The Ultimate Guide to Hosting an Autumnal Dinner Party

Autumn is the season for dinner parties. With the weather now cooler, we are more inclined to eat in than dine out, hosting our friends and family for a cosy candle-lit evening at home with great food, wine and company. If you are planning on hosting a few evenings at home this season, read on to discover the ultimate guide to hosting autumnal dinner parties…

Dressing your Space…

Credit: Södahl

Hosting friends and family at home in the autumn is all about creating a cosy and comfortable feel. While sometimes you might want to create a formal look and feel for extra special occasions, generally speaking, keeping things relaxed allows guests to unwind, connect and really enjoy themselves.

Don’t go all out with the decor, instead keep things simple, enhancing what’s already there to elevate your space. For example, if you are dining at a kitchen or dining table, dress it with beautiful crisp and tactile linens. Textured and soft, linens feel far more relaxed than cotton or even silk tablecloths. If you have a beautiful table, opt for a runner and allow the natural material of your table to become part of the scheme.

Choose deep and rich colours, such as burgundy, wine, rust or forest green and layer your table. Your runner or tablecloth will act as a base. On top of this, add more complimentary textile such as linen napkins. Next add cutlery, plates and dishes – handmade styles are best, as they typically have a more organic feel, thus keeping the look relaxed yet high-end.

Finally, add candles to the centre of the table. We love pillar candles in simple hurricane glass vases. Now is the perfect time to be inspired by nature, and the easiest way to add autumnal colour and charm to your table is through natural pieces foraged from your surroundings.

Credit: Most Lovely Things

Try creating a garland using vines, moss, leaves and flowers found outside down the centre of your table, and place candles staggered and at alternating sides. This is an inexpensive way to create an autumnal tablescape and everything you’ve used can simply be returned outside afterwards. It is worth noting that if you do intend to use foliage found outside on your table alongside candles, to ensure the flame is well protected and kept a good distance from your natural garland at all times.

Creating the Ideal Atmosphere…

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A huge part of the atmosphere is down to the people at your dinner party. If your friends and family all get on, the likelihood is the atmosphere will be just right, but there are several things that you can do to set the tone for the evening…

Lighting – Bright lighting in the evening time can be jarring and won’t help your guests to relax. Instead opt for layered lighting, using lamps and candles to create a cosy feel.

Music – Background music is always a good idea at a dinner party. What you choose will help to set the mood. If you want your guests to feel energised, choose something lively and upbeat, or if you want to create a relaxed atmosphere, choose something softer.

Scent – The atmosphere is all about our senses, and bringing them all together in harmony. The smell of your food cooking may be enough, particularly if you are hosting in your kitchen, but if you want to introduce an additional scent to your dining room or living area, try an autumnal scent that includes warm spices.

The Food…

Autumn is all about hearty warming dishes. Think comfort food but elevated. Here are a few ideas for your autumnal dinner party menu…

Passatelli in Brodo – Hailing from our region of Emilia-Romagna, Passatelli in Brodo is the perfect starter. It’s humble and hearty yet delicious, making it a real crowd-pleaser. Check out the recipe here.

Tigella with Affettati – Another favourite of ours from Emilia-Romagna, Tigella with Affettati is a great option if you’d like to serve an antipasto dish. These round breads are incredibly moreish, we love them served with salami, mortadella and parma ham. Find out more here.

The Drink…

Credit: Ravazzi

Just as important as the food is the drink. Try pairing your wine carefully with your dishes to enhance the whole experience. If you serve either Passatelli in Brodo or Tigella with Affettati, a great match is a nice Sangiovese di Romagna. Discover more here.

Credit: Tortellini&Co

Finally, to finish the evening, serve a small glass of Nocino for your guests to sip on. A digestif is a must for the end of a dinner party. Made from unripe walnuts, the liqueur is enhanced with spices and sugar. Serve in beautiful glassware to end the evening on a high.

Most importantly of all, a dinner party should be a joy to host, and not stressful. Enjoy having your loved ones all around you, accept help with food and serving and make sure you find time to talk to your guests, enjoy your food and relax with a drink or two.