There are many ways to meet people, and one of the best is over dinner. You get to spend a few hours with a bunch of people who probably share similar interests as you. If someone catches your eye, it’s easy to walk up and chat with them. If things get boring with one person, you can easily start a conversation with someone new. But, what happens if you haven’t been to a party in a while and you feel like it? Well, throw one yourself. But if you’re single, don’t throw just any party. Host a matchmaking party. How do you do that? There are a few things to keep in mind, including who to invite, what to serve, what music to play, etc.
How To Host A Matchmaking Dinner – Tip #1: Don’t Focus On The Singles
The first tip for hosting a matchmaking dinner is to not make it obvious that you are hosting a matchmaking dinner. If you focus too much on the singles and make it a “singles” night, then you will put too much pressure on the event. You want to keep things relaxed and fun, and the best way to do that is to invite a bunch of people, single and attached. Just make sure you have a good singles mix. The best way to do this is to mention singles in only one place on our invitation: at the end, as a PD. For example: “ps: singles welcome!”, or “ps: couples are encouraged to bring a single guest!” In this way, the singles become an extra excitement for the party, and not its focus. By doing this, you ensure better engagement, a better mix of people (and conversations), and a better experience for your singles (and yourself).
How to Host a Matchmaking Dinner – Tip #2: Keep the Food Simple and Focus on the Drinks
Yes, you’re going to do your best and throw a big party, and you want everyone to have a great time, but you also want time for yourself, so keep the food simple. The simpler the meal, the less chance you’ll have of experiencing a culinary disaster (OMG, I just burned the mango almond chicken and bluefin tuna caserole!), and the more time you’ll have to spend with your guests, make them sit down. feel comfortable and, of course, meet some great singles. So keep the food tasty but quick to prepare… and focus on the drinks. The drinks are great because all you have to do is buy something interesting, maybe an exotic wine or a microbrewery beer, and ta-da, you’re instantly excited. Keep things fun by filling everyone’s glass regularly. This gets the juices flowing, and also keeps you moving and meeting people (and gives you an excuse to get away from the inevitable boring leech). If you’re feeling adventurous, try some mixed drinks, but don’t overdo it: Just like with food, keep the alcohol simple so you have time to socialize and have as much fun as your guests.
How to Host a Matchmaking Dinner – Tip #3: Create a Playlist to Keep the Mood Going
Dinner isn’t really dinner without music, so create a long and varied playlist. Make sure there’s something for everyone, and don’t just play the big names. Play some unknown songs, or some unknown songs by some big names. This will create a bit of curiosity in the people at your party and give everyone a great conversation starter. A mix of genres is also great: for example, juxtapose ambient drum and bass with some old-school 60s rock to keep people on their toes, but use your good judgment and don’t overdo it. Choose the location of your sound system strategically so that it fills the entire space with sound evenly, and don’t be afraid to have two (or more) stereos running at the same time, as long as they’re not close enough to crash. each other (there is nothing worse than two competing musical keys). Finally, make sure you have the right volume – people should be able to hear music without straining their ears, but they should also be able to talk without yelling at the top of their lungs.
How To Host A Matchmaking Dinner – Tip #4: Invite The People Who Want To Be There
Most people make a big mistake when hosting a dinner party: they invite the entire planet, thinking that the more the merrier. This is precisely what should not be done. By doing this, you’ll have guests arriving late, and even worse, leaving early (best vibe killer). There will be people who don’t mix well and generally won’t help create a warm and welcoming environment. Instead of asking someone to come, be selective. Choose the people you think will really enjoy your party, and then ask them to invite like-minded people. This is easily done: “Hey, I’m having dinner on Saturday. The name of the game is Asian food. If you know someone who loves Asian food as much as I do, feel free to invite them.”
How to Host a Matchmaking Dinner: Tip #5: Invest in Candles and Flowers
It doesn’t matter if you are a boy or a girl: you need to invest in some pretty candles and flowers for your dinner. I do not mean to go all out and decorate the halls with roses from wall to wall, but it is necessary to create a comfortable atmosphere. An easy way to do this is to place a few candles in strategic areas, ie not where there is a lot of foot traffic, light them and dim the lights. It is a great way to establish a pleasant and comfortable environment. Next, buy some cheap flowers and arrange them in pretty vases on a table. You don’t have to spend a lot: just choose a pretty bouquet that shows you really care about how your home looks.
How To Host A Matchmaking Dinner – Tip #6: Enlist A Friend’s Help
Dinner is a big deal and it can be a lot of work. You should keep things as simple as possible, but another thing to do is ask for help. Talk to a friend of yours, someone you plan to invite, of course, and ask them to help you with some tasks. Be specific: Don’t just say “I need help” and make it sound like it’s going to take hours of your time. Instead, pick two or three time-critical tasks and ask them to lend a hand. For example, a friend can buy food, organize her place before the guests start to arrive, or cook a dish. Anything helps, and it’s always less stressful to know that someone is there to contribute when you need it.
How To Host A Matchmaking Dinner – Tip #7: Make Sure You Have Enough Food
You can usually count on people bringing alcoholic beverages, but food is another matter. Don’t leave it to chance: make sure you have a big main dish and plenty of appetizers to keep your guests satisfied. While wine and beer can loosen the tongue, food is the real talk (think, “Wow, whatever you’re eating looks great, where did you get it?”). If you can afford it, try to stay away from chips and crackers, and pick up some cured meats, vegetable spreads, and other interesting snacks to be a little different.
How to Host a Matchmaking Dinner – Tip #8: Have a common plate for everyone to eat together.
Every dinner has a moment of calm. It is that point where a sudden silence seizes everyone. When that time comes, be ready. Prepare what I like to call a “community plate”: a messy plate that gets hands dirty and makes people laugh and eat together. A great example is a peel and eat shrimp cocktail, chilli crabs, or shuck oysters. The key is to make it more challenging than bite-sized snacks, so that people are forced to stay active. Once your guests start rolling up their sleeves, banter will ensue, and then some great conversation.
How to Host a Matchmaking Dinner – Tip #9: Make Up Some Games to Liven Things Up
Since you are hosting a matchmaking dinner after all, you need to help make some pairings. A great way to do this is by introducing some interactive games into the party mix. They’ll all complain at first, but as soon as they do, they’ll start having fun. You can make any type of game you like as long as everyone can participate and as long as it is simple and of course fun. A game I really like is called “Toilet Paper Game”. Here’s how it works: Pass around a toilet paper roll and ask everyone to take as many squares as they want, but they must take at least one. Then ask everyone, one by one, to tell the crowd something that no one present knows about them. Since most of the people at your party won’t know each other, this should be easy for everyone. It’s an easy game, and one that helps open everyone up and get them to mingle…and hopefully connect.
How To Host A Matchmaking Dinner – Tip #10: Don’t Let Things Go Down, Be The One To Finish The Dinner
It happens at every party: one person leaves, then two, and then the slow trickle starts, and eventually you’re left with a few people who just don’t want to leave. To avoid this slow ebb of energy, end things on a high note by specifying an end time for a party on your invitation. You choose the time, and it can be as late or as early as you want. And your excuse is simple: clean up. Be cool about adding a joke to your mention of the end time, for example: “The part ends at midnight sharp, because cleaning is hell and I hate procrastination.” By telling people ahead of time when things will need to end, you’ll keep the energy going for longer and avoid having to entertain someone who can’t seem to catch a clue.
