2023 Is the Year of the Dinner Party—Here Are the Hosting Essentials You Need

Hawkins New York Essential Stoneware 16-Piece Dinnerware Set

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Hate to break it to you, but your mismatched dinnerware—cobbled together from whatever hasn’t chipped, broken, or become lost over the years—won’t cut it for a cohesively designed dinner party. Instead, invest in coordinating dinnerware, like this 16-piece stoneware set. Each set includes four large bowls, four low bowls, four salad plates, and four dinner plates—either in yellow, blue, or pink. They’re both pretty and pragmatic, ideal for both everyday and special occasions.

Cave Glow Studio Dusk Beeswax Tapers - Set of 3

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Overhead lights should not be invited to your dinner parties. Instead, create a cozy ambiance with a series of taper candles. This set, a trio of handmade candles made with pure beeswax, cotton wicks, and natural dye, will add color, warmth, and height to your tablescape—all musts for a memorable dinner party. Each candle lasts approximately nine hours, so get another dinner on the books. These will last you a while.

Our Place Gather Platters

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No matter what’s on the menu for your dinner party, chances are this set of two curved platters will come in handy again and again. The slightly lipped edges keep appetizers, main dishes, and dessert spreads in place—and look pretty-as-can-be in the center of a dining or buffet table too. They also stack neatly, which is necessary since we all know how valuable kitchen cabinet space is. 

Anthropologie Glinda Glass Dessert Plate

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If you weren’t lucky enough to inherit your grandma’s delicate dessert plates, nab a few of these colorful glass plates from Anthropologie. Choose from one of the four vibrant hues (gold, kelly green, dark blue, or violet) or mix and match them for a rainbow effect. They’re equally retro and modern, so your guests won’t know if they’re from the ‘60s or if you bought them six days ago. And here you thought your famous cherry pie couldn’t look any better.

Caldo Linen Dinner Napkins

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Don’t you dare even think about giving your dinner guests a paper towel. For proper dinner parties, you’ll want to invest in a set of reusable napkins, like this linen and cotton blend. Not only do they make for a pretty place setting, but they’re practical too. They’re soft and stain-resistant—they can also be thrown in the wash after each use.

Millstream Home Round Serving Board with Handle

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Whoever invented the love languages forgot to include the most important one of all: cheese and charcuterie, a must for most dinner parties. Plate up your best cheddar and prosciutto with this have-it-forever handmade serving board. Its uses are nearly limitless, from pizzas, vegetables, and dips, to an array of bite-sized desserts—you name it. The built-in hole in the handle makes for easy hanging too. 

Good Talk 150 Conversation Cards

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To keep the conversation flowing at your dinner parties, keep a box of these Good Talk cards on hand. The questions (all 150 of them) range from lighthearted to funny to deep—all appropriate regardless of who’s coming over for dinner. That way you can break these out whether you’re hosting your best friends, in-laws, or new neighbors. Questions include “What’s something that you are proud to have learned lately?” and "Who in this group is most likely to die first in a horror movie?" 

Anthropologie Waterfall Coupe Glasses, Set of 4

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Whatever beverage you’re serving at your dinner parties—whether it be martinis, mocktails, Champagne, or a crisp Chenin blanc—these classic coupe glasses are sure to make them look sip-worthy. These crystalline coupes come with a hand-painted 24k gold rim, giving them an Old Hollywood air of elegance. Cheers!