Your guide to hosting the ultimate dinner party

Are you planning a fancy get-together with friends, but you're not sure where to start? Don't worry! We've put together some dinner party ideas and hacks that will take the stress out of your next event and make it a night to remember. With tips and tricks for everything from the table setting to the perfect dinner party menu, we've got you covered.

Step 1: Make a guest list

When planning your dinner party guest list, avoid inviting friends or family who have opposing personal or political views on the same evening, to prevent conversation getting a little too heated. This is a party, and we want to keep things light hearted and fun.

Give your guests plenty of notice, and ask them to RSVP with any dietary requirements they might have, so you can cater accordingly. Be sure to specify whether it's an adults-only event, or if kids are also welcome.

Step 2: Choose a fabulous theme

You don't have to have a theme for your dinner party, but it does make planning the event a whole lot more fun! Your theme could be based on the reason for the party, such as a milestone birthday, or you could theme it around a current event, such as the AFL Grand Final or the Oscars.

Is there a period in history or an exotic location that intrigues you? How about a 60's hippie-themed affair, or an 80's glam rock dinner party - big hair and fingerless lace gloves essential! A summery Santorini soiree would be absolute bliss, or why not make it a movie-themed night? The Sound of Music is an oldie but a goodie, or maybe Pulp Fiction for something a little more edgy? Or make it a mystical meal with a Harry Potter theme.

You know your guests best, so choose whatever theme you think will have them talking about the evening for years to come.

Step 3: Menu planning and recipe selection

The ideal dinner party recipes are those that are deceptively impressive, delivering huge wow-factor, without actually requiring too much effort from you. With so many great online cooking blogs these days, you're bound to find something that fits the bill.

Read through each recipe right to the end before committing to it, so you've got all the cookware and equipment you need. And make sure you've left enough time for steps that might take a while, such as waiting for a desert to set.

Your dinner party menu should reflect your theme, the occasion, and the season - that means no piping hot roasts on a 40-degree Aussie summer day!

Step 4: Setting the table

One of the things that makes a dinner party different from your run-of-the-mill midweek meal is the table setting. We all know how to set a table, but for a special dinner party, your table setting needs to be next level. Match it to your theme, or go high-end with some gorgeous napery and perfectly-polished cutlery. Select appropriate glassware for the drinks you'll be serving, and bring out your best dinnerware set - no mismatched plates or chipped bowls, please!

Step 5: Clean up

The key to avoiding a clean-up catastrophe is to clean as you go. Rinse plates immediately, pop leftovers in a container in the fridge and, if you've had a few drinks, leave any precious or delicate items to be washed the following morning!

Our top tips and tricks for hosting the ultimate dinner party

Pre-prepare as much as you can before your guests arrive, so you're not running in and out of the kitchen all night. While there are some dishes that need to be made immediately before serving, such as rare-cooked steaks and puffy souffles, many other foods can be made ahead of time and reheated. To save yourself time on the night, have menu items such as salads, steamed vegetables, flatbreads and cold desserts ready to go - and stored appropriately to prevent food poisoning, of course.

Try to avoid making separate meals - it's just too time-consuming. If you have a friend who is gluten-free, why not make one dessert for everyone, using almond meal instead of flour? For plant-based guests, make the salads and veggies egg and dairy-free, and whip them up their own plant protein portion. If any of your guests will be bringing along a new partner, check if they have allergies or intolerances beforehand.

Remember the cardinal rules of red wine spillage! Blot any excess moisture up with a cloth or paper towels immediately, then spray the stain with a solution of one part white vinegar to two parts water, to prevent the tannins taking hold in your carpet. Blot with a clean paper towel, and repeat until the stain disappears. Never, ever leave the stain overnight if you can avoid it, or you could be up for a costly carpet cleaning bill!