Celebrating a birthday is a time for fun and excitement. There are several different ways you can celebrate growing a year older and celebrate with the ones you love. One of the best ways is to get your friends and/or family together for a birthday dinner party.
It can be a great way to eat great food, spend time with loved ones, and share a ton of stories with one another. However, dinner parties can involve a lot of work to ensure they go off without a hitch. With that in mind, this guide is going to go over a few helpful steps and tips to keep in mind to ensure you can throw an unforgettable dinner party for your birthday or the birthday of a friend.
Decorate the Space Well
First and foremost, you want to think about how the space is decorated. Birthday decorations are a staple at birthday parties, whether it is a dinner or other event entirely. A great option here are birthday plants or flowers.
While flowers and plants are often given to say thanks to someone or as a romantic gesture, they also work wonders as decor for birthday dinners. There are a ton of different types of flowers out there to choose from in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and scents.
They will look great as centerpieces on the tables, hanging from the ceiling, in pots on the ground, or wherever you think they look good. They help a space look natural, and are generally quite affordable to have around as decor.
In addition to plants and flowers, there are many other ways you can decorate for a birthday party. This includes streamers, balloons, signs, garland, and many more. The space should look good and be full of fun and cute decorations, but be sure to keep safety in mind. You don’t want decorations in a place where people could trip on them or get tangled up in any way.
Start Planning Early
Any good party or event begins with a lot of planning. If you try to throw one without thinking through some things ahead of time, it isn’t likely to turn out well for you. You should have an idea for a theme, the kinds of things attendees will do, how the decor will be organized, and how many people will be there.
Have a plan not only for the theme of the party and what everyone will do, but also the food. Make sure you get all the right ingredients, ensure you know how to prepare everything, and if anyone attending has allergies, be sure to avoid using anything that could trigger them.
Also, be sure to send out the invites early. If you wait until the day before the event to invite people there is a good chance they will already be busy, or won’t be able to make it work.
In general, it is a good idea to give people at least two weeks or so when it comes to notice. Also, if it is going to be an intimate dinner party with only a few close friends or family, speak with them directly about which days work for them, and then decide on the date.
Keep the Food Simple and Ensure There is Something for Everyone
Of course, a big part of any dinner party is the food. You want to ensure that the food you serve tastes and looks incredible. A subpar food selection or quality at a dinner party can certainly hurt the success of the event.
For best results, try and keep the food you serve simple. If you try and do too much, there is a chance the food doesn’t turn out like you wanted it to, or it takes too long and is too complicated. Whatever you make, ensure it is something you can do right without issues, and have enough time to complete.
You could also order food in or have the party catered, but it is important to go over the costs of doing this vs. cooking yourself. The last thing you want is to go over budget or go into debt for a party. Also, be aware of everyone coming and their food preferences. You want everyone in attendance to be able to eat something they enjoy.
Don’t Forget About the Drinks
Many dinner parties simply wouldn’t be a party without some drinks involved. This could be wine, cocktails, beer, juice or any number of other choices. Make sure to offer a variety of choices, as not everyone likes the same things.
Also, be aware that not everyone likes alcohol, so ensure you have some non-alcoholic beverage options too. Of course, be sure to make an effort to pair your drinks with the food you served, as well. This will help ensure everything tastes great, and shows you put a lot of effort and time into planning this party.
The Music You Choose Matters
An underrated staple of nearly every dinner party is a bit of music. It fills the space between conversations, and ensures that even if things are quiet, they don’t get awkward. Choose music that everyone will be okay with and happy to have on in the background.
Of course, be careful not to have the music too loud or it could end up distracting people from their conversations. Also, some kind of instrumental or music without lyrics can often make great and subtle background noise for a party.
Plan Activities After the Meal
While some dinner parties end once dinner is over, plenty keep going on for several hours after the fact. As a result, you need to think of some things to do to keep people entertained and keep them having fun for the remainder of the party.
You don’t always need things to do after your meal, but having a few in mind can save it from being boring. Of course, if people would prefer to simply continue visiting and are having a good time chatting, there is no need to force them into playing a game or doing something else.
By keeping these steps and tips in mind, you can ensure that you throw a birthday dinner party that no one will ever forget.