The rise of the dinner club is something you might have come across scrolling social media. I’m talking delicious dishes spread across tables decked out with delicate flowers and tableware. The people sitting around the table lit up by glowing candles are not your parents or grandparents, as you might expect, but the hip gen Z. Rather than going out for dinner or to a bar, they are creating their own atmosphere at home. Making a home dinner the occasion invites deep connection and conversation. Food and connection are life essentials, so why not romanticise life while you’re at it?
The set-up can be as simple as a sweet thrifted tablecloth or a vase full of fresh flowers. The key is to have a table big enough for your guests. If it’s warm enough where you are, you might consider in your garden. Then you can connect to nature while you’re at it, really enjoying your candlelit dinner and the stars when they start to twinkle overhead. To be extra sweet, you can get crafty making up invitations or a menu. And don’t forget a cute outfit! I’ve been so inspired by Amelia Edmondson’s stunning dinner parties with her friends. She now hosts a dinner party every month, celebrating special occasions like the Summer Solstice and Valentine’s Day. Check out her content to see how she sets up in style for each event.
When hosting your dinner party, you might like to give it a theme (such as Spring garden party or homemade pasta night). You could even run it alongside a themed craft activity, book club or movie projector night. If you don’t yet have a community of friends to organise one with, you can also open it up by inviting friends of friends or posting on your social media. This can be a great way to make new connections. Then the next time one of your new friends can host you!
If you don’t have a suitable space at your home, you can also take your dinner club outside (like to the beach, a field or park). My friends and I loved throwing together a sweet French-inspired picnic in the hinterland as the sun set over the sea. We packed a picnic basket and brought our own little set-up with candles, flowers, platters, cutlery and a cute rug. It was so much fun to plan, bake and set-up. Then we got to kick back and enjoy our efforts.
I hope this has inspired you to host your own dinner club! Here’s to making life more connected, nourishing and romantic.
Love Clo x