In Part One, we gave tips on how to throw a Fall Dinner Party. Well, in this article, let’s think of a hot theme that will wow your guests! Remember, you
can do whatever you want…expensive, affordable, over the top or simple. The choice is yours!
Here are few of my favorite Dinner Party Ideas for the Fall!
Bollywood Themed Fall Dinner Party
A Bollywood Themed Dinner Party is full of life and COLOR!!! What a way to show off to your guests with something different and spectacular! Bollywood can be very fashionable and stylish! Don’t be afraid to dress up and tell your guests to dress up too! The colors that are typically used so happen to be some of the trendiest colors for the Fall Season! Work it Honey! The hostess should BE the pop of color! Think “green”, like a sexy Cowl Neck Slip Dress by Anthropologie or “purple”, showing off your figure with a Faux Wrap Dress from Nordstrom.
Decor: Purple, Fuchsia and Turquoise Table Decor with Gold Accents
Hors d’oeuvres: Samosas, Curry Chicken Kabobs, Coconut Shrimp with Coconut Cream
Menu: Chicken Tikka Masala, Biryani, Bashmati Rice, Garlic and Cheese Naan, Spiced Apple Chutney
Drink: Reisling, Cranberry Spritzer, Ginger Tea
Dessert: Coconut Gelato with Grilled Mango
Other Ideas:
Everyone can wear the colors of “Bollywood” (fuchsia, burnt orange, purple, turquoise, gold, etc…) or wear Bollywood inspired attire.
Hire a Henna Tattoo Artist for the Evening.
Have a Hookah Pipe on a Cocktail Table in the Living Room and turn your space into an instant Hookah lounge.
Create an area for a Spiced Hot Tea Station.
Play Bollywood Movie Excerpts on the Big Screen with Bollywood music playing in the background.
Oktoberfest Themed Fall Dinner Party
Tis the Season for…Oktoberfest! Break out the blue and white! Oktoberfest is a German tradition that has become a GLOBAL festival! The beer, bratwurst, and dancing makes this festival full of excitement and fun! Turn your Dinner Party into a Oktoberfest occasion! As the hostess, set the tone with blue and white apparel! Check out the Belted Tie Dye Kimono Wrap Dress in blue and white from Ashley Stewart. This is a great piece if you want to be pretty and comfortable.
Decor: Blue and White
Hors d’oeuvres: A Pretzel Board with soft pretzels, hot dog pretzels, etc…and a variety of mustards; A Beer Station with a bucket of different types of beer from draft to flavored; Brotzeit Platter with Rye sourdough bread, preferably seasoned w/ caraway seeds, Hams and cold cuts, Sliced Bavarian cheese, Radishes, gherkins, tomatoes, Smoked bratwurst
Menu: Pot Roast, Roasted Potatoes, Sliced Pork Tenderloin with Apples, German Spaetzle (or baked Mac and Cheese with breadcrumbs on top), Purple Cabbage and Sauerkraut
Drink:
- Beer!!! The more kegs the better! And don’t forget glass mugs for a true Oktoberfest experience!
- Apfelsaft – apple juice
- Birnensaft – pear juice
- Brombeersaft – blackberry juice
- Traubensaft (weis or rot) – white or red grape juice
- All of the Juices can be “spiked” with a little something to turn it up a notch!
Dessert: German Chocolate Cake or Apple Strudel with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Other Ideas:
Play Beer Chess, Giant Checkers and Play German Music
Midnight buffet Fall Dinner Party
The great thing about being adults and throwing a party is that you can do whatever you want to do! The world is your oyster and we don’t have a curfew!!! Think back to your days of being young and staying up late – either in High School or College. Let’s recreate that moment in time in adult fashion! A Midnight Buffet Themed Party is so much fun! Your guests will arrive at midnight and can even walk in with their PJ’s on! I love this theme, wearing loungewear or a romper. Old Navy has a Orange Jumpsuit that is so perfect for this theme, along with Ashley Stewart’s Belted Marble Gaucho Jumpsuit that is really chic!
Decor: Decorative Pillows, Blankets to match, Slippers, etc….
Menu: Grilled Cheese Minis, Tomato Soup, Shoestring Fries in Spicy Ketchup, Mini Hot Dogs and Burgers, Mini Waffles and/or Pancakes with Fried Chicken Bites and Syrup, Community Extra Large Pizzas
Drink:
- Sparkling Sodas such as San Pellegrino Aranciata Rossa Sparkling Blood Orange or Old Fashioned Sodas in a Bottle
Dessert: Cookies and Milk Platter, Fried Mini PB&J Sandwiches with Banana Gelato, Coffee and “Decorate Your Donut” Bar
Other Ideas:
Play old school movies or television shows
Tell Everyone to come dressed in their PJ’s
Make “doggie bags” out of “brown paper bags” or lunch boxes
Want to see more Fall Dinner Party themes? Let me know @bricarrington