When you have kids, you understand that your entire world will change. From small changes to massive ones, things will no longer be the same as when it was just you and your partner. While that is welcomed the majority of the time, there are those times where it’s nice to have a little adults-only time and shuffle the kids off to a family member, close friend, or babysitter’s house.
If you have plans of hosting an upcoming dinner party for your friends, why not go all out and make it an adults-only evening. This allows the party to take on a more relaxed, more grown-up vibe, plus you won’t have to worry about mom and dad duties while trying to host a party. Here are some tips you can use to ensure your adults-only dinner party is a huge hit.
Inject Some Fun Into the Menu
Because you won’t have any kids to worry about and cater to, you can get really creative and fun with your menu. Let’s face it, kids are known for being quite picky, so you are usually pretty limited in your meal options. A fun suggestion is to pick a cuisine or country that you want to focus on, and make that the theme of your party. You can then use that theme to pick your menu as far as food and beverages go, and you can even decorate the table based on that theme.
For those who are looking to spice up the evening, you can always offer a selection of cocktails, signature drinks, various wines, and even shots in the form of Jello shooters, which are ideal for that adults-only evening. Be sure to check out contentinjection.com for great recipe ideas. If your guests are more the beer crowd, it can be fun to do your own beer tasting evening, complete with a variety of craft beers for sampling.
Put Thought Into the Table Set-Up
Another tip is to make sure you take the time to put thought into the table set-up. What this means is that the table is pre-set, everyone has a place to sit (it doesn’t need to be designated seating), and that you’ve got some decor on the table to make it pop. Whether you are hosting a casual dinner or something more formal, seeing that pre-set table just helps to set the mood and atmosphere.
Of course, setting the table in advance also means there is one less thing you have to worry about once your guests start arriving. This gives you more time to socialize.
Don’t Forget the Little Things
There are also a number of little touches that can make a big difference, such as music playing in the background (setting up a playlist in advance means you won’t have to worry about it), proper lighting, which can be dimmed as the evening goes on, making sure you do as much food preparation in advance as possible so you won’t be overwhelmed during the party, and being mindful of your guests’ needs.
When you keep each of these tips in mind you’ll be sure to throw an incredible adults-only dinner party.
