30 April 2019
 Categories: , Blog

If you will be meeting your partner's parents for the first time, you are probably concerned about how they will perceive you. An awkward silence or the lack of activity for everyone to participate in can kill the mood and make you wish that your first meeting would end as quickly as possible. Host a simple, yet elegant, dinner party to impress your guests and to make your first formal meeting one that is fancy and interesting.

Plan the Menu

If you're still concerned about the menu, here are some elegant dinner party menu ideas. Your menu shouldn't be complicated and you should avoid serving anything that you haven't made before. An appetizer, entree, and dessert are the three courses to focus on. Garnishes, sauces, and careful plating can do wonders for a meal and can turn something basic into a fancy masterpiece. Consult with your partner about any dietary restrictions so that you can avoid items that guests are unable to consume.

Plan on slicing vegetables and fruits or soaking meat in a marinade, the night before the dinner party. This will streamline the actual dinner preparations and will eliminate the need to rush around on the day of the party. Choose the outfit that you would like to wear and lay it out on your bed. After cooking all of the dishes, remove the dirty apron that you are wearing and freshen up before changing into the attire that you have selected.

Select the Eating Area & Prepare the Setting

Choose the area where you will be serving your guests. If you have a sunroom that overlooks your backyard and want to your invitees to enjoy the beautiful backdrop, move your dining room table or some patio furnishings into the room and use some fancy linens and a floral centerpiece to decorate the table.

If you would like to keep everyone near the kitchen so that you are close to the oven and platters of food, then hold the dinner inside the dining room. Fine china, cloth napkins, and elegant stemware can be used to create each place setting. 

Consider Conversation Topics

Set a couple of bottles of wine or champagne and some glasses on the table. When your guests arrive, collect their coats and move the outerwear to another room. Ask your guests to sit down and start off the party by pouring everyone a glass of the beverage that you have supplied. Have some conversation topics in mind that can be used to break the ice.

Perhaps, you can show everyone some photos that you and your partner have taken or can speak about a current event that you think each person will be interested in. After relaxing for several minutes, tell your guests that you will begin serving the food. Allow plenty of time for each course to be enjoyed before moving onto another course.