Tips And Tricks For How To Host A Fabulous Dinner Party

Forbes

2 days ago

Dinner parties have always held a unique social function. They can be a way to show off and enjoy a combination of taste, money, social class and general joie de vivre. But perhaps more importantly, it's also a special and intimate way to bring together the people you love, know or want to know better.
And despite a decline in social occasions, apartment space, and even personal time, dinner parties display resilience and special fascination. Take, for example, the trend of pop-up dinner parties and dinner parties with strangers matched via an algorithm. To get in on your own good time, Forbes took a look around and asked some of the pros in the fashion, beauty and home decor space their tips and tricks for being a good host, how to elevate the dinner party atmosphere, and of course, a few product recommendations to make it all tie together.
Aerin Lauder, founder of lifestyle brand Aerin
For Lauder, her first serious party planned from beginning to end was her June 1, 1996, wedding, and it remains her favorite. The happy occasion drew influence from a country wedding, with wicker furniture, vintage silver and crystal home items, monogrammed white linen napkins, and fresh garden roses and peonies. Today, Lauder finds herself entertaining at least once a week and always starts with planning out the flowers and the season. From there, she curates a tablescape inspired by nature, her surroundings and the destination.
Notably, her brand is an extension of this warm and polished approach. For example, the Paulette plate collection is in frequent rotation at Lauder's dinners as it can be both formal and festive for a dinner party or casual and relaxed for lunch in the garden, she said. It comes in four colors, including Amalfi Blue and Sage. Made in Italy's Bassano region, the plates feature an intricate cutout design and are finished with a solid Maioliche glaze. The collection also features a fruit bowl, a serving plate and even candlesticks.
'I believe that entertaining should be fun,' said Lauder. 'I create beautiful tablescapes with a layered approach; I love mixing and matching different pieces, whether they are family heirlooms, unique finds that I have discovered during my travels, vintage pieces that I have collected through the years or newer items that I have designed for the Aerin brand.'
Artem Kuzmichev, co-founder and chief technology officer of Transformer Table furniture
Kuzmichev, alongside six other friends who all serve in C-Suite and senior-level roles at Transformer Table, launched the buzzy furniture brand nine years ago. The origin of Transformer is based on the experiences of a married couple within the friend group who had to make compromises while furnishing their condominium, which led to a prototype development and several successful Kickstarter campaigns. Today, the bootstrapped furniture company has earned over $100 million in revenue and presently employs over 1,000 people both in Canada and at its Vietnamese factory, said Kuzmichev. While the Round table is Transformer's most popular product, the brand also sells a traditional rectangle-style table, a modular couch, outdoor seating, benches and more. The brand has also done collaborations with beverage brand Stella Artois and tidying guru Marie Kondo.
It's not surprising that the Round table is a bestseller. It retails for about $3,150 and comes in three finishes: Dark Walnut, Smoked Hickory and Scandinavian Oak. While it may seem steep for apartment dwellers used to Ikea offerings, the table is of hardy quality, made from natural engineered hardwood that has oak veneers and solid wood slats.
In a recent customer survey of approximately 5,000 people, nearly 70% said they wanted the ability to entertain when they want, said Kuzmichev. And Transformer items are built with small spaces in mind. Any good dinner party needing a table that's up to snuff, the Round table is a fantastic option. At its smallest round set up, the table seats four people, and with three panels, it can seat up to 10. But the most notable and valuable feature of the design is its built-in storage space in the base of the table. At approximately 21-inches wide and 10-inches deep, the storage capacity of the base is a serious space saver and suitable for small plates, bowls, glassware and decor.
'For a lot of people, [the attraction] to our table is the ability to gather together with friends or family, and when they don't need it, [put it away],' said Kuzmichev. 'It can grow with you; whether you're single or have a partner, or have kids or not, it expands with your life as you grow.'
Kuzmichev said that as for his dinner parties, he often cooks and designs based on whatever he is feeling drawn to that day.
Rebecca Hessel Cohen, founder of fashion brand LoveShackFancy
For Hessel Cohen, entertaining is one of her greatest joys. If she could host a party every day, she would, she said.
When it comes to putting together an evening of fun, food, and friends, she starts by thinking about the tablescape concept. From there, she builds a world around it: the florals, linens, lighting, music, etc. She is fond of vintage-inspired floral tablecloths and custom lace-embroidered napkins because they instantly bring a sense of whimsy and romance to the table, she said. After years of sourcing and scouring flea markets and estate sales with her mother, LoveShackFancy launched into homewares in 2019, including tablecloths, napkins and napkin rings, party crackers and pillows, ranging from $25 to $595.
'I like to think of entertaining as ever-evolving,' she said. 'The colors shift with the season, the menu changes with the mood, even the playlist tells its own story. In the winter, I'll layer candles and deep florals or in the summer, linens, crisp whites and soft florals. It's all about creating a transportive experience for the people I love.'
Hessel Cohen's biggest advice to hosts is to remember that his or her purpose is not to make everything perfect for guests, but instead to create a feeling. The best dinner parties aren't just about the food or the table, as beautiful as those may be, she said. They're about making people feel celebrated and connected.
'Set the tone with candlelight, your favorite playlist, a table that feels perfectly imperfect, and then let the night unfold,' she said. 'Don't get caught up in every little detail being flawless—if something spills or burns, laugh it off and pour another glass. The magic is in the imperfections.'
Hugo Ferroux, creative director of Trudon
The importance of candles and good lighting can't be underestimated when it comes to setting the tone and mood for a dinner party. Ferroux certainly takes this to heart and puts scent at the heart of entertaining.
Before guests arrive, Ferroux often uses a room spray ('Not to overpower, just to whisper something soft into the air') because of his belief that scent can start a conversation. He recommends Trudon's collaboration with Le Bristol Paris hotel. Called Honoré, the candle and room spray refer to the patron saint of bakers and patissiers, and to the hotel's iconic address on Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré. It features base notes of hay, wheat and vetiver, heart notes of wheat and cedar essence and head notes of yeast.
Beyond Trudon's own items, Ferroux often uses Baccarat crystal glasses, as he is fond of its sharp designs and weightiness. It's 'a tactile reminder that quality is as much about feel as it is about sight.'
'Be yourself, your guests will do the same, and that's when the magic happens,' he advises.