I truly treat hosting like a hobby. Entertaining is at the intersection of my love for design, food, style, and people. When I think about how I want to spend my time, being with great company and good food in a beautiful setting is high on my list.

All that being said, I thought it would be fun to consider what my dream dinner party might look like—a soirée where absolutely nothing is out of the question. If you too like to entertain and be in the company of others, this would be a fun prompt to ask yourself! 

Here’s a peek into what my dream dinner party would look like…

Where would it be held?

It would be outside of the U.S.! The first place that comes to mind is Portofino. The setting would be outside, overlooking the sea. It would smell like the beach, fire, salt, and citrus.

Who would be invited?

I don’t have anyone specific in mind! I’d love to gather a group of eight or so really interesting people, each with their own unique skill or passion, whether it’s cooking, creating art, writing, or something else entirely. Joe would be there too, along with one of our closest couple friends.

What food would be served?

This dinner isn’t meant to be extravagant (other than the seaside setting). It’s about really wonderful conversation and simple, good food cooked really well. Seafood would be involved in some way, oysters in particular. There would be an uncomplicated dessert and likely pot or cigars at the end of the night. 

What about drinks?

I’d love to start the occasion with a special cocktail—one that highlights a local ingredient or simply pairs well with the ambiance of the evening. I love the idea of a Negroni Bianco or some sort of herbal, bitter aperitif cocktail. During dinner, I’d love for a great, interesting wine to be served. Right now I’m really into light-bodied Italian red or Slovenian orange wines. 

What would you be wearing?

I would be in something long and flowy but still a little fitted—maybe something like this!

What would the decor look like? 

The table setting would be very relaxed and simple yet still elegant. There would be soft linens, beautiful plates, and heavy silverware. For curious minds, I saved some of my favorite decor inspiration images in this Dinner Party Pinterest board!

What would the schedule for the evening look like?

The group would meet for drinks first, then sit down for a leisurely dinner, then play a game afterward. I love a good game of TableTopics!

Editor’s Note: This article contains affiliate links. Wit & Delight uses affiliate links as a source of revenue to fund operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. Wit & Delight stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to email us.

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.