Christmas is approaching! Along with the holiday season, there comes parties. Some dinners are out in a restaurant while others are hosted at home. As it becomes more popular to host dinners at home for friends and family, there begins a search of how to host a festive dinner! This is an 6-step guide of how to host a successful festive dinner. 

Step 1: Be a happy hostess

First and foremost, a successful dinner will not happen unless you are a happy host. A dinner party needs a relaxed and welcoming hostess. Settle on the details of your party in advance (more details to follow) and do not be afraid to ask your friends and family for ideas. This will allow you to truly enjoy yourself. When you are enjoying yourself, your guests will also enjoy themselves. 

Step 2: Prepare ahead

There are many things that can happen that will ruin the big day. The best way to combat these problems is to plan ahead! It is best to sit down and plan out a few things. First, the menu. Plan out the menu from the hors d’oeuvres, the main course, right down to the desserts. It is also important to have a game plan. Make a schedule of what you need to do (e.g. groceries, decorations, invitations, etc.) and stick to it!

Step 3: Stock up!

Make sure you have plenty of food, but don’t overdo it! You want to make sure to have enough food for your guests plus one or two – in case you have an unexpected arrival. But don’t forget, everyone loves leftovers! With this being said, a good guide would be to make extra of the most popular dishes – that way both you and your guests can enjoy it the next day. 

Step 4: Keep things simple

You don’t want to go overboard! The best dinners are the ones that are simple and elegant.

Step 5: Entertainment

Remember to have fun! It’s Christmas after all. Make sure to take time to organise games and activities for after dinner. You can play a game of charades, Heads Up, or even have some carols ready to play in the background. If you are stuck for ideas you can always look online.

Step 6: Delegate

Do not be afraid to delegate tasks. Reach out to friends and family members to ensure you have a hassle-free evening. You can make one person in charge of setting the table, while the other is in charge of taking care of the drinks. This will allow you to make time to focus on the more elaborative tasks, like preparing the food. Make sure if you are going to reach out for help to you make time to thank everyone who has lent a helping hand.