A progressive dinner is a party where each course is eaten at a different host’s house- simply, the guests progress from house to house.
Having a dinner party with an “itinerary” of three or four locations transforms a basic meal into a festive evening of food, activity, and friends!
Here are some ideas for an AWESOME progressive dinner:
COURSES. Try to have at least four houses involved. The first home opens the evening with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, while the second home continues with salad and soup. The third home presents the entrée, and at the fourth house, you close with dessert, coffee- and more drinks.
Prepping meals or dishes beforehand is key to enjoying time with your guests- and it enables you to be a guest as well. You wouldn’t want to miss the other stops because you’re still assembling your dish.
TRANSPORTATION. Progressives are the best when guests can walk easily between locations, so hosting them within neighborhoods is ideal. If nothing else, pitch in as a group for a van or large taxi to take everyone to and from each destination. Schedule the stops—and stick to the schedule.
GUEST LIST. Keep the guest list minimal and take into consideration all locations involved. Can they comfortably host the same amount of people? How many guests can efficiently move between houses and not upset the schedule? You want a lively group, but also one that can pick up and go when it’s time to move on.
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