A soiree is a small, intimate gathering of friends, the perfect way to celebrate everything from friendship to birthdays. You don’t need an excuse to enjoy quality time with people you care about but when it comes to hosting a successful soiree, what do you need to consider?
Keep it small
The ideal size for this kind of dinner party is between six and eight guests. With a larger group, you’ll find yourself simply catering rather than enjoying the company of guests and the great food on offer.
In smaller groups, big personalities can take over so make sure you seat your dinner guests in a way that allows conversation to flow but stops small groups from ‘breaking away’. For example, seat people who have larger-than-life personalities in the centre of the table. This way, they’ll extend their conversation to people on either side of them.
Simple menu
Don’t overthink your soiree menu. If fact, you can ditch several courses in favour of one main course, followed by desserts and sweet treats that allow people to dip in and out, as and when the conversation ebbs and flows.
Include a range of enticing dishes including chocolate candy with coffee, as well as cheese and fruit.
Anticipate your guests’ needs
Every successful soiree or party is defined as one where the needs and expectations of the guests were met. The sign of a good host is one that can second-guess or predict what their guests will want.
For example, if you are enjoying an intimate dinner party outdoors, provide sumptuous blankets for your guests to wrap themselves up in. Or, if enjoying an informal soiree in front of a roaring fire, cosy slippers or throws will work just as well.
Pull out all the stops
Unlike a more formal dinner party, the soiree is a more relaxed affair but what does that really mean? It means serving a classic menu with elegant dishes, it means several dishes served at the same time without the formality or awkwardness of working out which set of cutlery to use.
Pulling out all the stops doesn’t mean making things overly complicated. A posy of fresh flowers on the table, pretty china plates and cups, linen napkins and vintage glasses will all look spectacular.
Think about the small things and get organised before your party. For example, make such there are fresh towels in the bathroom and welcoming cocktails for guests.
Make it all about people, memories and fun
A soiree is the stuff of memories. It is the meeting of friends where you will laugh and commiserate, sharing stories of times gone past. Life is so full and busy, finding time can be hard.
But when you can all find the time, a soiree is perfect. It is informal and comforting. If the chicken is a little overcooked or the wine is not as tasty as you thought it would be or a cocktail glass is broken, what does it matter?
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