This time last year, I was brand new to Charleston, still trying to meet people and find my way. One of the first two people I met were Shannon and Lanie who invited me to be a part of their dinner party series, The Pond Society. I was nervous to attend at first but now look forward to getting together with the bunch for some good food and good company. Each month a member hosts the group at their home and everyone brings a dish to share! We sip on our glasses of wine and chat all night long. The conversation ranges from serious topics and current events to lighthearted topics and celebrity gossip. We recently celebrated The Pond Society’s one year anniversary (pictured here!) at The Harbinger!
The Pond Society has not only helped me meet new people but has opened my eyes to how much I love supper clubs, something I had no experience with prior to attending. It’s an easy way to spend quality time with friends in an intimate environment. It’s always on the calendar as opposed to the classic “let’s grab a drink” that never ends up actually happening. While I didn’t start The Pond Society, I plan on hosting our dinner party at my home real soon and wanted to give a few tips for you to try out! I encourage you all to create your own dinner party and get the conversation started!
- Pick your membership – First things first, who do you want to be in your supper club? The best thing about our group is that we’re all creatives who support each other and get along. Carefully consider who you are inviting and how they will all interact with one another.
- Give everyone a task – Before each dinner, a Google Document is sent out to each attendee and we all decide what we will bring. I normally volunteer to buy the wine because I’m no cook, but we’ll assign appetizers, entrees, and dessert.
- Make sure everyone is covered in the food department – As a vegetarian, this is something I appreciate so much. At my very first Pond Society dinner, I instantly noticed everything was vegetarian-friendly! Some of us are gluten-free, vegan, etc. and it’s important to ensure no one goes hungry.
- Kep it low-key – This is all about a fun and relaxed environment! While we do love a nicely set table, there’s no need for it to be too fancy. At our last dinner, we all colored!
- Repeat – And finally, repeat! It’s isn’t a dinner party if you do it just once. Make a commitment to get together the first Sunday of every month or every two weeks. You’ll look forward to it every month like me!
Location: The Harbinger // Photography: Abby Murphy Photo
Sounds like so much fun! Loved this post!
Thanks, Alexandra!!
xo, Hillary