Progressive dinner sign-up
Neighbors volunteer to host one course, and each course closes once two homes have it.
What's inside
Each course takes two host homes and then shows as taken; hosts give their address and seats, and everyone gives their party size.
- 1Your name
- 2How will you join?Host startersHost the main courseHost dessertJoin as a guest
- 3Your addressOnly if “How will you join?” is Host starters, Host the main course, or Host dessert
- 4How many guests can you seat?Only if “How will you join?” is Host starters, Host the main course, or Host dessert
- 5How many in your party?
- 6Food needs we should pass on to the hosts
Planning the route
Send the link three to four weeks before, to the street or the friend group. Hosts need time to plan a menu, and courses go to whoever claims them first.
Two homes per course splits a group of 20 into two tables of 10. Before you set the route, check that the seats the hosts offered cover the party sizes.
Plan about an hour per course and a short walk between houses. Starters at 6, mains at 7:15 and dessert at 8:30 leaves time to walk and say hello.
Pass the food needs to each course's hosts a week ahead, so nobody plans a main around a guest who can't eat it.
Progressive dinner questions
How do I split guests between the two homes?
Mix the groups at every course, so each guest meets new neighbors. Cap each table at the seats its host gave, and send everyone their three addresses in one message. Keep each party together, since a couple or a family signs up as one. Each host sits at their own table for their course, so save their seats there first.
What if nobody signs up to host mains?
Ask directly. Mains take the most work, so suggest two neighbors share one kitchen, or make it a potluck main at the biggest home. The form shows which courses are still open. If a main slot is still free ten days out, offer to cover the meat or the wine for that host, which often turns a maybe into a yes.
Do hosts eat too?
Yes. Hosts eat their own course at home and walk with the group for the others. Count them in the party size like everyone else. Ask each host to prepare the dish before the night starts. That way they can join the other courses and slip home only a few minutes early to warm their course and set the table.
- Dinner party RSVPKnow who is coming, what they don't eat and who brings a guest before you plan the menu.
- Holiday potluck RSVPGuests reply, pick a course and name their dish, so the table plans itself.
- Murder mystery party sign-upGuests claim a character, each one only once, and leave an email for their secret clues.
- Graduation party RSVPCount party guests and ceremony seats in one reply, and collect advice for the graduate.
- Housewarming RSVPKnow who's dropping by and when, who's driving, and who will help hang the pictures.
- Anniversary party RSVPGuests reply with a headcount and a memory of the couple that ends up in the toast.
- Retirement party RSVPColleagues reply, offer a short speech and write a line for the memory book, coming or not.
- Going-away party RSVPFriends reply and leave a way to stay in touch, so the person leaving takes everyone's details along.
- Brunch party RSVPGuests pick their eggs and drink ahead, so you cook once instead of taking orders at the stove.
- Cocktail party RSVPGuests reply, name their plus-one and vote on the signature drink, so the bar matches the crowd.
- Backyard BBQ RSVPEach guest orders off the grill, so you buy the right number of burgers and veggie patties.
- Boat party RSVPThe boat has a fixed number of seats, and the form closes itself once they're taken.
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