6 thoughtful ways to personalise a dinner party for guests
Hosting a dinner party is an ideal opportunity to channel your creativity for a night to remember. Dinner parties are not meant to be slick or professional; the way to success is to show some personality.
Adding some personal touches, from the drinks to the decorations, will go a long way with your guests and make for a memorable experience.
Whether you opt for a full-blown themed evening or just a few subtle touches, some extra thought will elevate your hosting levels and ensure guests feel special and looked after.
From ideas for a stunning tablescape and personalised name cards to how to create a hand-made menu (even if you're not particularly artistic), these are some creative ways to personalise a dinner party, according to the experts.
Best ways to personalise a dinner party
1. Put a personal twist on your welcome drink
Of course, bubbles will always have a place at a dinner party. But adding a twist to your usual welcome drink of choice will delight your guests — particularly if there's a personal element to the choice. Punches are back in vogue, not only thanks to their ease of serving and retro feel, but they also look vibrant and colourful, making for a brilliant centrepiece — and photographs.
"When we host, we love to pre-batch a few punches that we finish at the last minute with ice and garnishes," Hannah Burden-Teh, Global Brand Director for Bathtub Gin, tells Country Living. "This way, everyone can help themselves, and you’re not playing bartender all evening."
Pretty much any cocktail can be adapted as a punch, and this is where you can get creative with the theme. A vat of spicy margarita could accompany a Mexican feast, while an Alpine theme would suit a warming rum punch with cinnamon spices.
Try Cava sangria to accompany tapas or a longer version of a Prohibition-era cocktail, like a Sidecar or Old Fashioned, to match a 1920s-style evening. To really hone in on the personalisation, you could make a cocktail for each guest based on their favourite or inspired by a memory of them, though this would require a lot more time at the bar for the host.
Garnishes will make your punch shine. "We love festive frozen cranberries or grapes that you can use instead of ice and stop the punch from diluting too much," Hannah Burden-Teh suggests. "Or try creating a big ice ring in a Bundt tin with rosemary and clementine slices, which melts much slower."
2. Create a hand-drawn menu
While this might sound a little adventurous, doodle-style illustrations have been a huge trend for 2024 — and more simple designs lean into this design trend.
"I think hand-drawn elements can really make a menu feel special and personal," celebrated artist Rose England, who has been working with sparkling wine brand Uncommon on bespoke illustrations around hosting, tells us. "Start by framing your menu with a colourful border like wavy lines or a simple geometric pattern — an easy way to add detail and colour. Once the border is in place, write the title, such as 'Dinner Menu' in bold, larger letters at the top, or if it’s a themed title, something like 'Mexican Feast'."
Rose continues: "Then, describe the dishes below using your usual handwriting. If you’re feeling more adventurous, add fun doodles that tie into the theme and highlight ingredients from your menu.
"For an even more unique touch, try cutting your menu into an interesting shape first, like a bow, pear, or flower. After cutting, outline the shape with a thick coloured pen to create your bold frame. Then, write your menu inside as before, keeping the same creative style. Place these at each of your dinner settings to bring an extra touch of creativity to your table!"
3. Host a tasting depending on your guests' favourite produce
Nothing will get people talking faster than a tasting session of their favourite wines or spirits. A less common type of wine, such as orange or English sparkling wine, could make an interesting starting point. Meanwhile, whiskey enthusiasts will enjoy learning about how the flavour and origins of popular whiskies interlink.
For sober guests, non-alcoholic sparkling wines have come a long way, with some crafted using the same methods as champagne. With so much variety, this can also make for an educational tasting session for drinkers and non-drinkers.
You could also try a food-tasting session like cheese or olive oil. "When you buy the right one, olive oil also has that same story of terroir and provenance as wine, so it makes for a nice thing to share with your guests and taste on its own," Sarah Vachon, olive oil sommelier and founder of Citizens of Soil tells us.
"As more people embrace mindful drinking, hosting an olive oil tasting is a fantastic alternative to a wine tasting. Olive oil has just as much complexity and nuance as wine, making it a fun and inclusive activity to start the evening. Plus, it's something unique that many guests won’t have tried before."
4. Create personalised name cards
There's something wonderfully nostalgic about a handwritten name card, and we firmly believe these shouldn't just be limited to weddings or work events.
"I recently used scallop shells to create unique place cards by painting each guest’s name in the centre and pairing them with scalloped-edge napkins for a cohesive look," Rose England tells us.
"To take it a step further, I came up with the idea of drilling a small hole in the corner of each shell and threading ribbon through to create a cute, personalised decoration for each guest to take home. It’s a fun and thoughtful way to add a little keepsake to your table setting, and they look chic!"
5. Add some personality to your tablescape
"I love adding personality to a dinner table through coloured candles," Rose England explains. "My go-to choices are earthy tones like burgundy, terracotta, and soft muted pinks – these hues add depth and warmth to the setting.
"I also enjoy tying ribbons around items like napkins, candle holders, and wine glasses. It’s a simple but elegant way to bring a decorative touch that makes everything feel a little more special! Flowers are another great way to personalise the table.
"I often use flower frogs [pin holders designed to help shape floral arrangements] to create tall, wild arrangements that add both height and vibrant pops of colour, making the table feel full of character."
6. Dress up your toast
Bringing out a tray of bubbles to bring in the New Year or even for an impromptu toast is a lovely way to create a special moment for guests. "I love adding ribbons to my glasses so they’re greeted with a drink that's not only tasty but also beautifully presented," Rose told us.
Use thinner ribbons for a stylish look, and personalise your glasses by using a different colour for each guest — this will ensure they don't get mixed up as well when a glass is put down on the table.
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