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Original poster

Dinner parties, do you have them, am I supposed to be doing them?!

29 replies

MintyFinty · 09/10/2022 21:14

Do people still have dinner parties? I hate to be 1950s but my DH has a job where possibly this would be beneficial?!
We've not actually been invited to any ourselves but is this something that happens? I'm fairly anxious and inexperienced but could try it, do people invite their boss over?! Am I failing at being an adult by being in bed in by 8pm every night most nights?!

OP posts:

AtleastitsnotMonday · 09/10/2022 21:28

I have friends from work for dinner, not my boss, I don't do it for work reasons just because I'm friends with some of my colleagues. I don't invite them to a 'dinner party' just to dinner. It's usually a pretty casual affair. So I'm not sure that's what you're getting at. What does your dh think?

StarDolphins · 09/10/2022 21:31

u Do t have them & nor do any of my friends. We go out for meals & occasional takeaway but not dinner parties.

worriedniece · 09/10/2022 21:32

This would be my worst nightmare! I suppose there is so much more choice now than my parents time (1980s/1990s) when it was a bit more boring!

arethereanyleftatall · 09/10/2022 21:41

We did a lot when the dc were younger. But with friends. Took turns. It meant you spent time with friends without getting a babysitter. All the kids slept in whatever house was hosting. It worked.

Abouttimemum · 09/10/2022 21:41

Fuck no! We don’t have people round for dinner nor do we go to other people’s homes for dinner.

We go to my mum’s for Sunday lunch lol.

I can’t be arsed, is the top and bottom of it.

RosesAndHellebores · 09/10/2022 21:42

OP I'm in my 60s. They were done up to the late 80s. They faded out in the 90s. DH has had a full on professional career. We do not have colleagues/clients to our house, only friends and they are relaxed affairs.

Anything remotely business is dealt with at a restaurant or the opera. Of course some of those people become friends and are happy with a summer barbecue or kitchen supper - even if it's a good kitchen supper.

Our best friends are quite high profile - They bring their slippers and stay over night so they can get sloshed. 30 years ago we'd have invited them to a dp. Not done now.

KangarooKenny · 09/10/2022 21:42

No !
I don’t have anyone in my house.

nottodaytomorrow · 09/10/2022 21:45

The people in my actual house are lucky if i can be arsed to put an actual dinner together most evenings... not a chance do i cook for anyone else

Begoniasforever · 09/10/2022 21:46

I have my friends for dinner but not colleagues. No one does this anymore, it would be weird, what you do now is go out for dinner with his colleagues.but generally it’s not a partner thing. That’s so 80s. That’s why you’ve not been invited to anything,

who has suggested it would be beneficial? His colleagues don’t want to come to your house.

BIWI · 09/10/2022 21:47

Yes, we do! But we only invite friends - never work colleagues or clients. And I never mix groups of friends either.

But we all share a love of food and cooking, so I suppose that's why it works for us. (That said, it's not something that happens regularly - once every few months)

toogoodforthisworld · 09/10/2022 21:49

No- I've never had any one over for dinner. A dinner is a business expense. You go out for dinner if it's needed.
Don't beat yourself up. The stress will do no one any good!

Begoniasforever · 09/10/2022 21:49

BIWI · 09/10/2022 21:47

Yes, we do! But we only invite friends - never work colleagues or clients. And I never mix groups of friends either.

But we all share a love of food and cooking, so I suppose that's why it works for us. (That said, it's not something that happens regularly - once every few months)

She’s asking about dinner parties for her husbands colleagues.

no one does that any more. And his colleagues won’t all be men op, or they shouldn’t be.

if he wants to socialise he organised a restaurant event. Very seldom would partners be invited. This was a very fifties thing that ended decades ago

CheezePleeze · 09/10/2022 21:50

If your DH thinks it might be beneficial to his job to cook for his boss and colleagues, then let him get on with it.

Begoniasforever · 09/10/2022 21:51

CheezePleeze · 09/10/2022 21:50

If your DH thinks it might be beneficial to his job to cook for his boss and colleagues, then let him get on with it.

God it’s so cringe though.

CheezePleeze · 09/10/2022 21:53

Begoniasforever · 09/10/2022 21:51

God it’s so cringe though.

Show quote history

It's totally cringe

Marginally less cringe than the OP thinking it should be down to her though.

Raumasaur · 09/10/2022 21:54

Yes, because both of our careers depend on it.

It's invite them for dinner or take them out for dinner. It's a very big thing in military communities at certain ranks.

There are definitely some career paths where it is not needed.

Tailfeather · 09/10/2022 21:54

We do. We take it turns with friends as it's cheaper than eating out. The people hosting obviously cover the food and most of the booze and the people coming have to pay for babysitters and taxis.

Raumasaur · 09/10/2022 21:56

We do do it with friends as well - again, cheaper than eating out. I tend to leave it all to my partner though when it's with friends, as it's mostly his colleagues we entertain otherwise and it generally does fall to me whilst he handles the "promotion chit chat".

TheChosenTwo · 09/10/2022 22:00

Not needed with either of our jobs!
We do have colleagues round for dinner - if they are our friends, but not a dinner party, just dinner. Relaxed, lots of booze and food and chat.
I don’t think I’ve ever been to a dinner party. We like having people round though, our house is good for entertaining.

Begoniasforever · 09/10/2022 22:19

CheezePleeze · 09/10/2022 21:53

It's totally cringe

Marginally less cringe than the OP thinking it should be down to her though.

Show quote history

Agree who told her it would be beneficial that’s what I want to know. If he wants to socialise as couples then they go out for dinner, if he wants to socialise with his boss then he goes for a drink with him or her.

The days of come to my house and my wife will cook for you makes my toes curl. Not least as I’m senior in my role and would be aghast if someone who worked for me invited me to their home and the wife ran around like it was 1952 cooking for me. I don’t want to do that. And neither would my husband and he’s head of the uk in his role.

nilpois · 09/10/2022 22:29

We love having friends and family over for dinner and drinks, i really enjoy entertaining at home.
We don't have work colleagues over though, it's relaxed and fun with people we are close to.

kateandme · 09/10/2022 22:34

Never have.only friends.the only time a meal was had with collueges would be going I’m out to a restaurant.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 09/10/2022 22:36

Me and DH used to have friends for dinner parties a lot but not on past few years since having children.
Then we moved and we couldn't keep our ten seater dining table. It was a marvelous mahogany table and lovely chairs. I had the local auction house round to value it and it was valued at £50-£100...m aunt had bought it for £3k!
they said no one has space for a large table and no one hosts dinner parties any more.
i put it to auction and it didn't even sell first time. Second time it went for £20 😭

HunterTheDanceInstructor · 09/10/2022 22:45

I’d love to know what your husband does.

Thinking back to old films and tv shows, I think my husband’s job (banker) would be one that’s often portrayed as being a dinner-party requirer.

The idea of donning a bow and serving a pot roast to my husband’s manager makes me cringe. Why would anyone even consider that this is a thing?

PleaseYourselfandEatTheCrusts · 10/10/2022 16:28

I don't have them.

I went to a handful of them before ds (8 yrs old) was born.

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