For the past almost 2 years now, we have been in a very interesting situation. In March 2020 the world shut down. We found ourselves in what has been described as a global pandemic. For about 4 months we were told stay indoors, don't go anywhere unless you have to and when you leave wear a mask and keep 6 feet between you and the next person. For a while we couldn't gather with our friends and loved ones. Weddings and even funerals were restricted to 10 or less.  Even now in late 2021, there are still remnants of these instructions. The visible one is that masks are still being worn.

All these months later, on the upside however, it seems things are starting to shift to more gatherings and activities with safety precautions that try to prevent the spread of this coronavirus. People are starting to get together again and share each other's company. Weddings are being had again and life is once again being celebrated. With the holidays coming up it got us to thinking about dinner parties. People gathering together to enjoy good food and good fellowship.

It can be believed that dinner parties have been a part of American history. Families all over the country, for many centuries, would get together on occasion. These parties were mainly for adults and a way to escape, if only for a little while, the routine of every day life. With things slowly opening, they could be a good way to have that family and friend interaction we've been longing for in the midst of this unprecedented time. If you've never had one before, we have five tips for you that can get you ready to host your first one.

Decide The Guest List

In order to have a party, you need to have guests. Think about who you want to share your time with. Do you want to it to be a girls night? Do you want it to be a couples night away from the kids? Do you want a night to meet up with family? Decide the company you want and then invite them.

Also consider that we are still in a pandemic so don't go crazy with this list. This can be the time that you can make it small and intimate and by doing that, you can go all out with the details. Still consider practicing social distancing and keep things smaller for now. Use your own determination as to if you want them to wear masks or if vaccination is a requirement for you. For right now, it's the time we're living in.

Determine A Theme

This step is actually optional, however, it could be fun if you choose to do one. You could do a backyard movie night. A game night could be fun or karaoke. May you want to make it a little more fancy and do it like an upscale dinner with appetizers and dessert. You also could keep it super casual if you want. You can determine the atmosphere and vibe you want to have and use that as your guide.

Set The Ambience

Theme or not, you want to make sure you are setting the right atmosphere for your party. What look are you wanting to go for? If you're having an more formal party, will you be setting out special linens and dinnerware? Did want to eat by candlelight with everyone around the table. If you are planning it around a holiday, do you plan to have those elements throughout the entertaining space. If you're doing something outside do you plan to have bean bags and pillows for seating. Do you need torches to keep the area lit? Think about how you want your guests to feel when they step inside the space.

Plan A Relevant Menu

Now this is the fun part - the food and drink for the evening. If you're having a theme are there menu choices that will go with it? If you're doing the backyard movie theater, serve popcorn, nachos, candy and other things that you'd find at the movies. Take a nod from those theaters where you can sit in a comfy chair and order from a set menu. If you are planning something a little more formal, think about how many courses you'd like. Do you want it to be served family style instead? Do you want surf and turf or a big pasta variety. This is where you can get as creative as you want to be. With apps like Pinterest, you can for sure find recipes that would fit if you're about that cooking life. You could even look into hiring a private chef to add to the feel for the evening. Don't hold back!

Relax And Have Fun

When all is said and done, this is ALWAYS the ultimate goal. You are hosting people that you care about very much. These are people you want to break bread with and have and enjoyable evening that will be remembered for all the good food and the fun times. Don't stress about being the host/hostess. Just enjoy the moments and things will fall into place.

Happy Partying!!