Best Banqueting Ideas: How To Throw A Dinner Party To Remember (PICTURES)
How To Create Your Very Own Banquet
The Huffington Post UK
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If you thought banquets were reserved for Tudor monarchs or the uber rich, think again.
Banquets are back with a tasty vengeance, offering the perfect opportunity to mix three of HuffPost UK Lifestyle's favourite things: friends, food and wine.
What's not to love?
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Banquets: the perfect opportunity to mix friends, food and wine
We spoke to banqueting experts Jo Vidler from Secret Productions and Caroline Hall from Rocket Food who were able to offer their top tips for throwing your very own banquet.
"From the moment guests arrive and are greeted with champagne to the moment they leave, it’s important that every detail is carefully curated to offer a unique and magical banqueting experience," explained Jo.
From decorating tips to foodie secrets, here's all you need to get started.
How To Create Your Own Banquet
Decoration(01 of05)
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"The key to throwing a great banquet is providing the right setting," explains Jo Vidler from Secret Sanctuary. "A natural environment works well, such as filling the room with wild flowers.""Long trestle tables work well for sharing platters," says Caroline. "Especially when paired with simple flowers, woodland foliage and a table runner."
Dress code(02 of05)
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"Dress code is really important," says Jo. "But what you choose depends on the occasion.""I recently threw a banquet for a close friend and the dress code was formal with a fun hat."
Ambiance(03 of05)
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"I'd advise against place names," says Jo. "The evening is supposed to be quite fluid. The best banquets are really relaxed with people moving about and mingling."
Food (04 of05)
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"It's important to keep it simple," says Caroline."An abundance of food with a good balance of hot and cold plates. I plan menus using seasonal and local ingredients."She adds: "A little food theatre is also fun. Perhaps one dish served by the chef at the end of the table."And of course the dishes should all work in harmony with their dressings and complimenting ingredients."
Theme(05 of05)
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"I enjoy banquets with themes that run through costume, decoration and food," says Jo. "Alice in Wonderland and Bugsy Malone always work well."
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