Dinner party. The very phrase may conjure images of the dining table set with a perfectly arranged floral centerpiece, the finest china, crystal and silver. The tall taper candles would be burning evenly with no drips as classical music billows softly in from a nearby room. The air would be perfumed with the aroma of a standing rib roast with all the trimmings warming in the oven as handsomely dressed guests arrive, greeted at the door with cocktails.

While some may excel at those kinds of formalities, the rest of us are left with many questions when considering such an event. We wonder just how much time and effort we have to put forth in order to have a nice evening for our friends, because we have no time to polish silver.

We wonder what to serve because some of us can’t even cook. We wonder how we will keep our guests entertained with lively conversation because some of our very closest friends have been known to sit in silence as if they can’t stand to be in the same room.

Menu planning can be a concern when you may have many different palates to please. Although no host should feel the need to customize a meal for each guest, there are ways to be sure everyone gets something they will like to eat. Leslie Carter, of Dish Gourmet Cafe and Catering in Florence, said one way to do that is to serve a variety of things, including vegetarian options. “The formality of the occasion is a big factor, because certain foods lend themselves well to a more casual meal while some do not,” Carter said. “Other than that, I try to stick with what’s seasonal and fresh when planning a menu.”

Those hostesses who can cook and enjoy the activity may want to do it themselves and take the accolades bestowed upon them by guests amazed at their culinary skills. For those with limited time or talent, or for those of us just interested in a worry-free adventure, catering could be an ideal option.

Wine-tasting theme
One way to add spice a dinner party is to provide activities besides eating. Board games and movies are good standbys, but if you wish to give your guests a truly unique evening, try something bold. A wine tasting could be fun. Paired with accompanying foods, it could open discussions on travel, cooking or any number of subjects. Carter said, for example, many people don’t know there are certain red wines that taste best when served slightly chilled, making them perfect summer fare.

Jennifer Olive, owner of It’s my Party in Florence, said she has many clients who used custom-ordered glassware for a wine-tasting party.

“The glassware is actually plastic and can be personalized to reflect the name of the host throwing the party and/or the date of the event,” Olive said. “Many people like this because, at a wine tasting, guests want a fresh glass for each wine they try.”

Using disposable glassware can be an inexpensive option over renting the number of glasses needed to present the wines in a quality manner. This also provides a keepsake if a guest chooses to take a glass home. She also has printed wine glass tags, individualized with each invited guest’s name. These are actually paper coasters that fit around the stemware base, preserving furniture surfaces and helping guests keep up with their glasses while mingling throughout the party.

Casino theme

For a more active crowd, try a casino night.

“Casino game tables like black jack, poker, craps, Texas Hold ’Em, roulette with a wheel and even a slot machine can be rented for your party,“ said Connie Wilson, of Grand Rental Station in Florence.

She said they even have decorative items such as huge dice, wall decorations that say “casino night” and other fun gaming decor.

“This theme lends itself to the tasty delights of a high-end buffet similar to what one would find in a casino,” Carter advises. She said it’s “very flamboyant and impressive.”

Olive suggests sending invitations that mimic playing cards.

“Once we even made some up and punched a hole in the corner of each one. The client then used dice with holes drilled through the middle, and threaded those onto the invitations before hand-delivering them to their invited guests. Everyone loved that.”

Murder mystery dinner
For the ultimate in dynamic participation, consider a murder mystery dinner. Although it may sound grim, this is no somber activity. Many game styles incorporate scavenger hunts. All evening your guests will discover clues and guess “who done it.” It’s a great way to get guests who don’t know one another to talk. Game kits incorporate funny characters and fun situations that can make even murder seem humorous. Your visitors will be plotting, scheming, laughing and joking in no time.

Carter suggests that for this type of dinner, the host may want to select a menu that is not typical.

“Maybe you would want to select a menu of international cuisine and make a game of guessing some detail about the food, such as a particular ingredient or the name of a menu item.”

Olive said the murder mystery dinner lends itself to red tablecloths and black-and-white invitations. Red evokes the theme of blood, while the black and white brings to mind old scary movies done in classic black-and-white, when drama, not special effects, ruled the screen.

If all goes well, at the end of the evening, your guests will depart — full, laughing and having made some great memories, and maybe even a new friend or two. Perhaps, if you served the perfect wine, played your cards right or provided an intriguing game of drama, you will have left them inspired so that next time, you can take your turn at being the guest.