As a SoCal resident, UCSB’s underwhelming fall weather is expected. However, the leaves are slowly changing colors and the air seems cooler than before. To welcome the new season, here’s a guide to throwing a Pinterest-girl-approved dinner party that’s not only visually pleasing, but also campus and budget friendly.
Invitations
As college students, we don’t have much money to spend on purchasing expensive invitation sets. Instead, make your invitations digitized! Websites like Evite and Canva offer free templates that you can easily send through email or text.
Want to send physical invitations? All students have access to free printing at the Library and their respective Residence Halls with a maximum of $20 in credit (each B&W sheet of paper is 10 cents and each colored sheet is 15 cents). The UCEN also holds SB Printer if you want a more high-quality feel to your creations.
The Menu
Just like the invitations, make your own menus! It’s hard to start from nothing, so look for inspiration on TikTok and Pinterest by using keywords like “dinner party menu” or “handmade menu ideas“.
As for the food itself, take the bus down to Trader Joe’s and Target for your ingredients. Reference our TikTok for inspiration on what to get at Trader Joe’s! To truly get into the fall aesthetic, I recommend cooking some frozen pastas and making your own version of a harvest salad in the lounge kitchens. Cutting up a baguette and adorning it with some seasonal fruit and arugula would most definitely spice up your menu as well.
UCSB also has its very own food bank available to all students. Located on the second floor of UCEN, you can find fresh fruits, vegetables, and other miscellaneous snacks to include in your dinner. Best of all, it’s free with a limit and all you need to do is register before or during your visit.
Decorations
There’s many options you can choose from when deciding on a theme for your dinner party: a French inspired soirée, a Halloween focused event, wine night, or a simple, but cozy picnic.
The inspiration behind my dinner parties lie in my very own Pinterest board, stuffed with pictures of Sandy Liang’s wedding, themed costume nights, and Instagram influencer backyard garden parties.
To get that autumnal vibe, create handmade banners, crayon-drawn table covers, paper crowns, and name cards. If you’re going for a picnic-style dinner party, try thrifting plaid blankets and used dinnerware with unique patterns. Glass and ceramic are great materials to thrift as they’re easier to clean and reuse!
The location
Dinner parties are typically associated with sitting at a table, but it’s a bit more difficult finding tables to set up at on campus. However being a beach campus, UCSB has an abundance of locations perfect for a picnic-style dinner party. Manzanita Beach and Campus Point are great locations if you want to overlook the ocean. The small patch of grass right outside of the residence hall San Nicholas is another great spot that overlooks the lagoon. Want a lagoon view with more space? The large patches of grass near the commencement green is a great option!
If tables are a must for you and your dinner party, try opting for an indoor option in your residence hall lounges. Connect the tables and place a cover over to change the ambience of the room. San Miguel’s eighth floor offers beautiful ocean views without outdoor pests and gusts of wind.
As for the most important step, take time to enjoy your dinner party and take lots of photos for your Pinterest or Instagram! UCSB is littered with small hints of autumn — and your dinner party can be one of them!