Dinner Party Ideas
I’ve always liked the idea of having dinner parties. My mom hosted game nights with us when I was a kid, and she also hosted big events throughout the year. When I was 20 years old, I loved to venture into the playful, well-equipped world of hosting. But working on a budget, mismatched cutlery (I know there’s another fork around here somewhere), and small spaces mean the way you do it looks a little different.
Here’s the thing: it’s all right.
If you’re about to host a dinner party in your 20s, there are a few things you need to know ahead of time. At first, it won’t be perfect, but it could be good. Even if it’s a crappy dinner party , the whole point is to hang out with your friends, right? When I hosted my first dinner party, the guests were mostly shocked that I could cook without burning everything. For this particular dinner party, I wanted to go beyond frozen pizza (though there’s nothing wrong with that) and aim for something a little more out of the ordinary.
Second, know that a great dinner party doesn’t have to eat into a month’s rent. Set a budget for yourself, keep a small guest list, don’t overdo it with accents, and let simple food and good company be the star of the show.
Here’s How I Hosted My Own Adult Dinner
If there’s one thing that keeps people from throwing a dinner party in their sweet midsummer night dreams, it’s the price. Spending money on a fabulous “just because” party can be a little overwhelming, but there is hope! Before you send out any invitations, sit down with your bank account and figure out how much you need to spend the evening (really). It could be $30 or $300.
To work out my budget , I looked at how much money I usually spend on eating out on the weekends (about $85) and set aside that money (plus a little more) for a party. It turned out about 160 dollars. I skipped meals every week for a month before the party and then used the money I would have spent on dining out that weekend to cover the rest. And knowing that I would probably have to spend about $20 per person on the menu, I decided that a party of no more than seven people would be best for me.
If these numbers still seem too high for you, plan a party for a few months and then use your monthly coffee budget to offset the costs. When it comes time to shop, I like to go to my local farmers market, but you can also check out budget grocers like Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Costco, and Kroger to keep your budget tight.
Ready to start? Here’s how to host a 30-person dinner party on a $20 budget.
Don’t feel too attached to the topic
Listen: you are a group of people in their 20s and 20s, not a close gathering of Martha Stewart’s friends. Don’t think everything has to be perfect, and don’t get too attached to a particular theme or genre of food. There is nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable at a dinner party or trying to arrange a stuffy carte blanche dinner that you don’t have the financial means to afford. Take a break and enjoy the fact that you can host a dinner party at all.
Wise Man’s Advice: Free
Have guests bring drinks
When it comes to drinks, one word: BYOB! Alcohol is one of the most expensive ingredients for a dinner party, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay your own drink bills. If you really want to, make a signature cocktail for the appetizer hour and then ask everyone to bring a bottle of wine to share for dinner.
How about a cocktail? Keep it simple and choose what can be done in large batches. Lemonade with vodka and mint should help. I like Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka for this, but use what works for your budget.
My budget: $25
Decorate with what you already have
Make your first dinner easier. Stonemason jars with votive candles, old fruit baskets, napkin twine and accents, and flowers from a farmer’s market will do. Keep drinks cold in an old washing-up bucket (you can usually find them cheap at flea markets and old flea markets). Place cards made from recycled paper for grocery bags to keep you chic and cheap, while large, mismatched bowls make any table look well laid out.
My budget: $25
Take part in courses
Even if you’re serving small portions, arranging courses in courses will make any dinner a little special. Upon arrival, offer guests light snacks to entertain them in the evening. Arrange several plates of appetizers and label the appetizers with handwritten labels listing the ingredients. Even if you’re serving something as simple as a cheese board, the presentation is all about giving the illusion of a real feast. You’re on a tight budget, so something unassuming will make all the difference.
For a cheap but chic snack, try something like cucumber, watermelon, goat cheese slices. All you need is sliced watermelon, a cucumber, a log of goat cheese, and some fresh mint. Another great four-ingredient option is caprese bites – cherry tomato skewers, diced mozzarella, basil sprig, and diced chicken (optional). Serve with balsamic dipping if you like. In order not to break the budget, buy ingredients from Trader Joe’s.
My budget: $30
Keep family style
Whether you’re spending some time or planning your very first dinner party, every host knows there’s nothing worse than cooking and serving in the kitchen while your guests relax. To avoid getting stuck over the stove, cook everything in family portions to pass on and share.
For a salad course, this simple recipe should do the trick. And as for the main event, there is nothing easier (and more cost-effective) than this summer zucchini risotto . Bonus: It will delight your vegetarian guests too.
My budget: $65
For dessert, do simple things
No dinner party is complete without a sweet treat to end the evening. Finish off your dessert on a high note with a light and elegant dessert. For a dinner party, I added a scoop of Talenti ice cream (or sorbet) to a champagne glass, topped with diced strawberries, and sprinkled with inexpensive bubbles.
My budget: $15
Shared evening: $160.
That’s all! Here’s how I pawned my first adult dinner out of what I consider a budget. Do you have any advice? Let us know about it in the comments!