How to set up for a birthday dinner
There are a few birthday party dinner set-up tips to keep in mind before your guests arrive. Set up the place settings, including silverware, napkins, glassware, and any table decor. If candles are involved, light those just before the first guest arrives, so as not to burn them down too early. If you're using dinner party background music, start the playlist during set-up. Save the seat at the head of the table for the birthday Guest of Honor. Some dinner party hosts choose to have place cards for assigned seats—these can be as simple as plain white cards folded into a tent shape with the guests' names written on them, and it adds a bit of elegance and extra production value to the birthday dinner party.