A pear swag hangs from a wooden door. Photos by Jennifer Dagdagan.
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I am a firm believer in these basic entertaining truths:
?The food and guests must be the focus.
?Keep it relaxed.
?And, by all means invite the children!
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Creating memories for your dinner guests is a potent elixir. Sure, you can slap burgers on the grill and grab the paper plates, but why? Follow these simple tips, and you?ll delight in your guests? appreciation of the time you spent fussing ? just for them.
Tip No. 1: Be prepared
About a week before the party, begin planning the menu. Prep, freeze or store menu items. Tabletop necessities should be laundered and neatly folded. This is a good time to take inventory of serving utensils and glasses.
Never exhaust yourself on the day of the event by trying to do it all at once. I clean up the house and garden bit by bit throughout the week and have three lists: my to-dos, my menu and my grocery list. I keep these close to me, so I can review and make changes.
The food is the epicenter of your party and should be the freshest and best quality.?? Recalling who hates cucumbers and who is gluten free is key to being thoughtful as well as prepared. Trust me, you will be glowing from the compliments for taking such special care of your guests.
Tip No. 2: Children love a party
Although I only raised one son, I find that I am immensely relaxed in the presence of most others? kids. After about 3 years of age they make delightful dinner companions. The honest way they share their tiny worldviews keeps me grounded ? and amused. Also, it?s important to expose children to proper table settings and manners. Plan on having a few treats, beverages and booster seats that will make their experience joyful and memorable too.
If possible, have a kid?s area where small ones can draw or play. This oversized blackboard made by a grandpa for his grandchildren is brought outside and is perfect for a pair of budding artists.
Tip No. 3: Create a dramatic setting
If you are lucky enough to have an outdoor mantel, shelf or high table near an outlet, pillage your home for a couple of small lamps. Those white Christmas tree lights will do in a pinch too. I hide the cords with foliage of the season: fall?s pumpkins, leaves and other natural elements from the garden and yard.
Lighting adds a soft romantic quality to an outdoor setting and will mesmerize your guests. Your table setting should be planned well in advance and adds so much to a dramatic and alluring mood.
Tip No. 4: Easy autumn accents
A swag is an inexpensive alternative to a wreath, and anyone can do it. It?s also easy on a budget, since you can forage the items from your own yard. Fall is harvest time and creating a swag of fruit branches such as pears makes the perfect statement.
On the morning of your party cut delicate branches from bushes and trees in assorted sizes. Gather the cut branches and secure with twine. On a hook or nail, attach the swag to a gate or your front door.
One of my favorite tasks is to make small bouquets in the morning while the flowers are still dewy and fresh. An assortment of vintage jars or juice glasses can be utilized as your short vases. Tuck these small bouquets near your guests for visual eye candy.? Remember to keep the dinner table bouquets low so that the guests can see each other over them.
Tip No. 5: Eat, drink and be merry
Delegate the errand of getting ice for chilling bottles of beverages. Make sure to set aside a smaller container for ice cubes that guests can add to their glasses, too. I keep an ornate antique spoon around for this chore. It?s fun to utilize different large containers to keep bottles and cans cold. Once I had an old sink set up and filled that with ice. At this party, a wonderful fountain was re-purposed in a brand new way.
Tip No. 6: Is everyone comfy and cozy?
As the days shorten and the autumn chill starts to bite, have a basket or two of extra blankets and pillows for your guests. The pillows double as boosters for kids and metal chairs get a soft cushion and back. There is nothing worse than watching a guest squirming from too hard a chair; watching them shiver is even worse.
Tip No. 7: The back-up plan
I view appetizers as the ?meal before the real meal.? If a guest doesn?t care for the food you are serving for the main course they can always revisit the appetizers. For this reason, have a variety of cheeses, meats, fresh fruit and veggies available for grazing. For this gathering we included small pita sandwiches inserted into parchment paper sleeves for a heartier appetizer and placed them on the table during the meal for easier access. Big appetites require extra calories.
Tip No. 8: Stay flexible
There are bound to be a couple of things that go wrong. It may rain or blow so hard that the branches begin to drop on the guests? heads. We once had a party where the guests were pelted and pummeled by hard walnuts from our ancient trees. One woman ran for cover and the guys picked up the table with all the food and put it in the carport. Mother Nature just shrugged at all my hard work and went about her business ? and I went about mine.
Tip No. 9: Take care of yourself
I love to be relaxed when the guests arrive. In a perfect world I have had a nap and a shower. It rarely happens, but if you are good at organization and delegating, it could. Since I?m so focused on the food and d?cor I often lose track of time. My grandmother Lockhoff often wore her apron to the table, and I?m usually wearing that accessory myself. Talk about relaxed!
Tip No. 10: Bask in the ?after-party glow?
Guess what? You have thrown a successful party and the guests have driven away. You know they?ve had a good time because the hour is late. The glowing lights from your little lamps are twinkling and night sounds surround you. Even the gorgeous table setting still looks good. You can be proud of your efforts. Before you start fantasizing about your next dinner party, it?s time to take off your apron, put your feet up and take a moment to reminisce as you sip a glass of wine.
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