Fall Entertaining: Throwing A Festive Dinner Party

If there is such a thing as the perfect time to throw a dinner party, autumn is it. The cooler weather practically begs us to spend evenings inside gathered around a table full of warm food and lively conversation. Plus, the season’s natural colors provide the perfect palette for autumn decorative items. If we’ve convinced you to get a few friends together, take a look at these tips. They’ll help keep things so simple that you’ll wish fall entertaining could last all year round.

Anyone can host a festive fall dinner party.

Image Via: Babble

Keep Your Theme Specific:

Okay, yes, technically “fall” could be a theme all on it’s own. But, when you think about all of the festivities that this season has to offer, why group them all into the same catch-all category? You could have a spooky affair complete with caramel apples for dessert or a Oktoberfest bash that showcases Germany’s finest brews. Whether you choose to have a rustic harvest celebration or something more upscale, use your theme to help dictate the menu and décor.

A cohesive theme will make party planning much easier.

Image Via: Hostess With The Mostess

Serve Food Family Style:

Fall is absolutely ideal for rustic dining. Make the party prep easier on yourself by serving up a huge dishes piled high with food and let your guests serve themselves. This type of dining instantly creates a intimate atmosphere. As far as the menu is concerned, stick to comfort food classics like melty baked brie, steaming bowls of beef stew, and warm apple crisp. Bring the heartiness to your bar menu as well by offering mulled wine or a warm cider cocktail in addition to the usual selection of wine and beer.

Look toward a rustic menu full of comfort food.

Image Via: Simply Delicious

Go Big With Tablescape:

As far as dinner parties are concerned, the design of your table is key. After all, you want your guests to be centered around the table for hours. It needs to be both festive and functional. Choose two colors and a neutral to create the base of your table and feel free to draw inspiration from nature – pumpkins, apples, leaves, acorns. Collect things that fit your color scheme and use them to create an artful arrangement in the center of your table. Stagger these items at varying heights and groupings to create visual interest, but check to make sure that each guest has a clear line of vision!

A festive centerpiece is key to any fall celebration.

Image Via: Driven By Décor

Don’t Forget The Favors:

Favors are that extra special touch that help make your gathering into something that is truly memorable. Fall provides an abundance of easy (and budget-friendly) options that look amazing, but can be thrown together in just a few minutes. Buy a bag of miniature candies and break them up into baggies for a sweet treat that everyone can enjoy at home. Alternatively, small monogrammed guards could serve as place settings now and decorations later.

Favors make your event much more memorable.

Image Via: Etsy

Anyone can throw a great dinner party. While fall entertaining may come with its own set of seasonal tips, keep these basic dinner party rules in mind as well. Remember to plan your gathering well in advance, embrace make-ahead dishes that will give you plenty of breathing room, and – as always – don’t forget to have fun! Keep our tips in mind as you put your dinner party together and we guarantee that your guests will be begging for weekly invitations.

Do you have any fall dinner party tips to share? Which autumn theme would you choose? Tell us in the comments!

For more fall entertaining suggestions, head on over to Stagetecture’s archives.