If you want to throw the kind of party that everyone will
remember, you need to be the perfect host. Telling people to show up to a BYOB
gathering does not make for good hosting. Letting your guests entertain
themselves will not demonstrate that your parties are the best in town. You
need to have excessive attention to detail and you need to put in the utmost
effort!
There are oodles of things to think about when it comes to
party-hosting such as: your budget, the atmosphere, and (arguably the most
important factor) the food and drink. Here are some quick tips to help you
along in making sure your party is the talk of the town... or at least your
group of friends!
The Right Choice of Drinks
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| Check that lipstick stain out ;) |
Everyone’s tastes are different, so you need to cater to a
broad range of tastes. Having a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks
will help to make sure that you have something for everyone.
Think about buying some decent quality drinks, but shop
around as you might find some bargains. NapaCabs is the place to go to find
some excellent wines.
You may be accommodating for guests who don’t drink or are
driving. Make sure you think about getting in some very tasty soft drinks.
Create a fruity punch for non-alcoholic drinking invitees to enjoy.
A Good Selection Of Food
A buffet is always the best way to please a large group of
people. A good mix of hot and cold, savory and sweet, always works well.
If you can make as many of the dishes from scratch as
possible, do so. Putting that extra effort in makes your guests feel even more
welcome. However, I'm a big fan of ordering in desserts.
Think about having some vegan and gluten-free items and
clearly mark these. Make sure you get plenty of both of these though, in order
to avoid having all of the tasty vegan and gluten-free items being eaten up by
people without specific dietary requirements.
The Best Playlist
Remember, the music that you put on is not for you; it is
for your guests. Unless your friends all have the same specific taste in music
as you, then keep your playlist eclectic. Check out some ready-made lists on
Spotify. Try and include music from a few genres. Keep the songs upbeat. And
set the volume to a level that allows people to talk without needing to shout.
(Your neighbors will also thank you for that!)
Plenty of Entertainment
Be sure to provide games and activities for your guests to
get involved in. My mom would always put cute little brain teasers and puzzles
in the middle of the Thanksgiving table as time fillers while everything was
cooking! Getting everyone playing a game together, like Pictionary or Charades,
is great for entertainment as well as camaraderie.
The Practicalities - Helpful Hints
Think about having plenty of bins, or areas set up for
bottles. Maybe have a bag for recyclables, as they can take up a lot of room in
the garbage. If your guests tidy as they go, or if you subtly keep areas clean,
it will mean less of a job for you in the morning!
Make sure you have somewhere for people to leave jackets and
handbags safely. And be sure to put enough toilet paper in the bathroom.
Having varying levels when displaying foods and/or drinks
can be very pleasing to the eye. Provide different heights on the table, like
higher up displayed treats in the back and table-level hoer d'oeuvres in the
front.
Make sure your beers and white wines are chilled prior to
guest arrival.
Predetermine where folks can out their coats and bags. In the words of Emily from The Devil Wears Prada, "don't jsut fling it anywhere."
Hosting can be a very daunting task, however, it can be very
socially rewarding as well. It's an excellent way of treating all of your
friends and sharing your home with them.
Check out my post on How To Throw a Party on a Budget while you're here!
Do you have any hosting tips and tricks you swear by? Let's
chat about them in the comments below!
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