*AD – How to host a great dinner party is a sponsored post. For more information, check out my disclaimer.

If you’ve clicked on this post, I’m guessing you want to know how to host a great dinner party right? The first time I hosted one, I was nervous as hell. I didn’t know what to do, I certainly wasn’t organised and I really did wing it all the way through. I learnt from that experience and ever since then, I’ve improved how I do things to ensure it runs more smoothly and less stressful.

Whilst some people prefer to keep their tips as their own secrets, I want to share mine with you. I would hate for someone to feel as unprepared and stressed as I felt that very first time. Some of the things I’m about to mention you may feel is common sense and that’s great that you’re already thinking about those things. But they can easily be forgotten in the build up to hosting a dinner party, so feel free to use this post as your checklist.

Brainstorm ideas before you even send invitations

This is definitely something you should be thinking about first. You want to think about the kind of host you want to be as well as the kind of dinner party you want to have. If you want to have a relaxed, chilled vibe, your guestlist will probably be your closest friends. If you want an evening full of games and laughter, choose accordingly. Nobody wants to go to a dinner party that they don’t enjoy, so choose your idea and plan accordingly.

Invite the right people

As mentioned above, inviting the right people will set the tone for the evening. I always think of the scene in Bridget Jones where they host a couples evening and Bridget is the awkward singleton. Nobody wants that. If you are able to, you could always host a couple of dinner parties so that the right groups get together. Whilst it’s good to mix and mingle, at times it can be a disaster.

Prepare in advance

Everything that can be prepared in advance should be. This caters for everything from the food prep, to choosing what outfit you are going to be wearing. Setting the table beforehand and getting all those little details prepared in advance will really help to ease that stress. One such thing is creating a playlist that can be on in the background throughout the evening. You want something that isn’t too loud that people have to shout to be heard. At the same time, its a great way of covering any awkward silences. It can even be a conversation starter sometimes too!

Cook something easy

Nobody wants to have their dinner party host stuck in the kitchen all night. When choosing your menu, make sure it is something easy. Easy doesn’t necessarily have to mean simple. However it should be something that you know how to cook well. Your mind will be on so many other things, so choosing something easy that you don’t have to really think too hard about is best. If you would rather cook something new, practice it a few times before the evening to get it right. Again, think Bridget Jones with the string!

Provide plenty of drink options

Even in a close friendship group, I bet you all want a different drink on a night out right? It’s so important to provide plenty of drink options when hosting a dinner party. Of course you can’t always cater for everyone but variety definitely helps. This should include both soft drinks and alcoholic ones too.

Remember to introduce everyone

As the host, it is your job to introduce everyone if their paths haven’t already crossed frequently. Just because two people might have been at your wedding, doesn’t mean they will remember each other three years later. It’s also important to keep it light-hearted and not try to embarrass anyone.

Party games are good fun

There is only so much talking at the table you can do, so mix up your dinner party with some games. Party games are a great way to not only break the ice, but also to provide laughter and entertainment. Cardly Games have so many great options to make your dinner parties unforgettable. By bringing people together to focus on one task, you can build new friendships and get to know people better.

Tell me more about Cardly Games

Cardly Games very kindly sent me a game of my choice to review as part of this post. With so many great options to choose from, I’ll admit it was a difficult decision. However in the end, I settled on The Couple’s Quiz. I felt that this was an all-rounder kind of game. One that me and Ash could play on a cosy night in, but one that would also form part of hosting a great dinner party for couples.

The Couple’s Quiz

Did you ever wonder how well your partner knows you? Now you have the chance to find out by answering questions about love, preferences and personal habits. Put down your phones, get comfy and have fun!

My thoughts

Firstly, I wanted to mention how travel friendly these cards were. The box is no larger than a pack of playing cards and comes complete with 70 cards plus a scorecard and rules. I was able to stick these into my handbag during a recent weekend away. It makes it perfect to play the game in your room, whilst travelling or even over dinner.

One thing that makes this game stand out from competitors is the quality. The card used is made to last. Cardly Games have really thought about that when designing this. So many times in the past, cards have ripped after only a couple of uses, however, I can already tell from the times I’ve used these, that this won’t happen.

Another thing that really stood out for me and that I loved, is the choice of questions. They aren’t all your typical ones that you see in most games. There are some really thought provoking ones and ones that get you thinking about your future as well as the present. I’ve really enjoyed answering the questions. It also makes sure that you and your partner are on the same page.

Whilst some people might say this isn’t the right game for a dinner party, I’d have to disagree. I think it’s a great option if you’re hosting a couples night. Not only will they be laughing at some of the questions and answers, it is bound to strike up some great discussions too! Overall I’d highly recommend this game and would give it five stars.

What other games to Cardly Games do?

As mentioned above, Cardly Games have a great selection to choose from. I guarantee you there is something for everyone so definitely check them out:

• Challenge Me – This is a great dare game that will mix things up a bit
• Guess or drink – Not your typical charades game, but a whole lot of fun
• Who am I? – A classic but fun game. This is currently available in both celebrity and animal versions
• Ice breaking game – a fun trivia game
• Say it loud – Answering life questions and dares, whilst sharing funny stories along the way. This also has an expansion pack available too!

Final Thoughts

That brings me to the end of this post. I hope you have found my tips helpful and now know how to host a great dinner party. It’s one of those things that can seem daunting at first, but actually turns out to be a lot of fun. Make sure you check out Cardly Games with their great selection to choose from. I’d love to know which game you would choose.