Dinner-party math is not real math. It’s the more glamorous cousin: imprecise, intuitive, and based on the quiet understanding that most social rituals improve when standards are high and expectations are low.
Begin with the constant: three candles for every six guests. Not because anyone needs that much illumination, but because the flicker softens the room, the people, and the opinions that inevitably arrive before the appetizers. The first hint of chill in the air makes the candlelight glow warmer. It smooths skin, lowers defenses, and makes the table look more competent than the host feels.
