Diary of a Dinner Party

Posted By: Amy 6 Comments on Diary of a Dinner Party

Posted: May 28, 2012 Updated: Jan 19, 2023

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I decided to throw a dinner party to bring together my friends before we all got lost in the summer madness and to celebrate my husbands birthday.

Though I am no expert on how to throw a party I have done it several times and I thought it might be fun to share the party process in a fast forward timeline here with you.

First: Getting Started

• I picked the date, May 26th.
• I came up with a theme for the party so that I could pick an invitation.
• I decided to have a sit-down dinner outside so that everyone could enjoy the garden.
• I made a list of who I wanted to invite.
• I went to the stationary store M.Hopple which is a locally owned stationary and gift store.  They have a great selection of stationary always on hand.
• I ordered the cutest invites and got them in the  mail by April 30th.

• I try to get the invites in the mail 3-4 weeks previous to the party.
• The RSVP’s started coming in and I kept a running update on my invite list, so I would know who and who had not RSVP.  It would be a dinner party for 22.

Second: Getting Game Plan Together

• Two weeks before the party I started writing the menu.
• Called a few girls that I know to help with service.
• Called the rental company to order tables, chairs and linens.
• Got to work on finishing up the spring chores around the house.  I have to say even though throwing a party is a lot of work (especially if you are doing all the cooking) it really gets you motivated to get things done around the house!

• • • • • Mulch put down-check
        • Pots planted-check
        • Windows cleaned-check
        • Patio Furniture cleaned-check
        • Weeds pulled-(mostly) check

• With that done and the number of invitees firmed up, I finished the menu.  I chose to go with an Italian themed menu, cuz everyone loves Italian!

Appetizers

• • • • • 25 marinated mini-grilled shrimp skewers
        • 25 mini-Caprese salad skewer

Salad

• • • • • Chopped Italian Salad (using the greens from the garden)

Main Course

• • • • • Pistachio Crusted Salmon
        • Grilled Beef Tenderloin
        • Italian Potato Salad
        • Lemon Green Beans

Dessert

• • • • • Blueberry-Cheese Tart
        • Chocolate Strawberries rolled in Pistachio

• I always like to hand my guest a gift as they leave and this time I decided to make iced sugar cookies in the shape of a daisy to keep with the garden theme.

Third: The Final Countdown:

• I start writing a final week timeline to help myself keep on track and not get overwhelmed at the last few days.  I used an app called Evernote to help me keep all my lists on all my electronic devices, so whether I was sitting in the kitchen or at the grocery store I can access my lists for the party.

• • Call Florist to Pick Flower Arrangements and choose a time for delivery.
• • Email Rental Company to dd any new additions and confirm the time for delivery and pick-up.

• • Bake Sugar Cookies
  • If you have out-of-town guests coming, make sure linens and towels are fresh

• • Grocery Store run
  • Make Tart Shells
  • Ice Sugar Cookies and bag them up so they are ready for people to take home
  • Pick outfit for dinner party

• • Costco-for larger items
  • Target-candles, bug deterrent
  • Make Filling & Blueberries topping, finish assembling Tarts
  • Clean Patio and Patio Furniture (Move patio furniture to make room for rental tables)
• • Lay out string for temporary Bocce Ball Court
  • Pull out Bocce balls and clean-up
  • Finish last-minute weeding and trimming of spent flowers

• • Finish Chocolate covered Strawberries
  • Boil Potatoes, do not cube (store in refrigerator)
  • Blanch Green Beans (store in refrigerator)
  • Make topping for Salmon
  • Make dressing for Potatoes
  • Make dressing for Salad
  • Make Marinade for Shrimp
  • Cut and clean lettuce
  • Make sure grass is trimmed and mowed
  • Start cleaning house

• • Ice water and white wine
  • Make Balsamic Glaze for Caprese skewers
  • Thaw shrimp
  • Finish cleaning house
  • 12 p.m.- Make tomato and Mozzarella skewers
  • 12 p.m – Prep Shrimp Skewers
  • 1 p.m – Prep Salad
  • 2 p.m – Prep Potatoes
  • 2 p.m – Prep Green Beans
  • 4 p.m – Prep Salmon
  • 4 p.m – Grill Beef
  • 4 p.m – Grill Shrimp (refrigerate)
  • 5:30 p.m. – Help arrives give instructions
    • Set table
    • Slice Beef and Keep covered
    • Keep appetizers fresh
    • Dress and Toss Salad
    • Dress and Toss Green Beans
    • As guest arrive, pass appetizers
    • Light Candles on Table and Patio at 7:30
    • Fill Water Glasses on Table
    • Bake Salmon
    • Serve Salad to table at 8:30 (be flexible)
    • Serve Dinner to table at 9:00 (be flexible)
• • Shower and Dress
  • 7:00 Guest Start Arriving, ENJOY!!

The table looked so beautiful!  I used a burlap tablecloth, white and tan napkins, white plates, gold votives and beautiful Sunflowers.

To help fight bugs while we were eating I placed Off Clip Mosquito Repellent Cartridge on the table in between flower arrangements.  Which worked really well.

Even though the temperature went up to 92 on Saturday by the time 7:00 rolled around the patio was in the shade and the temperature had dropped just enough that everyone was comfortable outside.

Though I did set up a Bocce Ball court, no one played, but they did walk around and enjoy the gardens and everyone enjoyed a cocktail and catching up with each other.

    When we sat to eat dinner the temperature outside was perfect! 🙂

 10:00 p.m. – We Lit Lanterns