Washington ( CNN ) -- The state dinner is Washington 's top fete . And over the years , the Obama administration has weathered the party crashing Salahis â€ ” an incident which launched congressional scrutiny of White House security -- and a dinner-canceling snub from the Brazilian President last year after learning the United States was spying on her government . This White House has preferred to pare the pageantry in favor of quieter dinners with other world leaders . After all , state affairs , like the one set for Tuesday night for French President Francois Hollande , are glitzy and require huge guest lists and stodgier protocols . In fact , the Obamas have hosted just six state dinners , which is about the same number as George W. Bush . Bill Clinton and George H.W . Bush threw more than 20 , and Ronald Reagan hosted 35 . Nonetheless , the state dinner , a tradition formalized under Ulysses S. Grant , is still a highly coveted social soiree . Here 's the scoop : . Getting the details right : The White House social secretaries , State Department chief of protocol , first lady 's office and others all work together to ensure that everything from culturally appropriate menus are prepared and customs honored . During the Obama 's first state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh guests ate red lentil soup with fresh cheese and a choice of entrees -- roasted potato dumplings with tomato chutney , chick peas and okra for vegetarians , or green curry prawns , among other items . Tables were adorned with magnolia branches -- from species native to both India and the United States . Of course , this is also the party that Michaele and Tareq Salahi managed to attend without an invitation , so sometimes details slip through the cracks . The attire : State dinners are black tie affairs complete with tuxedos and designer gowns . New York-based designer Naeem Khan created a one of a kind strapless gold and silver gown which first lady Michelle Obama donned during the administration 's first state dinner . For her first state dinner former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy wore `` wore a Grecian-style gown of pale yellow silk organza touched with brilliants , '' according to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum . Not all of the attendees are fans of formal attire . Nikita Khrushchev , then-leader of the former Soviet Union , famously refused to wear tie and tails to the state dinner thrown in his honor by President Dwight Eisenhower . `` My husband would just as soon dress that way , too , if I 'd let him , '' Mamie Eisenhower reportedly said . The setting : Well , the State Dining Room at the White House , of course . Tables are adorned with fine linen , china from presidencies past are often used , and the room is lit by gilded candelabras and chandeliers . Often , as in tonight 's fete , dinners are hosted in a large white tent on the South Lawn of the White House . The event is sort of the wonk world 's red carpet event and guests stream past a sea of cameras . The movie , `` The Butler , '' a loosely factual account of the life Eugene Allen , a butler at the White House for 34 years and through eight administrations , shows Allen and his wife attending a state dinner hosted by the Reagans for West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl . Scoring an invite : If you have to ask , you 're probably not on the list . The list is culled from recommendations from the President and first lady , top government officials , the Pentagon , members of Congress , the Supreme Court , and the State Department . Hollywood stars and community and business leaders are also often asked to attend . According to the White House website on state dinners , `` Behind the festive exterior of the social scene , the important business of government goes on -- information is gathered -- opinions exchanged -- powerful connections made and appearances upheld . For these reasons White House invitations are the most important and the most sought after in the nation 's social whirl . '' A seat at the table : In the 1960s , Mrs. Kennedy dispensed with the long banquet tables of her predecessors in favor of round tables designed to give all guests an equal opportunity to rub elbows . It is a tradition that subsequent administrations have kept . The music : During the Obama administration state dinner guests have enjoyed music from such artists as BeyoncÃ© , Rodrigo y Gabriela , John Legend and British folk-rockers Mumford & Sons . On Tuesday night , Mary J. Blige will entertain .
White House state dinners have a storied history . The fetes are often an opportunity to discuss foreign relations . State dinners are highly coveted events full of entertainment and pageantry . Recent presidents have held fewer dinners than their predecessors .