Throwing Together a Last Minute Dinner Party

Throwing Together A Last Minute Dinner Party

A couple weeks ago we threw our first ever Arrows & Bow team holiday party and it was one we pulled together quickly...but it could not have been more fun! We ate, we drank, we got DOWN. It was just the very best with the best team. 

But I will say, while this party was not completely last minute, we definitely cut it close. We had a bit of trouble booking something that worked for schedules, ages but we ended up bringing in some faves from the island, Graze St for food and Creator of Cocktails for drinks. In the end, it really suited us better. Plus it allowed us to get our game and dance on and what's better than that!

So...we all know throwing together a last minute dinner party can be a bit intimidating. There always seems to be so much prep that goes into party planning, how can you possibly throw something together at the last moment? You can. And if not everything is perfect, no one will notice because they are there for you !

Here are my simple tips for throwing a last minute dinner [ but really everyone is there for the dance ] party!

Set the mood.

Put on some light music that fits the vibe of the party. Light a bunch of candles, turn off the overpowering overhead lights, and use mood lighting to create a warm atmosphere your friends want to be in. The candles will create ambiance and, if they're scented, will even add a nice scent to the air, just make sure they don't overpower the food! After eating, we like to spice it up with a fun dance playlist - that's when the night really gets going!

Set the table.

A welcoming table scape is key to any dinner party - even if you have finger foods or apps. Using what you have around the house, you can create a beautiful table setting that looks like it was thought of weeks in advance. Pull together some candles, your favorite dish ware and utensils, and maybe some greenery from Trader Joes and you’re good to go. Shop your home to add some simple but unique touches, and if you don't have a full set of matching, choose a color scheme and stick with it. It looks planned and thoughtful and no one will even know it's not a complete set!

Hire a bartender or have a bar station.

This makes it easy to ensure everyone has a tasty drink in hand! Hiring a bartender is nice because then you can do specialty cocktails, but there’s always the option to pre-batch a cocktail and put it in a drink dispenser for guests to access throughout the night. Bonus points if it's themed to the event!

Don’t forget the apps.

Can’t forget the appetizers! These are important because they make sure your guests aren’t drinking on an empty stomach. And don’t think that these have to be all handmade. Stop by Trader Joe’s or Costco and raid their frozen section for some apps that you can easily heat and serve.

Have it catered.

If you want to really kick back, have the party catered! This makes it so easy to serve delicious food to your guests without you having to stand over a hot stove all day cooking. Plus, then clean up is a breeze and there’s relatively few dirty dishes. Look for caterers in your budget that have options that work with your vibe - this takes a little effort, but in the end you'll be fully enjoying the option of having food handled!