section? These recipes go great for using our bakeware!

When all else fails, be sure and check Pinterest. Seriously, is there anything that Pinterest can’t help you with? Pinterest has tons of ideas for dinner menus, more charcuterie board ideas, decor, and other dinner party tips (and a whole lot else too!). While you are there, be sure to follow Sasafrass!