Now that fall is officially here, people are starting to prepare elaborate holiday dinner parties to kick off the new season. If you plan on hosting for the upcoming holidays, Create Dinners is a great resource that can make it not only an unforgettable experience but super convenient, too.

Launched in 2016, Create Dinners is “a community of people who gather with intention.” The company prides itself on hosting a wide range of gatherings, from weddings to workshops. Their mission is to provide a welcoming space for people to break bread together and find togetherness through the communal act of sharing a good meal.

Holiday Dinner Party Tips, According to an Expert

Hosting, especially during the busy holiday season, can be pretty overwhelming without a plan of action. But fortunately, there are a number of ways to avoid this so that you can throw a holiday dinner party for the ages. And Kate Pauley, the founder and expert party planner at Create Dinners, is here to explain how you can do exactly that. To learn how to host a bangin’ holiday dinner, here are tips from the expert dinner party planner.

You’ve got to start somewhere.

According to Pauley, before you start planning your dinner party, you should consider the why. Why are planning the party? Say, for example, you want to celebrate the start of autumn. You can create an environment that promotes that by decorating with pumpkin centerpieces, rustic tableware in earthy, fall colors, or seasonal floral arrangements made up of sunflowers, mums, and dahlias.

And don’t forget about the menu! You should also have a dinner menu that reflects the theme of your party. Think roasted root vegetables, butternut squash soup served in warm, crusty bread bowls, or even a hot apple cider station.

Pauley suggests keeping your guests at the top of mind when planning a party. That way, you can focus on curating the perfect ambiance that they’ll never forget.

Latch onto one of these trends.

Part of planning a proper dinner party involves keeping up with modern trends. You don’t want your party decor to seem outdated, and staying on trend is the best way to prevent that. Pauley highlights four 2023 design trends that you can incorporate into your party decor:

Tomato Girl Summer

The ‘Tomato Girl’ trend is a popular fashion trend that also translates well in interior design. Think tablescape and decor in tomato reds, greens, and yellows, fresh tomato soup shooters, or casual lighting such as string lights or rustic lamps.

Silver

Silver is making its way to our tablescape this year with lots of metallic silver decor and accessories such as rimmed glassware or mirrored vases.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

As society becomes more aware of the importance of physical and mental health, a move away from alcohol is taking root. Consider serving fun and tasty non-alcoholic beverages like pumpkin spice lattes or hot apple cider with fresh orange slices and cinnamon sticks.

Minimalism and Maximalist

If you can’t decide between a minimalist or maximalist design, why not try both? You can make a statement with striking, flamboyant pieces and pair them with clean, simple accents.

No space? No problem.

If your home isn’t big enough for hosting, Pauley suggests planning your party elsewhere. Peerspace is the perfect tool for this because it allows you to conveniently book a space for your special event. On Peerspace, you can find a wide selection of spaces, from mansions to movie theaters to castles.

Looking to level up?

Let’s face it, throwing a nice dinner party isn’t cheap. But there are ways to create a sophisticated bash without overspending. According to Pauley, the best way to do this is to splurge on just a couple of things like high-quality menu ingredients or hiring live entertainment. By picking one or two things, you can create an unforgettable experience without burning through your wallet.