Plan the Perfect Virtual Dinner Party in 5 Simple Steps

By Meghen Jones

If current events have you stuck inside, you already know how difficult it has been to stay connected to your family and friends during quarantine, especially if you’re located across the country. Social distancing has changed daily life for all of us, forcing us to rethink our typical routine, from Friday night plans to internship obligations. Needless to say, feeling lonely is the “new normal.” But, just because you’re not able to see loved ones in-person, it doesn’t mean that you cannot keep in touch with them. It’s 2020, after all!

Modern technology has made it easy to connect with others around the world, whether you’re interacting via social media, exchanging text messages, or chatting over FaceTime or Zoom. So, why not get creative and host a virtual dinner party? A virtual dinner party is a unique way for you to safely share a meal with your family and friends without being in the same physical space. Let uCribs take the lead with 5 simple steps for planning the perfect virtual dinner party!

Step 1: Choose a Platform.

Before you begin planning your virtual dinner party, choose a video chat platform that is suitable for all guests. This should be easy since there are several different options to choose from. For example, Google Hangouts allows as many as ten people with individual Google accounts to connect from their web browser. Facetime is also a quick and easy way to gather up to 32 people who use Apple devices, whether you choose to host your party on an iPhone, iMac, or iPad. Additional platforms you can use include Skype, Zoom, and Houseparty. Once you have established a platform, don’t forget to send out a fun e-invitation!

Step 2: Determine the Menu.

Virtual or not, you simply cannot have a dinner party without food. As you plan your virtual dinner party, remember to consider what types of food you’ll want to enjoy during the big event. You can even assign a theme! Themed dinners are a great way to bring guests together over a common interest, like Disney movies or all things Harry Potter. For a more dish-specific theme, you may opt to celebrate Taco Tuesday or Spaghetti Saturday. No matter the theme you choose for your virtual dinner party, encourage each guest to create a dish based on the theme, just like you would for the real deal.

Step 3: Have Conversation Starters Ready.

Like any event, your virtual dinner party will probably include people, who already know each other and those meeting for the first time. Given that your guests won’t be meeting face-to-face, it’s important that they are able to easily break the ice with one another in a virtual setting. That’s why we recommend a thoughtful list of conversation starters prepared in advance. Start the convo off with a joke, question, or tried-and-true topic. Once the conversation gets rolling, it will become more organic once the party continues. And, if we know anything about a good dinner party, a good conversation is key to a good evening spent among friends, new and old.

Step 4: Incorporate Fun Games.

As we all know, dinner parties are not complete without some form of entertainment to enhance the experience, once conversation naturally tapers off. Sure, there isn’t a way to gather around your mini karaoke machine or challenge each other to another round of your go-to board game, but you can take advantage of web-friendly games. An online game will keep the momentum of your dinner party going, providing much-needed distraction to your virtual party-goers.  Try classic, easy-to-follow games, like Charades, Name That Tune, Two Truths and a Lie, and so forth.

Step 5: Thank Your Guests.

Before you log off, don’t forget to show love to the guests, who made your virtual dinner party possible.  Your guests could be doing anything right now—binge-watching their favorite show, catching up on sleep, or perfecting their skillset—but your virtual dinner party is where they chose to spend their time.  Even when you’re quarantined, time is still valuable. So, be sure to thank those that attended your virtual dinner party and helped make your time in self-isolation a little more bearable—and dare we say it, even fun?  They’re the real MVPs!

If you’re like us, you miss breaking bread with your family and friends. That’s what makes hosting a virtual dinner party the route to go! While it certainly isn’t the same as an in-person dinner experience, it can be just as heartwarming and endearing as the real thing. Plus, it allows you to socialize with your loved ones while continuing to adhere to social distancing regulations. So, next time you miss your pals and want to do more than just shoot them a text message, take advantage of these 5 steps and plan a most epic virtual dinner party that everyone will be talking about for years to come!

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