Looking to throw a party your guests will talk about? Overwhelmed with where to start? Entertaining your friends and family does not need to be stressful. Planning is absolutely the number one way to make your life easier when entertaining. Take the time to think through the major details before sending those invites out! Working through the logistics early on will make it easier to plan the fun stuff later. Put together a rock-solid plan, and you’ll look like a rockstar!
What to consider when you start planning?
Who’s coming? Really think about your guest list. Is this just close friends or family, or are you inviting your boss and co-workers too? Make sure you consider personalities and make sure all your guests will mingle well.
Be clear with your invites so guests know what they are showing up for. If this is an adult-only get-together, state that so your guests can plan for babysitters.
Where and when? Now that you have an idea of who you want to include, you will need to figure out the best time to get together. You may need to think about weather, times, etc., to ensure you can host the type of event you want.
Theme? What type of party are you looking to host? This may be determined for you by your guest list and when you are hosting your event, for example, looking to host a BBQ? You’ll need to plan it when that sun is shining! There are so many themes you can consider, and so many are super fun, but keep it as simple as possible. Otherwise, you’ll get overwhelmed by all the little details. Remember, you want to have fun at the party too! I’ll do separate posts on theme ideas – trust me, I have a million. For now, here are some things to consider….
- Space. What works for your home? If you plan a seated dinner, do you have enough room for your guest list? Are trays of appetizers and charcuterie scattered around a better option? If you have planned an
outdoor event and the weather turns, can you accommodate everyone inside? - Reality. This can be a tough one. It’s so easy to get sucked into planning the perfect party with the perfect theme, but you need to make sure that you think about how much time and money you’re going to
be spending. If you try and do too much, you might be disappointed by the outcome. - Budget. I mentioned this above, but it’s worth mentioning again. Your budget is a key factor to consider when planning your party. The good news is that you can always find ways to make ideas less
complicated and expensive. I promise your guests will appreciate and enjoy any effort you put into your event.
What to Serve. Your guest list, theme and budget will lead the charge in helping you decide what’s on the menu. A few things to keep in mind.
- This is not the time to try out new recipes! Stick with what you know and love, it’s less stressful, and you know your guests will enjoy it.
- Determine how much food you will need. Is this a buffet, a sit-down dinner or more of a casual get-together with snacks? Create an ingredient/shopping list for later.
- Plan your drink menu to complement your food menu. Please keep it simple, water and non-alcoholic options, along with beer and wine. If you want a specialty cocktail, pick one you can make ahead or by the pitcher. You don’t want to spend the whole party bartending. You can also consider a DIY drink station where guests can mix their own cocktails.
Party Prep. Think about what you can do in advance to make your life easier leading up to your big event. Things like cleaning the house in advance, prepping and making what food you can ahead of time, setting the table, staging your party area, decorating, shopping, etc., will free up your time on the day of the party and relieve a lot of last-minute stress.
I could go on and on with tips on how to entertain, but honestly, these are the basics of what you need to get started. If I can give one piece of advice, it would be simply having fun. Your guests will appreciate all your efforts and will follow your lead. So, when party day rolls around and your guests arrive, that’s your cue to relax and enjoy your friends and family.
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