#Bakery story 2 thank you notes pro#

Your guests will most likely bring something, so recommend bringing what would actually be helpful. and any special dress codes to be aware of if youвЂ™re planning something fancier than a casual dinner. Your invitation should include the time and date of your event, the location address, the theme of the party if there is one, a deadline for sending the R.S.V.P. and follow up to be sure they received the invitation.

Send the invitations as soon as possible - the more notice you give your guests, the more likely theyвЂ™ll be able to come. For more casual events, an email or e-vite can work. If youвЂ™re picturing a more formal dinner, send a printed or handwritten invitation. Yours should reflect the aesthetic of your evening and the level of formality you wish to communicate. Have a glass of wine or take a moment for yourself so youвЂ™re relaxed when your guests arrive.ДЄn invitation lets your guests know youвЂ™re planning something special for them, and helps mark the difference between a regular dinner and a dinner party.Light candles and put on your first playlist.Put pitchers or bottles of water on the table.Set up a drink and snack station for guestsвЂ™ arrival with wine or an aperitif and something small to nibble on.Arrange all the food you cooked previously on the counter and pull out any pots youвЂ™ll need to prepare them.All linens, table settings, glasses, place cards and candles should be laid out at this point. Line up small bowls and fill them with everything youвЂ™ll need.

#Bakery story 2 thank you notes pro#

Take it from pro chefs and prepare a mise en place, setting out all of the ingredients, sauces and garnishes youвЂ™ll need to finish your dishes around a counter area with a cutting board and good knives.Pick up flowers or other natural touches and put them in vases.Clean up your home, especially areas where guests will be (the dining room, living room and bathroom) and be sure the trash and the dishwasher are empty for the next day.Prepare as much of the food as possible, including dessert.

Fill up your ice trays and pick up extra ice from the store if youвЂ™ll be making cocktails.

Purchase wine and any other beverages youвЂ™ll be serving, and make sure you have a good corkscrew.

Pick up all the ingredients for the dinner.

Pick up candles and any other dГ©cor (except flowers) youвЂ™ll want for the evening.

Think about how youвЂ™ll want your dishes to look when served, and be sure to include any special tools, plates or garnishes youвЂ™ll need to create.

Plan your menu, keeping in mind what ingredients are in season and what can be prepared a day before the party.

Pin down confirmations from guests and be sure to check on their dietary restrictions.

Think about the atmosphere and aesthetic youвЂ™d like for the evening.

( Here are some good, simple suggestions for dinnerware sets.)

Create your guest list, making sure you have enough dishes to serve everyone.

вЂњItвЂ™s the company that counts вЂ¦ and, of course, the tablescape.вЂќ Here, her timeline tips for your party: вЂњIвЂ™m not above just serving a sourdough truffle pizza with great wine,вЂќ Leahy says. Keeping it simple for yourself is crucial. The British party planner Fiona Leahy says that as a professional, outsourcing is key for her own busy life, but even if you canвЂ™t hire a catering staff for your private affair, think about what you donвЂ™t have to do yourself - like picking up a dessert, having wine, flowers or other supplies delivered, or hiring a cleaning service for before or after the party. Making accurate lists and giving yourself plenty of time for each task will minimize chaos and help you tackle the inevitable glitches that arise. Advance planning will ultimately make a dinner party that much easier to pull off.