
Luau parties are fabulous because you can create a festive atmosphere with fresh decorations. Since this is a
dinner party, the focal point should be the dining table you set up outdoors. If you are crafty and have plenty of time on your hands, get a gorgeous piece of Hawaiian shirt fabric at the local fabric store and make a tablecloth.

At all of my dinner parties, I offer guests one signature cocktail with appetizers, followed by a couple bottles of wine with dinner. I am a fan of a full open bar and pleasing my friends with whatever drink floats their fancy, but I do this when a small group is coming over for drinks only. At a dinner party, there are other things to worry about - the food, the mingling of new friends with old, etc.

When planning a dinner party, look for simpler recipes that can be made in advance. After the
tropical chicken skewer and vegetable spring roll appetizers, invite guests to join you at the table. A macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi bakes in the oven while its sauce waits warm on the stove.

The best thing about hosting a
themed dinner party, is that it's fairly easy to create a menu. Select dishes that you feel confident serving to guests. Instead of offering several sit down courses, have appetizers ready and waiting when the guests arrive.

I've been planning so many large bashes these past few weeks, that I decided to do something a little more intimate this week. Dinner parties are my favorite kind of party and they are even easier to host when you have a theme to plan everything around. There is no better theme for summer than a fabulous tropical soirée!