Summer will soon be coming to an end, giving way to crisper, cooler air, shorter days and richer scenery. Which also means the end of BBQ season is well upon us. This month we’ve put together some ideas to throw a warm, elegant dinner party focused around the new season. Fall, to me, just begs for a dinner party. The warm colors that lend to beautiful, regal decorations, the chilling air that allows for cozy sweaters, warm drinks and comfy home temperatures, the crisp smells of autumn and the food – the fall food – the perfect mix to get together with a group of friends and spend an evening mingling, cooking and enjoying delicious, hearty food.
Below are our ideas to help anyone throw a successful party.
A tip for any successful party:
If this is the first party and your guests are neighbors or business associates, keep it a little more low-key. If you are having fun and your company knows you’re a party-throwing freak, feel free to go all out!
Invitations:
Of course they’ll have to be hand delivered, but tie an invitation to a caramel apple or attach it to a stick and put it in a gourd or small pumpkin.
You could wrap the invitation around an apple or wrap it in leaves and tie them off with raffia.
For traditional, paper invitations (the kind you could even send through the mail), fall colors and the things that represent autumn (scarecrows, pumpkins, leaves, etc.) are easy to get on paper to make simple, cute invitations.
If you preferring buying invitations, following are some sites that have numerous options (or ideas if you do want to make your own):
Announcingit.com
Myexpression.com
Eleganthandmadecreations.com
Food:
Mulled Cider or Hot Cider would be a great before or after dinner drink
Use the cooling weather as an excuse to serve a favorite soup instead of the traditional salad before dinner.
Autumn is the perfect time to serve a hearty stew or pasta as a main course.
A tart or crème brûlée would be a perfect dessert
Wine and cheese are a great pairing for before or after dinner while guests visit and relax
Other great food ideas, as well as fall party tips can be found at the following sites:
Mormonchic.com
Digsmagazine.com
Gildedfork.com
Decor:
Deep, regal shades of color will create an ambience of fall throughout your house and tie your decorations right into your party. Gold, burgundy, chocolate brown (even a tan depending on your other choices), eggplant, forest green, burnt orange, mustard are all excellent fall shades.
A centerpiece of a cornucopia with real or plastic colorful vegetables on top of a deep colored table cloth or runner
Ceramic dish with a variety of gourds or apples as small table decorations (whether on the dinner table or the areas surrounding the table), or on the serving table if you have one
Sunflowers are always a nice touch for fall floral arrangements
Handmade or printed place cards rested on top of small gourds or apples at each setting
Small pumpkins and gourds in bunches in a line down the center of the table keep it simple and don’t take much room
Party Favors:
Instead of sending your guests home with just leftovers, consider a simple, understated gift as they head for the door.
Carmel or candied apples (decorate the stick with a fall-colored ribbon)
Leaf wine glass charms
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