Sure, you can do it yourself.
You can plan, shop, cook, serve and do all of the things that it takes for hosting a dinner party at home. Or, you can shave off a lot of the stress and much of your time by calling a caterer that specializes in off-premise catering.
If you choose to take the first route and do it yourself, here's some helpful information.
Start by finding out if any of your guests have special dietary needs when you mail, email, or telephone your dinner party invitations. Your guests will be more inspired to R.S.V.P. when you make this question an important part of your invitation, "Do you prefer a vegan, vegetarian, macrobiotic or raw food menu?". Asking this question will give you an idea of which culinary direction to take your dinner menu. There's nothing worse than having a guest eat only salad and bread because they're a vegan, vegetarian, or on a special diet for health reasons.
When hosting a dinner party at home, be sure to have an adequate selection of beverages to satisfy the various tastes of your guests. If you're celebrating a special moment such as an engagement, anniversary or retirement, have a special beverage for a toast to make it an especially memorable event. A good wine with dinner is nice, and offering a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages for guests that prefer not to drink is a good idea. If you're having a theme party, take it a step further - create (and name) a special cocktail to commemorate the evening.
As a 17 year catering veteran and founder/owner of a Michigan-based luxury catering and event planning company, for me to shop and chef my own party is the next best thing to actually hosting a dinner party at home. When I entertain, after finding out my guests culinary preferences, everything else stems from the menu and is decided from there. If you're not comfortable with doing everything - from cooking and setting your buffet table to getting the timing right when serving a sit-down dinner, I urge you to hire a catering professional to assist you for the evening. Depending on who your hire, they might be willing to assist you with serving your meal and the clean up. If necessary, design a vegan or vegetarian menu that appeals to everyone and grill steaks or marinated chicken, or steam fresh lobster or mussels and serve them on the side. You'll get a receive a great compliment when your non-vegan and non-vegetarian guests go back for a second helpings of the menu items that were prepared for those who don't eat meat. Items that are initially planned with special diet guests in mind, that are a big hit during dinner, will not only go down in history as guest favorites but will usually be healthy too.
When hosting a dinner party at home, have a plan in order for helping your guests to get home. I keep extra amenities on hand, such as toothbrushes, hair brushes, pajamas, robes and slippers, to offer my guests that have over-done it and aren't sober enough to drive home. Knowing that this is a possibility, just in case - I plan and shop for a post-party (next morning) breakfast menu. When a house guest awakens to the aroma of fresh brewed coffee and bacon and eggs with toast, or homemade pancakes with sausage links and fresh fruit, they'll feel welcome and not as if they've placed any imposition upon your household. The gracious host is the greatest host.
Something else to consider when hosting a dinner party at home is to make sure your pets are comfortable. There's nothing worse than subjugating your guests to your cute little baby dog (or cat) when they're not animal lovers. Place the furry members of your family in a separate room with their special bedding, and fresh food and water. If you're got a "talker" - a non-stop barker, for instance - that will be angry and disruptive because you've excluded them from having the run of the house, ask a family member or neighbor to dog (or cat) sit until the end of the party or until the next day. Children that are too young to participate in an adult dinner may fare better spending the night at a friend or relatives home. This could be an opportune time for them to have an overnight party of their own, spending it at their favorite auntie or uncle's house.
Remember the idea that I mentioned earlier, about creating a special cocktail?
Whenever you're hosting a dinner party at home, you'll make a classy and kind impression if you give your guests a special "thank you for coming" gift bag when they're departing. Purchase inexpensive gift bags (available at most craft stores) and place a small box of chocolates or bars of elegant, hand-milled soaps inside. Be sure to include a beautiful recipe card listing the ingredients and measurements of the custom-created cocktail that you've served for the evening. The cocktail recipe will serve as a gift that will last forever and your guests will have a special memento to remind them of the great evening that they spent at your home.
The most important keys to success when hosting a dinner party at home?
Leave nothing to chance... and have a great set of plans, or hire the best catering professional that you can afford!
Question: Do you have dinner parties? Do you do everything yourself? What advice would you give?
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Written by Carlo of Carlo At Your Service Productions
