New Orleans Themed Dinner Party Ideas
I love dinner parties. So much so that I'll use any excuse to brainstorm new ideas just to host one.
It just so happened on a very warm day in San Diego, after months of brainstorming themed dinner party ideas with a great group of creative people, we set down to what was a beautiful Old World New Orleans themed dinner party. It began with freshly shucked oysters, included beautiful piano ballads, and ended with a lesson in mixing a craft cocktail. Read on to learn more about what you need to plan your own themed dinner party.
1. FIND THE INSPIRATION & DECIDE ON A THEME
When you're in the planning stages and deciding on themed dinner party ideas, narrow down which type of vibe you're going for. Is it dark and moody or light bright and airy? A combination of both, maybe? What do you need to achieve that vibe? What time of year is it? Do you want it to be an intimate dinner party or do you want a large group of people who can mix and mingle?
When planning the dinner party with a New Orleans old world feel, we sourced inspiration from Pinterest and past and future travel experiences. Has there been a place you've been wanted to visit for some time now? Plan your themed dinner party around that place and time (past, future, or present time period). Take into account the colors, the people, the flavors of that place. This will help you to create a beautiful setting and menu.
2. THE SETTING
Now that you've decided on a theme, it's time to think about the setting. With the old world New Orleans theme, we were able to source items from both vintage shops and ETSY. We asked local markets to save their old goods for reuse. The oysters? We asked a local seafood restaurant to hold on to their oyster shells for a week or two and we picked them up and used them to create a table runner!
ideas to think about for creating the setting
- Can you source items from local vintage shops or consignment shops to save on budget?
- Can you ask friends (with creativity!) to create something that will add an element to the themed dinner party?
- Are there items around your home you can turn into decor? (ie: old chalk, canvas, shells, etc..)
3. CREATING THE MENU
Think about what time of year you're hosting a themed dinner party. What foods, fruits, vegetables are in season? Bring in the flavors, not only of the theme, but also of the season. Not sure? Ask your local market what they recommend ahead of time, that way you're ready to develop a seasonal menu.
Ideas for creating a great menu
- Think about adding in one seasonal touch for each item you're adding to the menu. Ask guests to bring one piece for each part of your menu, so you won't have to do all the grunt work!
- Adding some color to your menu with vibrant veggies & foods will make for a beautiful table setting
- Making a "build-your-own" has been a bit hit over the past year or so at parties and events. When developing your menu, think about a "build-your-own-_______" as the theme by which you dinner party is built around!
3. ADD IN SPECIAL DETAILS THROUGHOUT THE EVENING
As a host, you can have fun with creating a menu for your guests. Take a moment during the party and tell a bit of story behind why you chose the menu items you did! Do you have a friend that has a musical talent? Maybe someone who loves to write? Asking friends to contribute to your dinner party by breaking into song or prose for a few minutes will be memorable for all of your guests.
Do you have themed dinner party ideas that have worked for you? I'd love to hear them!
Stylist: Art in the Find || Hosts/Founders: The Gunn Street Supper Club || Photography: Chantal Pasag || Chef Tania White & Sous Chef Gabrielle Jones || Cocktails: RX Bitters Co. || Food: Bread & Cie Bakery, Easy Cake Productions,Carlsbad Aquafarm, Catalina Offshore Products || Table: Jason Brown Carpentry