Hosting Hotline: How to throw a chic Nancy Meyers-inspired dinner party

The aesthetic? Quiet luxury. The vibes? Cozy. The meal? Mouthwatering.

Jul 24, 2025

A collage style image showing stills from Nancy Meyers movies alongside dinner party hosting accessories and decor.

One of the many joys of working at a party company is, without a doubt, brainstorming party ideas way more than I ever have before. Dreaming up themes. Putting together guest lists. Whipping up cocktail recipes. (And finding the perfect invite, obvi.) It’s just another day at the office.

Often, a day’s inspiration is found in the form of requests from followers on social. Like this one, from @rachfosterr:

Looking for Inso for a Nancy Meyers inspired dinner party, would love to see any ideas that you have for that!

Do I have any ideas for a Nancy Meyers dinner party? I thought you’d never ask 😊

The setting

A photograph of a window with light streaming in and books at its base, placed against a blue striped linen fabric background

Though Nancy Meyers movies take place across various different seasons, there is one thing they often share: beautiful natural light beaming in through giant windows. If you’re hosting a Nancy Meyers dinner party, consider hosting at golden hour—just before sunset—when a warm glow fills the space. (As a bonus, all your photos will look extra gorgeous.)

The decor

A collage style image showcasing decor for a Nancy Meyers themed dinner party

Cozy, coastal, and elegant. A Nancy Meyers set is deceptively simple, yet stylish, so no need to overthink it or go maximalist for this one.

Decorate your table with bowls of fresh fruit and taper candles, lit just as the sun begins to go down for maximum effect.
Focus on textures over colors, and natural fabrics for your table setting, like a cotton tablecloth and gingham napkins.
Instead of flowers, opt for potted plants as decor to bring touches of green to the space.
If you’re feeling extra creative, try using fruits or veggies as your place cards. Can guarantee from experience that your guests will love the attention to detail.

The menu

A collage style image showing a charcuterie board, a leafy green salad being plated, and soft blue flowers

Kick things off with a delectable and gorgeous charcuterie board. You really can’t go wrong here—pick your favorite cheese, meats, and charcuterie accoutrement (say that 5 times fast) for a spread that feels as personal as it is delicious.

Next, make a big, leafy green salad as your starter. For your dressing, take a page out of the novel Heartburn by writer/director Nora Ephron (a Nancy Meyers predecessor and influence) and make “The Perfect Vinaigrette”:

“Mix 2 tablespoons Grey Poupon mustard with 2 tablespoons good red wine vinegar. Then, whisking constantly with a fork, slowly add 6 tablespoons olive oil, until the vinaigrette is thick and creamy; this makes a very strong vinaigrette that’s perfect for salad greens like arugula and watercress and endive.”

I’ve made this dressing before and not only is it super easy to make, it’s also a surefire crowdpleaser and goes well with pretty much any mix of in-season vegetables and greens.

For your entree, make a delicious roast chicken. (The bigger, the better.) Keep it warm in the oven and wait to carve it until it’s time to serve.

Drink-wise, make sure you have plenty of wine on hand. Red, white, rosé, orange—it’s all on the table. Or at least, it will be.

For dessert? Keep it simple with peanut butter and Oreos, inspired by The Parent Trap. Or, if you’re feeling a little extra, make some Oreo peanut butter milkshakes or homemade ice cream.

After you’ve finished eating, settle in for a viewing of the Nancy Meyers movie of your choice.

The dress code

A still of Diane Keaton in Something's Gotta Give, next to a dress code mood board showing neutral, Nancy Meyers inspired clothing

Seeing that Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give is the literal origin of the coastal grandma fashion aesthetic, it’s only right that guests dress in their most timeless and chic lewks. Think soft fabrics like linen and cashmere in hues of cream, blue, and black, and button-ups and turtlenecks with perfectly tailored slacks. It’s gonna get classy up in there!

The party favors

A cutout photo of herbs in a paper bag with a cute ribbon around it. The cutout is set atop a blue fabric background.

Send everyone off with their own mini herb garden kit so they can start planting the Nancy Meyers’ aesthetic in their own homes.

Now, that’s what I call a PARTY! With that, I’ll bid you adieu to go watch The Holiday for the 49th time. Call it Christmas in July.

Peace, love, and Nancy Meyers,

The Vibe Curator

☎️ The Imperfect Host’s Hosting Hotline is officially open! Got a party idea, but don’t know exactly how to pull it off? Drop a comment on our Substack or on any of our social pages (here’s our Instagram and TikTok, btw), and we might pick your party for our next Hosting Hotline column!