Plan Ahead, Do Ahead and Keep it Simple
Try to plan ahead about two or three weeks ahead for an organized dinner party, especially if you're having more than one or two guests. There are two really important reasons for this.
First, many people are so busy you simply have to invite them well ahead . You don’t want to end up with a situation where only half your guest list can come. So give them plenty of lead time.
Second, now you have plenty of time to cross your jobs off bit by bit, instead of trying to do them all at once.
Every job you get done reduces your stress and builds your sense of being on top of the situation. In turn this means you feel better and better about your upcoming dinner.
So about two weeks before is the time to call on the Secret Dinner Party Planning System: Plan Ahead, Do Ahead and Keep it Simple.
Most experts recommend the countdown approach for making your list. This means grouping jobs on the list according to when you can get them crossed off. You’re aiming at having as few jobs as possible by dinner party day.
You’ll know you’re getting better at the Plan Ahead approach when your last minute list is really short.
How to Build Your Dinner Party Planning List
Don’t make this too complicated, it’s supposed to help you, not overwhelm you with paper. You should be able to jot it down on a piece of paper you can stick up on the frig. It’s good to have it in sight so you can keep on track.
About Two – Three Weeks Before Your Dinner Party
- Extend invitations
- Decide on Table settings including Centerpiece
- Review the state of your tablecloths, napkins, dishes and flatware, if there is anything missing now is the time to replace it
- Plan your menu and write out all the ingredients you need
(For more plan ahead help with menu planning, click here)
- Check your staples cupboard and check off what you have
- Make a Shopping List of items you need to buy
- Buy any staples you need to buy
- Buy the wine or other non-alcoholic drinks unless you think they might get drunk before the party!
Two to Three Days Before Your Dinner Party
Buy the food and flowers*
- Buy the wine or other non-alcoholic drinks if necessary
- Clean the house now so you only have last minute touchups left
- Decide on what you will wear, make sure it is wearable!
- Make any of the dishes you can make a few days ahead
Day Before Your Dinner Party
- Arrange your table centerpiece
- Set the table
- Make any food items you can make 24 hours in advance
- Select the dinner music
- Lay out the dessert and coffee dishes supplies
Day of Your Dinner Party
- Prepare any food you can prepare in the morning
- Check the house once more
- Lay out the serving dishes and utensils
- Lay out the pre-dinner drink supplies
- Do last minute cooking
- Lay out pre-dinner appetizers
*I find it helpful to plan for two shopping trips, one bigger one and one smaller one. Usually there is some item you can’t get the first time, and you may find it exhausting to lug everything home in one trip. You also may prefer to buy some of the perishables no earlier than a day or two ahead.
Plan Ahead, Do Ahead, Keep It Simple, the mantra of organized Dinner Party Planning!
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tips and techniques
Conveniently packaged in my new ebook
- How to host a stress-free dinner party with poise - by next weekend
- How to make your shopping and cooking go smoothly
- The quick and easy way to get your house ready for company
- Dinner party etiquette for today
- How to set the table, how many courses to serve, how to seat your guests, how to handle awkward situations
- Suggestions for make ahead recipes and easy main courses
- How to choose wine to go with the food
- And much much more...
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