Or how to have a stylish dinner party on a budget

If there’s one thing we’ve learned this past year, it’s how to entertain at home. Although big events were obviously cancelled, there was still ample opportunity to dine at home and have small events. 

I grew up in a household that always valued dinner parties. For one thing, with four kids, it just wasn’t affordable for us to eat out all the time. The other thing is that my Dad is an incredible cook, so quite frankly there were few restaurants that could compete with the quality food he was preparing at home. 

Having dinner parties is a great way to save money and enjoy a more peaceful evening with friends and family, but it can be overwhelming if you’re not an experienced host. Here are some tips to throw an incredible dinner party at home. 

1. Set the mood. 

Not all of us have money for an event planner to create a custom tablescape. I’m certainly no interior decor whizz but one of the best ways to get in the mood is with simple touches like candles and fresh flowers. 

Costco and Trader Joe’s have great options for beautiful and affordable fresh flowers. If you’re just starting out and don’t have vases, check out thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army, you can usually find great options for next to nothing. 

2. Shop at your local discount stores. 

Even making a simple charcuterie board can add up quickly if you’re not careful. Trader Joe’s has good deals on cheese, meats, and wine. Aldi has deals that are even better. 

The same goes for creating your main dish, if you have any local ethnic markets by you, check them out! They usually have incredible produce and super fresh meat for a fraction of the price. 

3. Planning is key

“Fail to plan and you plan to fail.” Like many things in life, this saying holds true. Make sure you have all of your food shopping done at least a day before and thoroughly read each recipe. Some recipes require you to marinate meat or dried vegetables overnight and you don’t want to get caught unprepared having to scramble to think of a new dish the day of. Timing out prep and cooking times is also really important to ensure that none of your dishes get cold. 

4. Find out if your guests have any dietary restrictions/dislikes before planning the menu. 

Technically according to etiquette guides, the guest should be informing the host about any dietary restrictions they have, but since etiquette is becoming a lost art more and more these days it’s always best to double check. Nothing would be worse than preparing an entire meal only to find out your guests are unable to have the meal.

It’s also a good idea to have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks on hand, both as mixers and to have separately. Many people are opting out of alcohol these days and it’s a good idea to have other options (flavored sparkling waters, pop, tea, etc) on hand to avoid any awkward moments. 

More and more non-alcoholic drink options are popping up nowadays. Hairless Dog Brewing makes a range of alcohol-free beers that I swear taste exactly like the real thing (use my code SASHA10 at checkout for 10% off). 

5. Keep it simple, stupid. 

Unless you are a really experienced host and cook, it’s best not to be experimental with your first dozen or so dinner parties. Overcomplicating things can lead to a lot of unnecessary stress for you as the host. 

Save your 25 step souffle recipe for your significant other. The other thing to remember is that certain foods will have you trapped in the kitchen all night, which can be especially irritating if you don’t have an open kitchen/dining area. 

Choose recipes that are simple and relatively hands off so that you can actually mingle a bit and enjoy your guests’ company. (One reason why a classic roast chicken is a great idea). 

I’d also advise staying away from fried foods since you will be chained to the stove. 

These are my tips for beginner entertaining. What do you think? Do you have any tips for a first-time dinner party host?