dinner party
Hosted evening meal
A dinner party is a social gathering where guests are invited to someone's home for an evening meal.
Unlike casual dinners with friends, a dinner party typically involves more formal preparation—planned courses, set tables, and deliberate guest lists.
The host provides the food and orchestrates the evening: We're throwing a dinner party for twelve on Saturday.
The term suggests a certain level of occasion without rising to the formality of a banquet.
Request to attend
- guestsPeople received hospitably
- hostOne receiving guests
- hostessFemale event organizer
- seatingAvailable places to sit
tableware · flatware · glassware · napkins · table setting · menu planning · place settings · RSVP
Academic subjects or meal stages
- appetizerLight dish preceding main
- entreePrimary dinner course
- dessertSweet course after dinner
- roastDry-heat cooking method
gourmet · cuisine · buffet · platter · delicacy · hors d'oeuvres · canapés · potluck
Exchange of spoken ideas
- minglingCasual social interaction
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- cocktailsAlcoholic blended beverages
aperitif · icebreaker · introductions · laughter · stories · debate · catching up · compliments
Recurring memorial date
- birthdayAnnual date of origin
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- honoreeOne being celebrated
- toastHeated bread; glass-raising honor
champagne · congratulations · reception · commemoration · festivity · candles · cake · surprise
Decorative suspended light fixture
- silverwareMetal eating utensils
- crystalOrdered-atom solid
- candelabraMulti-branched candle stand
- gownLong formal garment
tuxedo · sommelier · etiquette · serviette · ballroom · centerpiece · linen · porcelain
invitation
Request to attend
seating · tableware · flatware · glassware · napkins · table setting · menu planning · place settings · RSVP · guest list
courses
Academic subjects or meal stages
roast · gourmet · cuisine · buffet · platter · delicacy · hors d'oeuvres · canapés · potluck · paella
conversation
Exchange of spoken ideas
- minglingCasual social interaction
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
cocktails · aperitif · icebreaker · introductions · laughter · stories · debate · catching up · compliments · dress code
anniversary
Recurring memorial date
toast · champagne · congratulations · reception · commemoration · festivity · candles · cake · surprise · graduation
chandelier
Decorative suspended light fixture
- silverwareMetal eating utensils
- crystalOrdered-atom solid
- candelabraMulti-branched candle stand
gown · tuxedo · sommelier · etiquette · serviette · ballroom · centerpiece · linen · porcelain · place cards
- celebrationsgraduation, festival, wedding, fireworks, birthday
- gatheringsgathering, gatherings, parties, reunion, reunions
- partiesbash, celebration, get-together, jamboree, housewarming
- casual gatheringsget-together, hangout, meetup, catch-up, happy hour
- foodwaysfood rituals, food taboos, blessing food, table manners, feast
- friend activitiesroad trips, girls night, sleepovers, movie night, game night
dinner partyeating alone
Consuming food unaccompanied
solo dining · TV dinner · microwave dinner · backyard barbecue · pizza night
dinner partypotluck
Communal meal, shared contributions
potluck dinner · communal meal · covered dish supper · communal feast
party, dinner, diner, dining, dinners, dining room, dined, dinnerware, dinette