Putting a big family dinner together is a mix of tedious work and great company. It takes a lot of planning and organizing, and whether you order pizza online or cook from scratch, any number of things can go wrong. To reduce hostess stress and increase family bliss, here are five tips for planning a successful big family dinner.
1. Start Planning Early
Figuring out party specifics early on lets you stay on top of things as plans progress. Similarly, invite guests early so they can RSVP and plan accordingly. Finally, set a food budget, make a list, and try to shop or place an order for catering within your outline. If you start going over budget, prioritize your items and make reasonable cuts.
2. Get Help
If you feel you won’t have time for extras like sides or desserts, ask guests to bring them. Another fun way to get help and include family is to do some cooking together the night before the meal. Figure out which dishes will hold up best and do a little pre-party family cooking.
3. Provide Snacks
Big meals take a long time to prepare so plan to have nibbles around while it’s being made. A simple platter of cheese, crackers and fruit works well, and you can always put a guest on snack-duty. If your meal occurs earlier in the evening, try to have food around for later. Heat up leftovers, serve chips and salsa, or order pizza online: whatever you do, your lingering guests will appreciate it
4. Organize Entertainment
Have toys or coloring books available for kids to keep them happy and distracted throughout the party. Even grown-up guests will appreciate interactive options like cards or board games, so consider having a few fun activities on-hand.
5. Honor Family Traditions
If your family always serves special sweets after a big meal, learn how to make them. If certain rituals are performed before sitting down, lead the way and encourage guests to participate. If you always order pizza online for lunch to tide you over for a big meal later, make it happen. Family quirks are what make big gatherings special, so make them a part of every meal you host.
Last but not least: have fun. It’s your party, so relax and enjoy your company. At Sardella’s Pizza and Wings, we understand how important family is and we can help you feed them when the time for a big meal comes. Sardella’s offers the best daily pizza specials in Phoenix and serve up a variety of crowd-pleasing, family-sized options. And as one of the top Arizona pizza places, our portions aren’t just big: they’re delicious and high-quality too. You can order our pizza online, have your family dinner catered with our party platters or arrange to have your big meal right in our restaurant and discover one of Arizona’s top pizza places for family gatherings.