Survey: What is the Perfect Size for a Dinner Party?

In yesterday's Cure Assignment, I got cure-takers off and running on their final project: a dinner party. I casually mentioned that I felt six was the perfect number for a sit-down dinner, a loose rule that guides Maxwell and I when we entertain.

Then at dinner last night (for ten) we got to talking about this very question and it turns out not everyone agrees with me about the number six being ideal. Cure-taker klt108 says she used to regularly "host regular dinner parties for ten in my tiny East Village studio." I'm impressed.

Thinking about how many to invite to dinner is an important part of planning a meal. With too many, conversations get broken up. For a festive mood, I find four too intimate. That's why I vote for six. It's not to say I never have more or less, but when six sit down around my table, I find the balance is usually just right.

If you like ten, give us some details. Have another luck dinner party number? Do tell!

(Outstanding in the Field photo by flickr member Brett L. licensed for use under Creative Commons)

Comments (10)

At our house, we love having dinner for 4, 6, or many more. The inbetween numbers are harder, like 10, because you can't have one conversation and it is awkward to have multiple. We usually have about 30 for pot lucks or 4 to 6 for smaller dinners.

Anywhere between 6 and 12 is good I think -- as long as everyone can fit around your table. When a group gets so large that you have to split people up (like being relegated to the kids table at Thanksgiving) then it's not fun anymore.

I don't think there's any such thing as a perfect number. Sometimes I'd like to have a big get together with family or friends, other times an intimate sit-down with just another couple or a couple of friends, so there's no "perfect size" for me.

We like 8... partly because that's when the plates run out and we'd have to switch to Chinet.

I have to agree with michpc....it depends on the situation. There's a couple I know that are so intense, I'm not sure they could handle another conversation going on at the table.

Birthright Israel reimburses alums for hosting Shabbat dinners of up to 16 people, $25/person, so as an alum, I say 16 is the perfect number of heads at the table!

I prefer 6 only because that's how many chairs we have for our dining table. We have had more, but it's cramped and someone has to sit on outdoor plastic chairs or office chairs.

I selected 6 in the survey, because I think that is a good number - 6 people can still have one conversation, which is nice. It's easy to cook for 6 - I can still use my smaller pots and bowls, etc...

But I usually only have four for dinner at my apartment because I only have four chairs, four plates, four bowls...etc. And I feel like making dinner for guests is a personal thing, and it's nice to share that.

For cocktail parties though... the more the merrier! I prefer 30.

6-8 is ideal here, but that's because we have 2 kids. I like to have just one other couple or family over generally for more intimate discussions and more manageable size. Any more than that and it starts to feel like a party party instead of a dinner party for me.

the surveys still are not working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!