How to Throw a Très Chic Dinner Party
- Kaitlin Owens
- Apr 5
- 5 min read
Everybody wants to cook, but who wants to HOST?
Here at HALOSCOPE HQ, we’re always in pursuit of ultimate chicness. Where to find the chicest fur hat, how to be the chicest baker — and now, how to be the chicest dinner party host. Hosting a successful dinner party is an art form that can take years to master. To give you a jump start on that process, here are some of our best tips and tricks from a seasoned dinner party host (me!) for every HS reader out there looking to inject a little more refined glamour into their lives.
Crafting the Perfect Menu
Arguably, the most important part of a dinner party is, you guessed it, the dinner. Your dining room could be magnificently decorated, with perfectly warm lighting and centerpieces that would make even Martha Stewart blush — but if your food sucks, your guests will be going home early.
My tried-and-true method of dinner party menu planning is this: elevate the classics. Make food people know but present it in a new and exciting way. Make a bunch of pizzas with pepperoni and cheese, but then do a couple with smoked salmon and dill or caviar and crème fraiche. Don’t get too experimental unless you’re certain your guests would be down to go on an adventure. Too many times I’ve watched a good friend’s boyfriend chomp into one of my “avant-garde, Michelin-inspired” creations with the most confused, disappointed face you’ve ever seen. It’s a sight that would make any hostess’ heart sink into their stomach.
Confusion and disappointment are the two feelings, above all else, that you do NOT want your guests to experience. “Disappointment” is an easy one to avoid. You just need to make sure the food is tasty and enough to go around. However, “confusion” is a little bit trickier….
Any hostess worth their salt knows that you don’t want your dinner party to be boring. You certainly want some elements of surprise, of intrigue and delight — those are all great feelings. But you don’t want your guest to feel lost. I’d highly recommend printing out little menu cards for each place setting. That way, your guests know exactly what to expect inside of each dish and in what order they will be arriving. In fact, while you’re at it, label everything — label the drink dispensers, the dinner rolls, and the extra silverware. You want your guests to be able to operate independently if they need to. They may feel awkward if they have to stop you to ask a bunch of questions, which just makes them a less comfortable guest overall.
Now, onto the food! My favorite dinner party crowd-pleasers are:
Setting a 2010s Tumblr-worthy Table
This is where you get to let your imagination run wild. First question: Are you sitting around the table, or is the table just for the food?
The answer to this will largely dictate how you operate on the decoration front. If you’re sitting around the table, you can’t have centerpieces too tall, or else your guests won’t be able to chat. If it’s a grab-and-go situation, you can run wild: a dozen taper candles covering the table, giant vases of flowers and feathers and crystals, or maybe even a massive papier-mâché swan dipping down onto the tablecloth?
Second question: What will each individual guest experience throughout the night?
If your guests will be seated around the table all night, go around and sit in every one of the chairs. What does your view look like? Can you easily grab everything on the table? Is there a spot on the floor that desperately needs to be cleaned? Can you get in and out of your chair easily and without bumping into anything?
If guests will be seated elsewhere, are there enough chairs? Does one of the chairs feel like a sort of makeshift situation? Where will they put their plates? You don’t want your guest uncomfortably perched on the ottoman with their plate in their lap. They’re guests! Treat them well!
Taking the time to walk in your guests' shoes will elevate your dinner party experience immeasurably. Truthfully, the key to any kind of event hosting is personalization. Does this event feel slapped together, or does it feel like the host sat down and really thought about me among the crowd of other guests? That’s what they’ll be asking, either consciously or unconsciously, throughout the night. So, make the answer a clear and resounding: “Yes! Of course, I thought of you!”
Creating a Sophisticated Atmosphere that Will Keep Guests Boozing Long After Dessert
Warm, low lighting. I can’t say it enough. Warm. Low. Lighting. Turn off the big light and fire up your lamps. Ideally, you want varied light sources throughout the room: a lamp in at least two corners, candles lit on the table, a sconce on the wall. You should be able to see clearly without squinting — but everything should have a gentle, orange glow to it. If you have fluorescent or bright white bulbs in your fixtures. Don’t plan any dinner parties until you get those swapped to incandescent bulbs. Your guests will thank me.
Music can be a make-or-break for a dinner party. It may take you years to develop the perfect playlist. I know I’m still working on mine.
Here are the ironclad dinner party music “rules” that I live by:
The speaker should be located far from the seating area. The volume should be loud enough to be heard and enjoyed by your guests, but not so close to their ears that they cannot comfortably talk amongst each other.
Gentle sounds. Nothing harsh or sharp should be played during dinner service. Think: ambient rock, Ethiopian jazz, instrumentals. Now is not the time for SOPHIE’s “Faceshopping”... save that for the after-party.
Play music in the bathroom. There is nothing worse than trying to silently pee in someone else’s house while you’re a little bit drunk. Do your guests a favor and pop another Bluetooth speaker in the WC.
Share Your Chicness!
Hopefully, this mini Haloscope Handbook Guide was able to set you up for success in crafting your very own très chic dinner party. Don’t forget to tag @haloscopemag in any posts about your lovely evenings on socials! Bisous chaton!🌀
Kaitlin Owens is the Archival Editor of HALOSCOPE nd the Editor -n-Chief of DILETTANTE. For a closer look at her portfolio, please visit kaitlindotcom.com or @kaitlindotcom on Instagram.
