It I didn't have people over for dinner, I would probably never clean as thoroughly as I should. But I also remember my grandmother's strategy. She thought that if you put a beautiful arrangement of flowers on the table, no one would ever look at the cobwebs in the corner.

Everyone makes good points. Yes, it is a combination of people, relaxed hosts, good food and drink, clean house, etc. But one thing can throw it all off for me, and I notice the potential for that in the Houzz Holiday Contest: A Pretty Backyard Party picture above: the table decorations obscure the people sitting on the opposite side of the table! How many times have you tried to have a conversation while attempting to peek through flowers, around candles, etc.? Make it beautiful but make sure people can see each other!

It doesn't matter if all we have are tuna sandwiches as long as we are all together. Love will ALWAYS trump anything else.

Yes, it is all important. Good food, good friends, a reasonably clean house. Like some others, I think the key to a good dinner party is planning and then being relaxed. I love to cook but I do as much ahead as I can and then I try not to fuss. When guests arrive, I have drinks ready and can pop something in the over and relax with them until its done. Think simple enough not to stress yourself. Better chili, crackers, and cheese and enjoying yourself than a a fancy sit-down dinner for 20 IF it will stress you out too much to enjoy it. You know how much is reasonable for you. I did a fancy anniversary sit-down dinner for 18 the other week and it was lovely. I cooked beforehand and just heated up most of it, had my teen and friend's teen for waiters. We did courses and it worked very well and I stayed unfussed. But this isn't something I do all the time. People just enjoy being invited and simple food is enough.

I write a blog on entertaining with style and I always stress that the most important part of entertaining is making sure your guests feel comfortable and good about themselves in your home. Guests will remember your kindness, your generosity, the laughter, and the Joy. People should leave your home happy and well fed. All that being said, I confess that I enjoy doing it all, the decor, the food, and the prep, let the entertaining season commence

I couldn't choose just one, so I would say: All the above. The company of course you choose ahead of time, so you know who to invite to have a great time, but the rest on the list is also very important and comes full circle for a great dinner party...

The most important thing is to relax and make people feel welcome. Everything else will fall into place.

personally I feel good company is must and than would like to rank the remaining....I feel the neat n clean house is must so would like to rank it first and than surely the menu as post parties what you remember is the feelings that you experienced during the party n that is some thing a mix of food n decor n chit chat so here come our beautifully arranged table with nice ambience.

Getting a quick 10-20 minute catnap in before the festivities start!

The most important thing in hosting a memorable dinner party is your guests. After that, your table setting ranks next, because it sets the ambience for a memorable occasion. Lighting, music, decorations and appetizers, food and cocktails all contribute of equal significance to the overall experience.

I had to vote for decore as an atractive part, but I think all of the above are importante, each one is an essntial componant for this event

I voted for "The Company" but to me it is all of the above. I don't entertain that much anymore but when I did, I did it because I loved every aspect of it. I would think of a theme, make my guest list, figure out the color scheme and decorations and menu. With everything thought of and on paper then I would start to create the atmosphere I wanted. Holiday, anniversary, birthday or just a fun gathering. When my company arrived everything was done so I could enjoy the event. One of the things I hate is, now when someone decides to have a celebration they then designate some one for the beverage, one for the flowers, and someone for the appetizers and so on. If you are the host then host from the beginning to the end. If you can't afford to have a large event then do a smaller one but I think to ask others to help you host an event is tacky. I recently went to a summer birthday party and everyone was asked to bring a certain dish....Some did other didn't and the the whole party was a missed mash mess.

I give the house a special cleaning and set a lovely table, but to me, the food is the most important thing. After all, I invited them to dinner, not to come see my dishes or to inspect my house to make sure it is clean. I have a bit of a reputation for being a good cook, and when people come to my house, they know they will get something delicious, prepared with the best ingredients and great care. I'm also happy to prepare special dishes for persons with allergies, diabetes, etc., which they appreciate.

If I can only choose one, the most important would be people. All are important, of course. If the food is poor, it brings the whole event down a certain extent. It's always a great feeing to know your house is looking its best. The table is often the most fun to do - at least for me - but also tends to last the shortest amount of time. In all honesty, when I look back, the events I remember with the most fondness were made memorable by the PEOPLE in attendance.

A clean house is always guaranteed at our place even though it is hard work because ours is a very old home. We prep the bulk of the mains and the desserts a day before. Table is set in the morning. Food is served family style. It can be hard to seat more than 12 people. if we are entertaining close relatives, the younger ones will just grab extra chairs or cushions and make themselves comfortable on the Persian rugs. We are lucky to have really great friends of different ethnic backgrounds and no formality exists here.

Food - it sets the tone and will make or break an event. People don't gush over a clean floor or ask for dusting tips like they do recipes.

a clean house and kitchen is essential for company to enjoy the food!! cant have one without the other!

None of the above, though they are important. A self-serve beverage bar, with non alcoholic options, and tidy, one bite appetizers ready when people arrive. Helps them in gathering and mixing, while you finalize the meal.

I am an excellent cook. I hire people to help me, now that I am older and have a very sore back. My helper chops onions or other veg, washes, fruits and vegs, etc for the food prep. Sets up the buffet, clears and cleans up. The size and shape of my house dictates buffet service when it is more than 4 people. so food and company are always interesting. So the most important part after those issues are satisfied is the CHAIRS! Conversation flows and sparks when the guests are comfortable. I do not drink and I have noticed that the conversation is better when there is no booze served. No slurring, lurching, dropping, arguing........ This flys in the face of convention, & I assure you it works for us.

All of the above. My motto is "Plan ahead and do ahead as much as possible" so we can enjoy our party with our guests.

also, I confine our pets away from the guests. they are put in our bedroom and the door is closed.

Guests above all, after innumerable dinner parties over several decades. But consider who would enjoy talking to whom and use (informal) placecards or otherwise arrange the seating. Your parties will be even better. Wonderful opportunities are missed when you just say sit wherever you want. Good food is also a must but this need not be fussy or fancy. A simple vase of flowers from the garden or supermarket is all you need to make a lovely and convivial table. Enjoy.

As host, you would, of course, bring out the best and connect the players at the table. And of course food should be delicious--but if it's not, light can be made of it, or it could be a springboard for the guests' tales. I voted for the set design--the table. It tells the guests that their company has been anticipated and also it sets the mood.

Make ahead, bake ahead, buy the hard part (like breads), make the table sparkle. THEN seat people NOT next to their spouse and alternate men and women, if possible. Have some conversation starter topics; serve dessert and coffee in a different place so you can leave the table until later. Hire someone to come in and tidy up while you play games in the living room.

The food and a clean house tye for first. Those are the two things people talk about when they leave and what they talk about before they come to another party you may host.

To me the company is the most important factor in entertaining at home. I can have take out, home cooked meal, an impromptu snacks, but its always the people we share it with that makes it memorable!!!!

"people make the party" + having a well organized/prepared hostess

We all care that the food be great/enjoyed, the house is clean and looks good, but the only real test of a successfully hosted event, is that the guests are comfortable, at ease, and enjoy themselves.

So many good points! I'd add that I plan ahead so hungry guests are not kept waiting. We're invited often to a new in-law family whose dinner is always served 3 - 5 hours late! The event always takes up half an entire day [and night], and folk trickle in late [we often told we're waiting for someone to bring certain dishes], knowing everything is going to be extremely late. The hostess is charming [we're not allowed to help], but her hubby and one of the adult sons is grumpy. My husband is a lot of fun, but after a couple hours, he'll whisper to me, "Can we leave now?" I whisper back that it wouldn't be polite to leave before they serve the food. The first time we met them, we arrived at ~5 as we all were told, the next guest arrived at 7, and the rest arrived at 9. We ate at 10 p.m.! Over the years we've encountered similar super late events -- amusing. Just tell us to come when things are ready / nearly ready, or let me help! :/

Everything listed (food, clean house, beautiful table) is critical, but if the people mix isn't right, it won't work no matter how pretty it is. Another hint: optimal number for a dinner party is 8 - that number can successfully sit at one table and civilly converse with every person at that table. More than 10 is no longer a dinner party - it's a buffet. Note to 23442344: order in a pizza next time you go to the in-laws: they'll get the hint - no wonder 2 of the men are 'grumpy' - they're starving!!!

What people remember about a great party is the wonderful time they had and they people they spent it with. They rarely remember details of the food that was served or the cleanliness, the music that was playing or order of the home. People are focused on each other, that's were the real party is.

I think the most important ingredient is good wine! I wouldn't invite people that I don't consider to be good company over for a dinner, so company is always good My dinner is usually good, but a clean house and a pretty table can make up for a mediocre meal :)

The dessert. If you send them off with a bang - I usually have 3-4 choices (the trick is making in advance and freezing) then it doesn't matter what you serve before.

Of course, the people but....unless you are super organized, you will be too busy to enjoy them! I try to have everything ready when they walk through the door so I only need to put heat under it. All ingredients are chopped, salad dressings prepared, serving dishes chosen, table arranged, prep dishes done, candles lit and drinks ready to pour. Then I can have the cocktail hour before dinner totally devoted to guests. There is no better way to spend an evening than over a lovely meal with people whose company you enjoy!

I like to get my guests involved a tad in the process. I find that everyone gets a bit happier when they are involved. I'm also a huge believer in appetizers set on the kitchen peninsula -- it provides a central focal point to gather before the meal. So yes, clean house, good food, and nice table setting and flower arrangements are important - but centrally placed appetizers and letting the guests help the hosts are my tried and true solutions for a brilliant party

Everything is important and I love to make my house sparkle as well as set a beautiful table. My husband is the chef so the food is ALWAYS great but the most important is having friends come together.

About liking to get guests to help... I couldn't disagree more unless it's a very, very casual backyard cookout or something of that nature. Most people who have to cook for families every day really appreciate the opportunity of an evening away from kitchen duties. The last thing I want to do, especially when I'm dressed up, is prep or do anything else in somebody else's kitchen! I truly appreciate the host and hostess who plan their dinner party so they can mingle with their guests until a few minutes before it's time to serve. And the same goes for cleaning up after the meal. Quietly and quickly put away only the food that has to go in the fridge and get back to your guests. Don't start cleaning dishes or let your friends do it either. Women seem to think they're not pulling their weight unless they're scrubbing pots and pans. There's nothing that will kill the ambiance and dinner table conversation faster than the rattling of dishes and scraping of plates. I do what Floating Island Studios does - serve dessert away from the dinner table and leave everything else alone until after the last guest has gone home or even until the next day when the party ends late. It's not about waking up to a clean house, it's about spending the evening enjoying your company and giving them a fun night off.

Mcknmina, you gave me a gooood laugh! :D

Enjoying it with your company.

Have you ever noticed how even a common little tuna casserole seems to taste better when it's served on beautiful china? I think ambiance is everything. It tells the guests that this is a special evening. Of course the guests matter, but you can't always depend on the mix being right and all of them showing up. A pretty flower arrangement, candlelight, and soft music set the tone for a special evening. If you're worrying that someone will notice that you burned the green beans etc., "Those that matter don't care; and those that care don't matter."

The people that I'm going to invite to my party will more than likely be all my friends...all my friends get along great! They love delicious food and I always prepare way in advance so not to stress out. My home is spotless along with a gorgeous table where everyone would laugh, eat and be happy.

It's always the good company all the time. People you enjoy spending time with won't actually mind whether you have a clean house, good foods, or awesome decor. Gathering is all about bonding and having fun with each other. So if you don't have good company, everything else is superficial and a waste.

i agree with all of the above, but i took it from a different view point, I went with food because in the past we have eaten out many a time. But nowadays, so much of the food makes us ill, whereas our food has never made anyone ill and they always rave, so none of us are sick the next day.

I too voted food only because when you're hosting, the pressure's on you to prepare a great meal. The company is a very close second that I think is more important as a guest than the host.

Inviting people that haromize with you and each other is number one! Even using name tags at the table so there is no confusion as to who seats where. The rest of it is just icing on the cake.

They all play a part... but, far and away, the quality of the guests and a liberal supply of social lubricant seem to be the most important. I've been a guest at a party where the chicken was raw, the side burnt, and someone was injured during a racous game of spoons... and that night is one of many that is very fondly relived every time we see each other again.

I voted food since I'm a perfectionist but I think all of the things listed are just as important!

Ben Hart, spoons more dangerous than rugby and you can play it with your grandma. Love it.

The company of course, and the food.

I think all are important, but voted the company…

In order: The company, the food, the table, and clean house – though I think clean house and dressing the table tie for me.