5 Dinner Party Prep Time Savers

There’s nothing like a good old fashioned dinner party to really bring people together, right? You can really go all out or keep things simple, which is what makes dinner parties so fun - you can host them however you want! But whether you’re serving a 5 course meal or just getting the neighbors together for a taco night, it can get to be overwhelming. So here are 5 tips to put your hosting nerves at ease :)

Lists are your friend
I recommend making at least 2 lists to help keep you organized. I personally start with a “run of show” list, which is just a list of how I envision the party going (when will guests arrive, is there going to be mingling for a bit or eating right away, are we taking photos or is this a no phone dinner, when should we start eating, is there a theme or topic we will be discussing and does that need to be mentioned at a certain time, when should we wrap up the evening, etc.) Then I make a separate “prep” list and include anything and everything I need to get done before the guests arrive. This means writing down what I need to order (food, supplies, etc.), when I need to invite guests, any errands I need to run, etc. If I’m going to make something (place cards, menu, balloon banner, photo booth) it goes on the list, no matter how big or small it may seem. You could also make a food/drinks/grocery list, guest list, day-of list (don’t forget to add charge camera and shower!) and so on and so forth! Make as many or as few lists as you think you need. But I promise you, having things written out instead of sitting there trying to think about what you need to do next will save you so much time!

Set out everything you can the night before
Seems like a no brainer if you’re focusing on saving yourself time, but when I say set out everything, I mean EVERYTHING. Even if you can’t set up the table until the day-of, you can at least get everything out and easy to access! Start with everything you’ll need on the table like napkins, glasses, place-mats, plates/dishes, silverware, menu, place cards, centerpiece, florals, themed decor, etc. Even chairs and the table itself if you are having it somewhere else or need to extend for more seating. Then think about things you’ll need beyond the table like pitchers, trash bags/cans, speakers, serving dishes, serving utensils, anything you have in a separate station (like a water station or make-your-own/toppings bar). Then get out all the decor you’re planning to use like signs, banners, flowers, chalkboards, blankets, photo backdrops/props, posters, wall hangings, etc. Again, if you can actually set anything up ahead of time DO IT! It will always take longer than you think, especially in the hours leading up to guests arriving. I swear those hours turn into minutes and it’s so easy to run out of time. So save yourself the stress and get as much as you can done the night before, or at the very least have them ready to go so it will save you time the day-of.    

Choose dishes and drinks that will work with you not against you
Ahh the all important dinner party must-have: the meal. As the host, you really can do anything you want here (potluck, catering, take-out, homemade, etc.) the trick is to choose foods/drinks that will work with your hosting schedule and not overwhelm you. Many people say “this is not the time to be ambitious and cook something you have never cooked before”, but I don’t entirely agree! As long as you have an easy backup plan should you burn whatever it is you’re attempting to make, then I say go ahead and attempt! Or choose a drink to serve that can easily be mixed together right before the party. I like to choose dishes that can either be cooked/prepped the night before (casseroles, marinades, etc.) or ones that can be cooking while I’m getting everything else done (crockpot meals, oven baked, etc.). To me, I know I will already be running around getting everything else on my list done before the party so I won’t have time to be constantly chopping veggies or turning over meats. So I choose dishes and drinks that work with my schedule (that I made from that all important list) instead of putting too much on my plate (pun intended). If I desperately want to serve something that is a little more labor intensive, this is where my next tip comes in...

Have dedicated things for your guests to help you with when they arrive
Some people prefer to have everything done before any guests arrive, and that’s fine! However, I have never hosted a party without at least one servant-hearted guest asking “is there anything I can do to help?”, especially those first few guests who arrive. Typically when the party is starting and only a few guests are there, it can feel awkward just waiting around for more people to arrive. So instead, have them help with some easy pre-party tasks. Something simple like filling the water glasses or mixing together the salad will help give them something to do while also easing your party prep. People like to have roles, especially when there is no clear guidance for what they should be doing, which is typically how most dinner parties begin-with people not knowing what to do. So give them something to do! It doesn’t have to be a big thing or out of their wheelhouse. But leaving pre-party tasks that aren’t intimidating to guests who like to help and/or arrive early will make your pre-party list smaller and save you so much time!

Aim to have everything else done 30 minutes-1 hour before guests arrive
I know I know, easier said than done. And truthfully I can count on 1 hand the amount of times I have had everything done even 5 minutes before guests arrive. But I learned early on that if I plan to have everything done as soon as guests arrive, I will not only stress myself out more, but there will be FAR less actually done by the time the party starts. And I hate feeling like a party is starting and it does not look like what I had in my head. But if I plan to have everything done at 4pm instead of when guests walk through the door at 5pm, then it means when 4pm actually hits I can see what needs to be done in that hour and what I can wait on, scrap entirely and/or assign to a guest. It seems crazy that in order to save time, I have to aim to be done ahead of schedule instead of utilizing that time… But I promise you will utilize that time. Because things will inevitably come up last minute (they always do) and that’s what that last hour is for.