Are you planning a dinner party for friends or relatives? Suppose you want to transcend the typical conventions of traditional dinner parties in favour of something altogether more unpredictable and memorable. In that case, consider choosing a theme for your event. A fun, quirky theme is the perfect way to put your guests at ease and encourage them to let loose. Furthermore, a solid theme can be an excellent icebreaker for guests who are thus far unacquainted with one another. Here are some fantastic examples of dinner party themes guaranteed to delight your guests.
The Year You Were Born
There’s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned fancy-dress party. However, deciding on your costume can be tricky. Set your guests the challenge of dressing as the year they were born. This involves selecting an outfit that reflects the fashion of the time. For example, if you were born in 1985, you could express your creativity by finding the most quintessentially 80s ensemble possible, with shoulder pads, back-combed hair and plenty of bright colours. You could even theme your menu around classic dishes of the time.
Celebrity Lookalikes
Celebrity lookalikes is another fun fancy-dress theme perfect for a group of friends or colleagues who don’t take themselves too seriously. You don’t necessarily need to resemble a celebrity physically, but some choice garments and accessories could transform you into your favourite musician or film star in no time. You can support your theme through decoration by laying out a red carpet leading to your front door and handing out prizes for the best-dressed celebrity lookalikes.
A Night At The Casino
If you want to organise an evening that is equal parts fun and sophisticated, a casino-themed dinner party is an excellent choice. Instruct your guests to arrive dressed to the nines in their finest tuxedos and cocktail dresses, whereupon they will be greeted with cocktails and canapés. You can buy novelty casino game tables and slot machines online; however, if your budget is flexible, you could even hire a blackjack table and professional dealer for the evening.
Beach Party
With summer well and truly on the way, a garden dinner party is the perfect way to celebrate the warmer weather. However, you can take things one step further by planning a beach-themed dinner party, even if you’re miles from the coast. Start by greeting your guests with a quintessential summer cocktail, such as a tequila sunrise or a frozen piña colada. If you’re lucky enough to have a hot tub in your garden, you could finish the evening with a quick dip – accompanied by more cocktails, of course.
Wine Tasting
Hosting a dinner party featuring plenty of high-quality wine is an excellent excuse to demonstrate your knowledge of viniculture. Take your guests on a wine tour of the world with expertly paired beverages for each of your courses. Ensure you cater for your guests’ individual preferences by offering a variety of crowd-pleasing, drinkable options. You could even end the evening with a cheese platter and a bottle of fortified wine such as port or sherry. If you’re not necessarily a connoisseur of wine, your local wine merchant staff will likely be more than happy to recommend some excellent varieties for your dinner party.
French Bistro
French cuisine has long been revered for its simplicity and exquisite balance of flavours. As such, by recreating a French bistro in your own home, you can instantly transport your guests to a quaint provençal village where the food is rustic yet phenomenal. Serve classic dishes like ratatouille, bouillabaisse and Daube de Boeuf, all accompanied by exquisite French wine. You could even play some French music and light candles for the ultimate cosy ambience.
Pizza Party
Everybody loves pizza. Whether or not you’re lucky enough to own a back garden pizza oven, gathering high-quality ingredients, making a large batch of pizza dough and having some friends around for a pizza party is an excellent way to celebrate. Hosting a make-your-own pizza party is also a great way to get your guests involved – if nothing else, this will take some of the pressure off you as the host. You could even purchase some dairy-free cheese alternatives to ensure your vegan or lactose-intolerant guests don’t feel left out.
Fresh Book 