10 Dinner Party Rules to Host By

From a type-A Virgo who serves room-temp chicken, pours budget wine, and swears mismatched tableware is chic.

Welcome! You’re At Isabelle’s—home to all things tasteful and tasty.

Maybe it’s my type-A Virgo brain, but the idea of “casually” hosting feels mythical to me. Inviting people into your home and cooking from scratch takes effort! Sure, you can lighten the load: keep the guest list small, make it a potluck (hello, cookbook club!), order pizza, or grab a rotisserie chicken and focus on sides. Today, though, I’m talking about the all-out dinner party, the one with a beautiful table, a larger crowd, and a three-course, entirely-from-scratch menu. That’s the lane I know best. I began hosting regularly in 2022, and what started as occasional gatherings has grown into a monthly affair that doubles as part of my work as a creator. After plenty of trial and error, I’ve compiled 10 of my favourite tips in hopes that they will help you too.