Q: I am planning an intimate dinner/house warming next month and I recently connected with an old friend that is single and a little shy. So I was thinking of having assigned seating and breaking up couples. Is this a good idea?
A: Absolutely!! Especially when it comes to entertaining in your home, mixing things up a little always make for great ice breakers and conversation pieces. For example, split husbands and wives or significant others up - they can talk to each other when they get home. Or put someone who may be timid next your a bubbly friend - this will put your shy friend at ease and make them feel more welcome.
This also gives you a great opportunity to be creative with place cards at the table - do something fun that matches your cuisine or color scheme. Here are some fun place cards ideas that I love:
