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In 2024, I’d like to bring back the dinner party. I want a full spread, not a charcuterie board and small bites. I don’t want girl dinner either. This is a campaign for a fancy dinner at home with friends accompanied by deep conversations and silly ones too that blur from one topic to the next.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a spontaneous little dinner party and it was fun and filling. We talked about everything and nothing all at the same time. It wasn’t overwhelming to pull the whole thing together either. Hopefully by sharing how I set up (in a very short amount of time), it’ll encourage you to bring back the dinner party with your friends.

Setting the Scene Using What You Have at Home

I love to host, and I think it’s fun to scavenge around my house for things that are both functional and decorative to create a really nice table scape of object of varying heights to give some visual interest.

For our table scape, we used various wine and liquor bottles, carafes of water, house plants, a pitcher of tea, taper candles, greenery from Trader Joes, and a bunch of scented candles. Lighting all the scented candles wouldn’t have been a pleasant smell, so we dropped tea light inside for the same visual effect without the nasal overload.

Make dinner feel fancy with the perfect glassware and dishes

I’m convinced that the easiest way to elevate dinner vibes is with an abundance of glassware and tiny bowls or plates of things to taste. When I go to a fancy restaurant, table linens and multiple glasses for water, wines, and more are on the table. My mind automatically thinks fancy with lots of glasses, so I replicate that for my dinners too. Wine glasses (even if it’s just water in them), short glasses for juice, and coupes or old fashion glasses for cocktails.

I also put out tiny bowls of fruit and olives for people to snack on just in case I’m running late with serving dinner. I’m moving away from the charcuterie board and towards little bowls and plates of goodies scattered around the table in 2024.

Honestly, whatever you have is perfect. It’s the fact that you thought ahead and put out a little something for folks to nibble on while you have fun conversations about what you read and watched over the past week.

This is some of the glassware I’m into right now:

My favorite coupe - It’s etched and from Crate & Barrel. I use this coupe for champagnes, sparkling cider, cocktails, you name it.
Frosted Coupe if you want something fun, this is a colorful alternative
Gin Balloon Glass ($$ - If you got it…)
Cool Juice Glasses from Urban Outfitters - I mean look at the shape, so fun!
IG keeps showing me these stainless steel cup, saucer, & spoon sets and I cannot, but maybe you can…

Warm Ambient Lighting for the Vibes

I already shared the tip above to drop a tea light into your scented candles, but I also recommend tapered candles with holders at varying heights. In a pinch just stack your jarred candles on top of other things - books, canned goods, whatever to give you the height you need. Also, turn off that over head light and let your lamps (warm bulbs please) set the tone.

I’m sharing a few candles I’m into for you here too!