Dinner parties are back and better than ever as more people are planning to whip up elaborate meals to have fun and spend time with family and friends. Back in the day, homemakers would usually turn to lifestyle gurus like Martha Stewart to get table setting or food and wine pairing ideas for their gatherings. But now, Gen Z and Millennials prefer to scroll on social media for dinner party inspiration as thousands of people post and enjoy this type of content. In fact, according to Pinterest’s 2024 Summer Trends Report, searches for “dinner parties” went up by 6000 percent, while searches for “themed dinner party” increased by 44 percent.
Choosing a theme can make the experience feel cohesive since it ties everything together, from the food, beverages, music, and decorations. A theme can also make your dinner party more special and memorable, so for your next get-together, consider these themed dinner party ideas to delight your guests.
Destination Dinner Party
Want to know the easiest way to make your soiree feel fancy? Simply think of a country, city, or a famous tourist spot, then include elements inspired by that destination to your dinner party. For instance, you can host a California-themed dinner party and serve Cali staples, such as veggie sandwiches with avocado and goat cheese, fish tacos, and Santa Maria-style barbeque. Since the Sunshine State is widely associated with its wine regions, include a red varietal wine from Sonoma County, such as Cabernet Sauvignon to your menu, plus a few bottles of Chardonnay for those who prefer white wine. Decorate your dining room with live plants, monstera string lights, framed prints of California coastal views and surfing pictures, and bunches of colorful cut flowers along the center of your table.
If you’d rather throw a New York-style dinner party, think about serving Hudson favorites, like dry-aged NY strip steak, a salad with ricotta cheese, and maple syrup-infused mini pancakes or maple panna cotta for dessert. Consider serving wine sourced from New York wineries to stay true to the theme. Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery in Hudson offers Riesling, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc, among others, while you can get bottles of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, or Merlot from Milbrook Vineyards and Winery in the Hudson Valley.
Grazing Dinner Experience
If you want your gathering to have a chic, cocktail party feel, why not put together a grazing dinner experience? Think about creating charcuterie boards filled with different types of cheeses, cold cuts, nuts, sliced fruits and veggies, then provide crostini and artisan spreads, plus some chips and dip. To make your spread more substantial, think about adding some sliders, mini sandwiches, tortilla roll ups, and skewered meats to the mix. You may also want to have a salad bar, a soup bar, and a dessert station so your guests can help themselves to whatever they like.
As for your drinks, have a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, and see to it that all your beverages go well with your food. Sparkling water, cola, and cucumber lemonade are always safe bets. For boozy drinks, choose light beers, plus a crowd pleaser cocktail like a margarita. You may want to consider getting a margarita machine so you’ll have time to mingle and not worry about making individual cocktails for everyone. Don’t forget to have a few bottles of some easy-to-drink pink, white, and red wines such as a Pink Moscato, a Vinho Verde, and a medium-bodied Merlot.
Breakfast for Dinner Party
For a low-key but fun gathering, consider having a breakfast for dinner party with your besties. Ask everyone to turn up in their pajamas, and serve elevated versions of breakfast favorites. You can have butter pecan or blueberry pancakes, waffles, bagels, and breakfast sandwiches, plus some scrambled eggs and sides like crispy bacon, sausages, hash browns, and slices of honey ham. Add three different types of cereal and serve them with whole milk and almond milk. Include some hot chocolate, coffee, and chilled orange juice to your spread, plus some Champagne so your guests can make mimosas if they want a more festive drink.
Dinner parties allow us to enjoy good food while reconnecting and catching up with loved ones. Consider these dinner party themes for a fun soiree, and have the time of your life with your family and friends.
