When are the best occasions to indulge in private dining?

InStyle Badass Women Dinner Hosted By Laura Brown & Sponsored By Secret
InStyle Badass Women Dinner Hosted By Laura Brown & Sponsored By Secret | Alison Buck/GettyImages

When a special occasion comes along, giving a gift to your loved one is a token of love or appreciation. A private dining experience is a unique way to give them a treat. From the menu to the ambience, you can celebrate your event surrounded by people you adore.

The beauty of a private dinner

Private dining is unique compared to getting to the restaurant and having a table. The experience entails a touch of intimacy where you and other guests can wine, dine and relax. You can even make requests to the chef about what you want to see on the menu. Ask for a certain cultural cuisine or specify the dish you want to celebrate the occasion with.

Plus, experiential presents are just on a whole other level. It adheres to both the gift-giving language and quality time. A study finds they can also strengthen relationships better than material ones, especially when you’re there to make memories with them.

It is possible to go to 24-hour fast-food restaurants to bond with people you love. However, the appeal of those establishments often lies more in being available for sudden and late-night cravings. Private dinners are a great upgrade for special occasions like birthdays and holidays that only happen once a year.

Occasions for private dining

You can book a private dining experience any day to make it more memorable. However, there are special occasions where it makes sense to have this exclusive party.

1. Birthdays

Completing another year of your life is always a joy, especially for the people you love. You can easily find birthday freebies from your favorite food places. At the end of the day, invite friends and family to a special birthday dinner where your favorite dishes are the menu's star. You can even request a cocktail named after you.

If you’re organizing a private birthday dinner for someone in your life, try to think about how lively or intimate they want it to be. You can always have a small group at a round table if they feel more comfortable.

2. Date Night

There are very few things more romantic than a candlelit dinner. Private dining can make your partner swoon, and it’s a quaint way to celebrate milestones. Some couples last for years, but others don’t even make it past two years or so. Book the experience for date night.

You can share a bottle of wine and reflect on the time you have spent together. A private dining experience also orchestrates the perfect time to pop the question. Hide the ring and bring it out during your intimate and romantic meal.

3. Bridal Showers

If date night goes according to plan and you’re engaged, consider booking another private dinner for the bridal shower. It’s a momentous occasion for the bride-to-be to celebrate her coming marriage. What better way than to bond with her girlfriends over food?

The groom shower is also an excellent opportunity to hold an exclusive dining experience. After all, it’s also a big step for men to settle down— a toast and hearty dinner is great to commemorate it.

4. Wedding Rehearsals

Wedding rehearsals are great for close families to get together before the actual ceremony and reception. Prepare a selection of appetizers and watch everyone mingle. Rehearsals can also remind people of the steps of your special day and lessen jitters.

Some people’s wedding rehearsals may include relatives and best friends, while others limit it to just the parents and siblings. As a general rule, finalize your headcount 72 hours before the private dining event.

5. Holiday Parties

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s dinners always involve a mountain of food, especially when there are so many people coming over. It’s stressful to prepare the whole table on your own. Luckily, private dining means having a professional cook for the entire table.

Get a luxurious feast ready when the guests arrive. You can still manage table decor to keep the holiday spirits up. And most of all, freeing up the task of waltzing back and forth in the kitchen means more time to enjoy your loved ones’ company.

6. Work Milestones

Work milestones are always proud to celebrate, especially when you’ve been with a company for a long time. You would know the colleagues like the back of your hand. Celebrate the occasion with them in a private dining area.

The food will taste even better if you honor achievements like completing a big project or getting a work promotion. Enjoy the meals and reflect on your career.

7. Client Signings

Every employee wants to impress their client, especially since they represent their company. A private dining experience can showcase gratitude and enthusiasm for the future partnership you will have with another.

Food allergies can make the signing a little awkward, and the worst-case scenario is they’ll back out. Remember to ask your clients what food they enjoy and whether they have any dietary restrictions. Vet the menu and make sure they’ll have a blast.

8. Retirement Dinner

Retirement is both exciting and scary. On one hand, you get to say goodbye to your career and say yes to a new chapter of your life. On the other, there’s a lot of uncertainty about the future. The possibilities are endless, which is nothing short of ominous.

Nevertheless, about 74% of retirees are confident about having enough money to live comfortably throughout their retirement, which warrants a celebration. Arrange private dining for close family, friends and colleagues to anticipate what comes next in your life.

Dine in privacy and style

Food brings people together, which is always ideal on important occasions throughout life. Tailor the perfect menu for your special day with a private dining experience. Enjoy the luxurious and intimate celebration.