3. What kind of party
Formal Sit down dinner
Formal buffet dinner
Cocktails
Informal Dinner
Getting together with Course mates
Children
Festivals
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Themes and Others
4. Date and time
Check for days and times as per yours as well as
your guests convenience
Kids parties can be planned for early evening
Stick to the time printed on the card incase of
formal dinners
Ensure cocktails are over in 60-90 min
Try to finish in time so as to not to disturb neighbors
6. Guest list
Have a happy mix of people
Keep in mind the compatibility of the guests
Do not invite very junior and very senior people together
Think of age factor, hobbies and other shared interests
Keep a fine balance between the official and personal
personae of your guests
Invite a senior person only if he is very well known to you.
Also, keep your guest list restricted so that the party is
exclusive
7. Invitations & Dress Code
Use printed cards but fill in the details by hand
When inviting a senior person check for availability of
dates first
Invite seniors in person. Make sure you call as well as
leave the card
Ask the guests about their food habits, allergies and
other medical conditions to avoid inconvenience
Inform your guests what to wear incase of a dress
code for formal occasions or a theme party
8. Prashant & Stuti
Request the pleasure of the
company of
Casual Dinner Invitation
For Dinner on 20th July 2011
Time: 8pm Venue: 443/2 Polo View,
IMA
Dress: As you please
Maj & Mrs Prashant Jassal
Request the pleasure of the company of
Formal Cocktails Invitation _______________________
For Cocktails on 20th July 2011
Time: 7:30pm Venue: Offrs’ Mess
Dress: Lounge Suit/Combination
9. Food/Snacks/Drinks
Plan the menu carefully to include both veg and non
veg dishes
Strike a balance between the dishes in terms of
richness and health benefits
Never try out any dish for the first time in any party
Stick to tried and tested recipes
Don’t mix different cuisines together
Keep in mind the erratic electricity supply when
planning you dishes
10. How much to cook
Meat : 100 gms per head
Chicken: 8-12 pieces per six people
Paneer: 200 gms per six persons
Rice: 2 cups (raw) for 10-12 people
Breads: 2 per head
Dal: 1 cup (raw) for 8-10 people
Stick to fingers foods and nuts and chips for snacks
Make sure you stock up on enough liquor, soft drinks,
juices and ice
11. Preparation
Do you have enough plates, glasses, cutlery, dessert bowls?
~Buy or borrow more
One day before
~Stack enough ice trays in the freezer
~Make room in your refrigerator for bottles, dessert, etc.
~If you are ordering food, have the menu ready.
~If you are cooking, your ingredients should be ready
Must-haves!
~ Paper napkins
~ A large dustbin
12. Music, Ambience and Décor
Play your favorite and keep some tapes or CDs on top
so that guests too have a choice
Avoid blaring the music
The best parties are driven by conversation and laughter.
Stick to gazals and oldies for a formal evening
Adequate yet subtle yellow lighting sets the mood for
evening parties
Use candles, lanterns and diyas to create a warm ambience
Use a mix of bedspreads, curtains and even sarees and
your imagination to create a variety in the décor
The choice of linen in important- satin or damask for
formal and lace or cotton for informal occasions
13. Use fresh flowers to brighten up the room
Spray an air freshener 5-10 min before your
guests arrive
Make sure you pay special attention to the
entrance. It should be well lit. Place some plants
and flowers for a welcoming look
Make sure all rooms and corners of your house
are clean and presentable
Lay out the carpets, bedspreads and cushions
for a warm, neat and welcoming look
Games can be included to make your party fun
especially when getting together with peers
14. See that your bathroom is clean. It is the one place that is
used most at a party
~Keep a clean hand towel and box of tissues, hand wash
and extra toilet roll
~Put some flowers by the sink -- mogras in a bowl smell great
~Scented candles bring that extra touch of warmth
Finish off all your cooking before the guests arrive and
ensure the kitchen sink is empty and trash can cleared
~ Wipe all kitchen surfaces clean
15. Have and Good time and ENJOY!
Be yourself
Dress well and dress comfortably
Give undivided and individual attention to your guests.
Each one is important
Make sure your hospitality is top class
Enjoy yourself and your guests will enjoy too
Make sure your smile is genuine
16. Aide Memoire
-Plan your guest list carefully
-Invite first by phone and follow it up with a
written invitation
-Invite well in advance
-Prepare menu, shopping list, linen, crockery and
cutlery in advance
-Remember hospitality is more important than
entertainment
-Relax and smile and every one else will too
18. Table
Choose a sturdy table
If it wobbles, pad it discreetly
Choose the right size of table that can
accommodate all your guests
Cover the dining table with a thick cloth- this
helps to protect the table from spills and also
cuts down the noise of the plates and cutlery
19. Table cloth and Linen
Choose the correct tablecloth
~ Crisply starched damask or linen for formal events
~ Plaids/cotton checks, printed for informal occasions
The tablecloth should not be frayed at the edges or stained
It should fall somewhere around 13-16 inches on the side
Serviettes or napkins should match the table cloth
Only fabric napkins for formal occasions
Paper napkins maybe used for informal events
If your linen is plain use colorful china and vice versa
Try to follow a definite color scheme- match the china, covers
and candles
20. Centerpiece-flowers/candles
This is absolutely essential for every party
If using candles, they must be always lit
When using flowers, make sure they are not highly scented
Avoid artificial or dry arrangements
The correct height for the centerpiece depends on the size
of the table and the number of people seated
For smaller tables, the centerpiece should be low so as to
permit general conversation
21. Menu card & Place cards/Seating plan
When hosting a formal dinner ensure that you have menu
card with each dish listed carefully
A five course meal generally consists of-
~ Soup
~ Hors d’oeuvres/starters
~ Entrée/first course
~ Main course
~ Dessert
22. Place cards are put directly in front of the service plate
The names of the guests should be written in running
hand and not block letters
The seating plan should be drawn up carefully. It should
be displayed outside the dining room either on a board
or placed on a table so that the guests know their
appointed place
Seating plan for large official dinner
Man 8 7 Woman
Woman 6 5 Man
Man 4 3 Woman
Woman 2 1 Man
HOST HOSTESS
Woman 1 2 Man
Man 3 4 Woman
Woman 5 6 Man
Man 7 8 Woman
23. Crockery, Cutlery and Glasses
All crockery should be spotlessly clean and free from chips
Cutlery should be polished and glass sparkling
A complete set of silver, china, linen and glassware for one
person is called a “Cover”
Each cover should form a balanced definite unit but not
look crowded
The cover should not exceed 24 inches in length and 15
inches in width
26. Layout
The correct placing of silver, glass and china is important
Place only the required items
Extra items should be kept on the sideboard for any
emergency
Sequence of all spoons, forks and knives are from outside to
the inside, in the order they are to be used
All knives face inwards, the prongs of the forks upwards
All forks are laid to the left and the knives and spoons to the
right of the plate. The only exception is the cocktail fork
which is placed outside the spoons
The dessert fork and spoon are placed at the top of the plate.
They should face each other-the fork pointing to the right and
the spoon to the left
27. The Cover should be in place when dinner is served
The quarter plate is placed on the left of the forks and is
used for breads
Incase there are no starters or hors d’oeuvres, the soup
plate is placed on the table from the left
Soup must be hot and steaming unless its a cold soup
A maximum of 4 glasses, which include dessert wine or
champagne glass and wine glasses , may be placed
The glasses should coincide with the cutlery so that each
glass or drink goes with that particular course
The water glass is to be set at the front of the dinner knife
The wine glasses are placed to the right of the water
goblet in a line or triangle
29. The butter dish is also placed at the tip of the fork
Fine silver or crystal salt and pepper shakers are also
placed on the table as appropriate
Napkins can be placed on a service plate or in
fancy
ways on the quarter plate or glass
Paper napkins are never used for formal dinners
www.napkinfoldingguide.com
31. Service
The waiters must be impeccably turned out
A waiter should wear gloves and soft padded shoes
When mess waiters are used at a private party, they are
expected to be either in regimental mufti or a civilian dress
and not in mess uniform
A tray is never used while serving. The dish is held at the
base and squarely balanced on the palm
Serving always begins from left and moves in a clockwise
direction starting from the chief guest
The food is also always served from the left
The plates are cleared from the right
32. The wine glasses are expected to be refilled unless the guest
declines
A plate should remain in front of the guest throughout the
meal
In winters, the plates are warmed before placing
Plates are changed for every course
The table is completely cleared before serving the dessert
When using finger bowls, make sure it contains warm, not
hot, water with a wedge of lime
Port, cognac, liqueur or coffee and chocolates are offered
after dessert
33. Aide Memoire
Choose the correct table linen
Have a definite color scheme or theme
As a thumb rule, forks go to the left of the plate
Knives and spoons go to the right of the plate
Serving always begins from left in a clockwise direction
Used plated are cleared from the right
Beverages are served from the right as well
Sequence of cutlery is from the outside to inside, in the
order they are to be used
A tray is never used for serving food
The table should be completely cleared before serving the
dessert