How to Host a Casual Dinner Party and 5 Tips for Easy Entertaining | Wit & Delight

For some, having people over for a meal comes naturally. Maybe they grew up in a home where they saw their parents entertain. Maybe they’ve got a gift for being super organized and calm while juggling all the moving parts of getting a meal to the table. And then there are the rest of us, those who want to have people over but get tangled up in all the reasons to postpone.

Hosting doesn’t have to be formal. It doesn’t have to look like my parties or any others you see on Instagram. The point of entertaining is to gather people to spend time together—regardless of the size of your home or your cooking skill level. Even without the pressure of comparison, it can be overwhelming to think of everything you have to do before and during such an occasion.

Hosting Without All the Fuss

I want you to have people over. So I asked my friend (and generous host) Lisa to collaborate on a new entertaining series on Wit & Delight called “Come Over For…” In each post, we’ll share all the essential information for hosting a delightful party around a specific theme or idea, including a timeline for the day before and the day of, a detailed grocery list, and recipes for each menu item. The series aims to make it easy to replicate these kinds of occasions for your group of friends or family.

Lisa and I have been cooking and sharing meals for a long time. She entertains beautifully and is a gracious, calm host for big parties and small dinners alike. She’s also an incredible cook and has been developing her own recipes. She created all of the recipes in this post! By collaborating on this series, we’re exploring a richer approach to hosting that combines both of our styles and expertise.

Submit your email here to receive the recipes, complete grocery list, and hosting timeline.

Beyond cooking and entertaining, Lisa is the founder of Hackwith Design House and a multi-hyphenate creative who’s good at everything she does. And, importantly, she’s confident in her abilities to create. I admire this about her so much because half the battle of creating is being willing to try. 

Lisa and I wanted to keep every recipe and step in this series light and doable. It’s entertaining without all the extra fuss. It’s a reminder that a simple approach to hosting can still feel special.

Come Over For… A Casual Dinner Party

For the first iteration, we curated a casual dinner party that’s easy, beautiful, delicious, and memorable. A tall order to fill but we did it! The menu for this casual dinner party is meant to be easy to bring to the table but still special. It’s vegetarian, filling, and delicious, so everyone will be satisfied. 

Here’s the menu, including a cocktail to start the evening:

• Vermouth Spritz
• Shaved Fennel, Toasted Hazelnuts, and Arugula Salad
• Creamy Mushroom Pasta
• Lemon Panna Cotta

Submit your email here to receive the recipes, complete grocery list, and hosting timeline.

5 Tips for Entertaining With Ease

Whenever I’m hosting a dinner party, these are the things I like to keep in mind to ensure a low-stress, enjoyable evening.

1. Create a Menu

We’ve taken care of this for you! When creating a menu for a dinner party, I like to consider the number of people attending and what steps it takes to get the food to the table. This menu is perfect for up to six people but can easily be scaled up without much effort.

Here’s another tip: If you’re cooking a new dish and want to practice making it, consider doing a trial run first. Make it a week or so before the party for your family or yourself so you can get comfortable with the steps.

2. Plan Ahead

Plan the prep so you’re not feeling rushed the evening of your dinner party. Lisa and I put together a timeline for what needs to be done beforehand and leading up to the party so you have an idea of how to pace yourself and the evening.

For more tips on planning, creating a guest list, and sending invitations, read this post: “How to Plan a Dinner Party: My Best Tips to Simplify the Process.”

3. Keep It Simple

You don’t need an elaborate tablescape or ambiance. When it comes to setting the table, I think simple is always more elegant. For this dinner party, we set the table with only a few things: a striped tablecloth, tapered candles, and pieces of fresh fruit. We added a flower arrangement to a nearby seating area, put on a great playlist, and let everything else go. 

4. Ask for Help

For this dinner party, I showed up early to help Lisa before the other guests arrived. Don’t shy away from asking for help! It can alleviate last-minute stress and make the preparation process much more enjoyable. Jobs you could give your helper include:

• Make the cocktails
• Make the salad dressing
• Slice the fennel and fruit for the salad
• Do the dishes that have accumulated while cooking
• Set the table 

5. Go With the Flow

If you plan ahead and do your best not to feel rushed, you should be set up to enjoy the occasion with your guests. All that to say, something will go wrong. Laugh it off, ask for help, and remember the best memories are often when something deviates from the plan. I’ve never hosted a single party without something going sideways. Dessert didn’t set, I forgot a place setting, the music stopped working, or the rice burned. It’s okay. It happens to everyone. The more you host, the easier it becomes to go with the flow and have fun.

Submit your email here to receive the recipes, complete grocery list, and hosting timeline.

There’s so much more to come! In the months ahead, this series will continue—and it won’t always be about dinner parties. We want to share how to host a simple dessert party, an afternoon tea, a no-cook lunch, and Friendsgiving, among other ideas. Stay tuned!