Fall is in the air! And the best way to get in the spirit of the cozy season is to throw a fall dinner party and invite your favorite family and friends.
Never hosted one before? Read below—we’ve rounded up some handy tips and tricks to guide you as you plan.
Make a fall-themed welcome drink.
It’s 7 o’clock. Your guests are arriving. They look to you to tell them where to go or what to do, and you’re still running around tidying up odds and ends and checking on the brie. The perfect ice breaker? A cocktail! Find a simple recipe for a drink that’s decidedly fall (like Mulled Cider or a Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned) and hand it to them as soon as they walk in the door.
To make it interactive, set up a “help yourself” cocktail station and, instead of giving them a drink, direct them that way. Whichever one you choose, make sure you include “how-to” instructions, put out your garnishes, and have some cute glasses handy for them to drink out of. We think these gems from Simona's are conversation starters of their own.
Add some fun and festive fall decor.
If you’re throwing a fall dinner party, you’ll need some fall decorations. But don’t stress! Decorating doesn’t have to be difficult, and even a few small changes can make a huge difference. Spice up your couch with this throw pillow from Jalan Jalan. Make your living room more cozy with this chocolate-colored Carmona rug from The Rug Company. Go to your neighborhood grocery store and buy an assortment of mini pumpkins, spray a few with metallic gold paint and throw them in a decorative bowl on your bar or appetizer table. Perfect for autumn, this iridescent bowl from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams would be a great vessel for your DIY pumpkins.
Make a fall tablescape.
The best thing about fall (even in Miami!) is the weather, so when throwing a fall dinner party, plan to eat outside. And to add to the theme, create a tablescape to match the season! Depending on your number of guests, set up a long table, throw a rust-colored runner down the middle, and cover it in wreaths, mini pumpkins, fun vases with fall flowers, of course, some cream-colored candles. Making guests feel cozy, even in this Miami heat, is key; but get creative to keep it trendy. For example, throw some baby’s breath in this gold-tinged vase from Jonathan Adler to add some shimmer to your meal.
Serve fall foods.
At the heart of any dinner party is the food—and in the fall, it’s all about “comfort foods” like pumpkin, butternut squash, soups, stews and the like. Make an appetizer table with a charcuterie plate, baked brie, olives and some kind of warm dip, and for dinner, opt for a pumpkin gnocchi or maybe a pot roast. Keep the red wine flowing, and end the meal with apple pie and ice cream (served on cute Versace plates like these!) and it’ll start to feel like fall in no time.
