What exactly happens at a dinner party?

Question

Im having a very small wedding, with perhaps 20-25 people total. I dont want to do a whole typical reception with so few people, but would like to do SOMETHING to of course thank everyone for coming to the ceremony, etc. I was thinking of a dinner party type of thing, a nice sit down at one long table or some table arrangement where everyone's close...but Im not sure what goes on at a typical dinner party. We dont want dancing or anything, MAYBE a cake, unless we think of somthing else creative for dessert....I really dont want this to feel like a 'wedding' reception, but more like a fun dinner party type feel. Any tips? Thanks!

Answer 1

What role are your parents to have?  What time of day is your wedding to be?   Are you being married at a church, chapel, city hall, home?  Will there be an interval for photo's to be taken?  Are you planning to have a professional photographer?  Will there be any children at your wedding?  Are you planning to serve alcohol?  

Despite these unanswered questions - I'll be brave enough to interfere as I've given 401 (about) dinner parties for 4 to 65 guests and, really, at a dinner party all people expect to do is eat and talk while there's background music.  I think the shortest time between guest arrival and departure, at my house, was four hours - people like to chat and eat.   I once went to a 7-course dinner(!) - we sat down at 7:30pm and didn't leave the table until midnight.  

A nice gift for those attending your wedding, and post-wedding dinner, is to have a photographer take a "portrait-type" photo' of each couple (or small family group) as they arrive.  This is something each will keep on display longer than a photo' of you and your husband (truth ...).

As it seems you intend having a, semi-casual, sit-down dinner, five tables to seat six guests will need to be set up with a low flower arrangement on each.  A long table is suitable, only, for a family gathering as it traps people into speaking, only, to the three others within earshot and, at a social function, people wish to socialize!   Each table will need to have a seat reserved for you, or your husband as, when you have guests, at multiple tables, you, for example, will have your appetizer at table 1, soup course at table 2, main course at 3, cheese course at 4 and dessert course at 5 with your husband playing musical chairs behind you. If you don't plan to have this catered, you'll need someone in charge of re-heating (or cooking) as well as two people to serve.  Don't forget large pitchers of iced water.  I've mentioned a cheese course as this used to be my "breather time" when having many people to dinner:  blue, cheddar and brie with assorted crackers (and a glass of red wine).

If you don't want to have a cake, about two years ago, I found a beautiful dessert for a raspberry tiramisu (Giada DeLaurentiis recipe) - see link.  Have prepared this twice and The Best Thing is it can be done 24 hours before serving so is perfect for a large crowd    Have, also, prepared using strawberries which is a bit more work.

Hope you have a lovely day and a happy life together!

Answer 2

Dinner parties are just that, though you can get as fancy as you want.  If it were me throwing a dinner party for friends, and ignoring the fact that it's immediately after a wedding, I'd probably start with cigars and drinks for the guys, and cocktails of whatever sort for the women (and cigars if they want).  Obviously some people don't care for cigars, so have appetizers of some sort.

Give an hour or 2 for mingling/chatting while the cooking/prep finishes up, then serve dinner in a multiple course fashion.  

Typically people will sit around the table and chat while the dishes are cleared, let that go on for a bit, and then serve dessert.  If people want to hang around after that, great.  You may want to have a game or two in mind, or some other activity planned should the party not be ready to die.

Answer 3

What a great idea.

Tables set with 6-8 people per table would be a great setting.

Maybe for you dinner party you can have guests tell a story if they wish. Or have small games for the guests such as longest married, most kids,  funniest honeymoon story etc...

I had a small reception with just a few close friends and it was a perfect relaxing day with close friends and close family only.

Congrats and lots of happiness.