How to throw the perfect dinner party
As the SEEN editor, I have attended a lot of events over the past three years, including plenty of dinner parties. But what makes one stand out as being memorable, and can you recreate that magic at home? I chatted with three experts from around the city for tips on how to keep your guests wanting more.
Ramsey Lyons: Coowner and curator of Mecox home furnishings in Shadyside.
Give your table a facelift: I love mixing up the glasses and china so it does not all look so matchy. I love Baccarat wine glasses and mixing [them] with William Yeoward’s colored water glasses. Mixing china patterns from Haviland and Anna Weatherley gives a table some extra spunk and color. The Anna Weatherley chargers with the painted edges are my favorite.
Drink it up: It’s fun to have a special drink to kick the evening off when guests arrive. If you are having drinks on a patio (and spring can’t come fast enough!), I always go with Mario Luca Giusti [acrylic] tumblers and wine glasses. They are a terrific price point, come in a bunch of great colors and you don’t have to worry about breaking them.
Shawn Aversa: Owner of Von Walter & Funk, a specialty home goods boutique in Lawrenceville.
Get organized: Divide and conquer. Unless you’ve got staff — I wish! — you need to delegate. When we do this, my partner Jamie manages the food and beverage side while I manage the setting.
Pick your vibe: Decide upfront if this is going to be formal or informal — or somewhere in between — and stick to it. You’ve got to give your guests and yourself time to prepare, at least two weeks, for a more formal experience.
Use what you have: I think sometimes we get too caught up in being Emily Post or Amy Vanderbilt, but the truth is, this is real life. For example, we have a huge dining table, so finding a tablecloth for a table that seats 14 is nearly impossible. I ended up taking several smaller tablecloths and draping them in sections over the table and made a sort of striped/patchwork out of it, which paired perfectly with my mismatched plates. The other thing I’ll do is grab some of the craft paper we sell by the roll at the shop and use that as a runner. Two strips down each side of the table and you’re good. Just have fun with it!
Susie Perelman: Owner of Mosaic Inc. based in the Strip District.
Words to live by: When planning a party, make it simple for yourself. For all the effort it takes to have a party, you don’t want to be working on complicated menus or serving techniques that would make you too busy on-site to be with your guests and enjoy the night.
#CheatDay: You don’t have to bake everything from scratch. You can buy some hor d’oeuvres and heat them up, or order some bite-sized cookies and bars and serve it with ice cream. If you need some help in the decor department, hire a florist or rent some linens. The less stress on you, the more fun you and your guests will have.
Keep it fresh: Select a centerpiece made from an eclectic grouping of objects you own as well. Mixing candlesticks, votives and vessels you own with freshcut flowers can really make an impact, adding sparkle and color to your evening.