Odd that people think of them as somewhere to brag about money. I’ve always thought dinner parties are ideal for when you need to save money, or can’t get out, for whatever reason (i guess kids mostly!).
Still if anyone wants awkward silence at one, how about wife cooking nibbles waiting for her husband to turn up so she can dish out the main, then when he rocks up it is with the unforgettable comment ‘Sorry I’m late I was with the mistress’. Not sure how long the silence lasted after that, but it felt like a very long time.