We LOVE to host parties, but some situations require more thought than just what is going to be on the menu! Here are a few tips that we have found (through much experience of trial and error) that will make your party a success no matter how many guests come knocking at your door!
Theme:
First of all, decide on a theme, no matter what time of year it is! Whether it is a formal dinner party for a certain holiday or just a "get together"anytime of year, a theme always makes life easier as far as planning the menu, decor and atmosphere. For example, when we host "football" parties, the theme is usually casual, paper products and the food is always "tailgate" type of food. Easy! More formal dinners take a little more time to plan but are always started with a THEME!
Try this site for some great ideas~ http://www.party411.com/
Theme:
First of all, decide on a theme, no matter what time of year it is! Whether it is a formal dinner party for a certain holiday or just a "get together"anytime of year, a theme always makes life easier as far as planning the menu, decor and atmosphere. For example, when we host "football" parties, the theme is usually casual, paper products and the food is always "tailgate" type of food. Easy! More formal dinners take a little more time to plan but are always started with a THEME!
Try this site for some great ideas~ http://www.party411.com/
FAVORS:
I know, you are thinking, "Favor's? That's for kids!", but let me tell ya what, it's the little things that count! It says to your guest, "I've been thinking about you and I'm glad you came!" A candy bar with a small note or a little bag of mints is all that is needed but something that goes with the theme and the date on it will make all the difference in the way your guest remembers your party! Make them now, put them in your closet until your party and have them sitting at the door as part of your decorations and then just pass them out as you escort your guests to the door at the end of the night. FABULOUS!
Save the Date:
Next comes a "save the date"! At first, I thought this idea was just redundant. After all they are going to get an invitation anyway! Most people appreciate a heads-up that a party is coming so that they can have that date saved for the coming announcement. I know what you are thinking but it really is worth it. I love the email! You can easily tell people when the party is scheduled for and to be watching for more info as the day gets closer.
Invitations
Again, love the Internet! There are so many easy and cute ways to invite people to your home for a party over the Internet! This may take a little more time to research than just going to the store and buying a prefab invite but the Internet is cheaper (free) and you can custom slide shows with music even without ever having to get out of your jammies ~ I'm not saying a postage stamp invite isn't cute but you don't always have to go to that time and expense for every party you host! Just press send and if the invite doesn't make it to the address instantly, you will know it in your inbox!
I like to use http://www.smilebox.com/ for personal, cute & unique invites!
~ Warning to my family .....don't laugh, roll your eyes, or faint when you read the "follow a recipe"part that I recommend. What? I do!
Menu:
I believe the hardest part about hosting a party for me has been learning that I don't need to serve every single thing I have in my pantry or fridge to serve a successful meal! Just because you are having a party doesn't mean you are having a "CHUCK A RAMA" buffet!
In fact, the best meals served should consist of 1-3 different appetizers, soup or salad, bread, main dish and a veg. and a dessert, two if you prefer to give a choice. And a drink.
The menu should always reflect the time of year you are throwing your party. Fall menus should consist of heartier meals than what you would serve in the spring/summer . A mac or potato salad that you would serve at a barbecue in the summer just doesn't have the same appeal as does a cheesy potato bake or rich flavored soup served in the fall/winter. Think of your wardrobe when planning your meals. If you are wearing light weight clothes, plan your menu on the lighter side of the food groups~salads, raw veggies, fresh fruits etc. The same is true for when you are layering your heavy clothes. Serve heavier meals ~ stews, chili, casseroles, cobblers, etc.
There are a gazillion sites out there to find great recipes but I usually like to go here first~ http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/ ~
Of course, there is always the Betty Crocker cookbook, Lion House cookbooks and all of the other old faithful recipe's that we tend to return to time after time . Why not set a goal to expand your talent's and serve one thing on the menu that is something different? (and I'm speaking to myself as well :0 (I NEVER serve anything for the first time at a party, ...always try it out on your loved ones first~ if they like it then you're OK, they will be honest!)
*Another little ditty I've learned...."there is wisdom in ownership!" In other words, it's not rude or cheap to ask/let your guest bring a menu item if that is the nature of your party. People would much rather feel like they are contributing to the evening than just coming to be entertained and waited upon! Be sure to tell them which course they can help with (salad, dessert, appetizers) and let them enjoy some compliments too!
The Decorations!
MY FAVORITE!
First of all, don't be afraid to move the furniture. Your guests are not coming to admire your decorating skills and don't want to climb over your coffee table. Usually, they don't even see most of your home except the room that the party is in, the kitchen and the guest bathroom. You have invited them over to your home so that you could enjoy THEIR company, so MAKE ROOM! If you have to rearrange the room for the evening (and most of us do) to make room for tables and extra chairs and mingling and such, then clear out your everyday everything the day before your party or at least, the morning of the party, not 1 hour before!!!!(Our kid's rooms have had to act as storage rooms for many a party! )
I love to decorate but I also HATE to clean up! Therefore, I am very careful about how I decorate! I usually buy things that I can use forever, that is , I buy quality, or else I buy things that are cheap enough to just be thrown away, immediately! There is such great pleasure after a party to know just what to do with all the "stuff". Put it back in the box or throw it away~! For the most part, I usually take about 1-3 hours to decorate (depending on the theme) and our parties are cleaned up within 30-40 min tops from the time the last guest closes the door. Try to avoid the "party themed" stores unless you know you will be using that "theme" stuff again. Usually, you just spend a ton of money that gets stored for a few years in the basement, then it is forgotten about , bent, ripped, faded or smashed and then you end up throwing it away, which is what you should have done the day after the party but couldn't bare to since you spent so much time and money at the party store....
A must have for decorating all parties is white tea light candles and crystal candle holders. I buy tea lights in bulk at Big Lots or whenever I see them on sale in bags of 50-100. It's a total rip off to just buy a few at a time unless you are buying colored ones for a one time use like black & orange for Halloween....Tuesday Morning always has deals on beautiful heavy lead crystal tea light candle holders and you can buy them one at a time since they don't all need to match by putting them all around the room! Trust me, you will use them for EVERYTHING! I LOVE them! Crystal candy dishes also make great tea light holders if you fill them with water and float the lights. I NEVER take the lights out of the metal holders whether I put them in water or not, no matter what! This rule makes clean up a cinch!
Another cheap trick is to put candy and mints in small baskets or dishes around the room. It gets people to mix and mingle. There is a calming effect on guests when they know that they are welcome to just "eat at will". There's something about, "feeling right at home" that relaxes even the shy quiet type friends...HOWEVER, I only put out WRAPPED candies for the germ factor, yuck!
Balloons are cute for the kiddo parties but hardly ever necessary for an adult party unless they are used on the mailbox as a guide post. Try to resist putting them in the house....
Flowers that are inexpensive from the grocery store can be made to look incredible in the right vase. Split them up into several vases and put them around the room, close to the lights. It makes the room come alive!
LIGHTS LIGHTS LIGHTS! As a rule, you should turn on every light , lamp and nightlight in the house that will be used or seen by your guests. A dark side room or hallway gives the feeling of "you are not welcome, stay out" so even if you are not using that room for the party, TURN THE LIGHT ON OR SHUT THE DOOR! I understand that this goes against what your father told you growing up but if you are afraid of the meter outside running for a few hours costing you a couple more pennies this month because you have an extra light on, then don't have a party! Parties are suppose to be fun and no one can have fun if they feel confined and constricted and claustrophobic! TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS!
GAMES:
If you want to ruin a party fast and send everyone packing, play a dumb game. We mostly play fun games when we play games at our parties. The dumb games we usually don't like.
Fun Games are fun.
Dumb games are dumb!
Here are some fun games...
Electronic Catch Phrase is the #1 winner for a large crowd forever and for always. We have brought it out at family parties, company parties, vacations across country and vacations out of the country and.... down the street. It's fun!
If you don't have a Catch Phrase, GET ONE!
If you don't have one yet, here are some fun ideas:
I HAVEN'T EVER
Give everyone 10 jellybeans in a paper cup and then take turns going around the circle saying what they haven't done before.
IE: "I've never shaved my legs before." Then anyone in the circle who has shaved their legs before must give that person one bean. Continue around the circle twice and the person with the most beans wins. Fun game and everyone learns new things about everyone else!
BARNYARD ANIMALS
Have everyone write down their favorite barnyard animal, as long as it is NOT the rooster. Next have everyone write down five different numbers between 1-20 (depending on the group size). The host starts calling out numbers between 1-20 randomly (don't use the same number twice), and the people who have that number written on their paper have to make the sound of the animal they wrote on their paper. Pause slightly between numbers. Barnyard animals are not shy, so there should be a lot of loud sounds. After someone has all five numbers called out that they wrote down, they win...BUT...they have to stand up, bend their knees, flap their "wings" and crow like a rooster to receive their prize. Be aware that several may win at the same time.
Here's a bunch more!
http://www.partygamecentral.com/
I know, you are thinking, "Favor's? That's for kids!", but let me tell ya what, it's the little things that count! It says to your guest, "I've been thinking about you and I'm glad you came!" A candy bar with a small note or a little bag of mints is all that is needed but something that goes with the theme and the date on it will make all the difference in the way your guest remembers your party! Make them now, put them in your closet until your party and have them sitting at the door as part of your decorations and then just pass them out as you escort your guests to the door at the end of the night. FABULOUS!
Save the Date:
Next comes a "save the date"! At first, I thought this idea was just redundant. After all they are going to get an invitation anyway! Most people appreciate a heads-up that a party is coming so that they can have that date saved for the coming announcement. I know what you are thinking but it really is worth it. I love the email! You can easily tell people when the party is scheduled for and to be watching for more info as the day gets closer.
Invitations
Again, love the Internet! There are so many easy and cute ways to invite people to your home for a party over the Internet! This may take a little more time to research than just going to the store and buying a prefab invite but the Internet is cheaper (free) and you can custom slide shows with music even without ever having to get out of your jammies ~ I'm not saying a postage stamp invite isn't cute but you don't always have to go to that time and expense for every party you host! Just press send and if the invite doesn't make it to the address instantly, you will know it in your inbox!
I like to use http://www.smilebox.com/ for personal, cute & unique invites!
~ Warning to my family .....don't laugh, roll your eyes, or faint when you read the "follow a recipe"part that I recommend. What? I do!
Menu:
I believe the hardest part about hosting a party for me has been learning that I don't need to serve every single thing I have in my pantry or fridge to serve a successful meal! Just because you are having a party doesn't mean you are having a "CHUCK A RAMA" buffet!
In fact, the best meals served should consist of 1-3 different appetizers, soup or salad, bread, main dish and a veg. and a dessert, two if you prefer to give a choice. And a drink.
The menu should always reflect the time of year you are throwing your party. Fall menus should consist of heartier meals than what you would serve in the spring/summer . A mac or potato salad that you would serve at a barbecue in the summer just doesn't have the same appeal as does a cheesy potato bake or rich flavored soup served in the fall/winter. Think of your wardrobe when planning your meals. If you are wearing light weight clothes, plan your menu on the lighter side of the food groups~salads, raw veggies, fresh fruits etc. The same is true for when you are layering your heavy clothes. Serve heavier meals ~ stews, chili, casseroles, cobblers, etc.
There are a gazillion sites out there to find great recipes but I usually like to go here first~ http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/ ~
Of course, there is always the Betty Crocker cookbook, Lion House cookbooks and all of the other old faithful recipe's that we tend to return to time after time . Why not set a goal to expand your talent's and serve one thing on the menu that is something different? (and I'm speaking to myself as well :0 (I NEVER serve anything for the first time at a party, ...always try it out on your loved ones first~ if they like it then you're OK, they will be honest!)
*Another little ditty I've learned...."there is wisdom in ownership!" In other words, it's not rude or cheap to ask/let your guest bring a menu item if that is the nature of your party. People would much rather feel like they are contributing to the evening than just coming to be entertained and waited upon! Be sure to tell them which course they can help with (salad, dessert, appetizers) and let them enjoy some compliments too!
The Decorations!
MY FAVORITE!
First of all, don't be afraid to move the furniture. Your guests are not coming to admire your decorating skills and don't want to climb over your coffee table. Usually, they don't even see most of your home except the room that the party is in, the kitchen and the guest bathroom. You have invited them over to your home so that you could enjoy THEIR company, so MAKE ROOM! If you have to rearrange the room for the evening (and most of us do) to make room for tables and extra chairs and mingling and such, then clear out your everyday everything the day before your party or at least, the morning of the party, not 1 hour before!!!!(Our kid's rooms have had to act as storage rooms for many a party! )
I love to decorate but I also HATE to clean up! Therefore, I am very careful about how I decorate! I usually buy things that I can use forever, that is , I buy quality, or else I buy things that are cheap enough to just be thrown away, immediately! There is such great pleasure after a party to know just what to do with all the "stuff". Put it back in the box or throw it away~! For the most part, I usually take about 1-3 hours to decorate (depending on the theme) and our parties are cleaned up within 30-40 min tops from the time the last guest closes the door. Try to avoid the "party themed" stores unless you know you will be using that "theme" stuff again. Usually, you just spend a ton of money that gets stored for a few years in the basement, then it is forgotten about , bent, ripped, faded or smashed and then you end up throwing it away, which is what you should have done the day after the party but couldn't bare to since you spent so much time and money at the party store....
A must have for decorating all parties is white tea light candles and crystal candle holders. I buy tea lights in bulk at Big Lots or whenever I see them on sale in bags of 50-100. It's a total rip off to just buy a few at a time unless you are buying colored ones for a one time use like black & orange for Halloween....Tuesday Morning always has deals on beautiful heavy lead crystal tea light candle holders and you can buy them one at a time since they don't all need to match by putting them all around the room! Trust me, you will use them for EVERYTHING! I LOVE them! Crystal candy dishes also make great tea light holders if you fill them with water and float the lights. I NEVER take the lights out of the metal holders whether I put them in water or not, no matter what! This rule makes clean up a cinch!
Another cheap trick is to put candy and mints in small baskets or dishes around the room. It gets people to mix and mingle. There is a calming effect on guests when they know that they are welcome to just "eat at will". There's something about, "feeling right at home" that relaxes even the shy quiet type friends...HOWEVER, I only put out WRAPPED candies for the germ factor, yuck!
Balloons are cute for the kiddo parties but hardly ever necessary for an adult party unless they are used on the mailbox as a guide post. Try to resist putting them in the house....
Flowers that are inexpensive from the grocery store can be made to look incredible in the right vase. Split them up into several vases and put them around the room, close to the lights. It makes the room come alive!
LIGHTS LIGHTS LIGHTS! As a rule, you should turn on every light , lamp and nightlight in the house that will be used or seen by your guests. A dark side room or hallway gives the feeling of "you are not welcome, stay out" so even if you are not using that room for the party, TURN THE LIGHT ON OR SHUT THE DOOR! I understand that this goes against what your father told you growing up but if you are afraid of the meter outside running for a few hours costing you a couple more pennies this month because you have an extra light on, then don't have a party! Parties are suppose to be fun and no one can have fun if they feel confined and constricted and claustrophobic! TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS!
GAMES:
If you want to ruin a party fast and send everyone packing, play a dumb game. We mostly play fun games when we play games at our parties. The dumb games we usually don't like.
Fun Games are fun.
Dumb games are dumb!
Here are some fun games...
Electronic Catch Phrase is the #1 winner for a large crowd forever and for always. We have brought it out at family parties, company parties, vacations across country and vacations out of the country and.... down the street. It's fun!
If you don't have a Catch Phrase, GET ONE!
If you don't have one yet, here are some fun ideas:
I HAVEN'T EVER
Give everyone 10 jellybeans in a paper cup and then take turns going around the circle saying what they haven't done before.
IE: "I've never shaved my legs before." Then anyone in the circle who has shaved their legs before must give that person one bean. Continue around the circle twice and the person with the most beans wins. Fun game and everyone learns new things about everyone else!
BARNYARD ANIMALS
Have everyone write down their favorite barnyard animal, as long as it is NOT the rooster. Next have everyone write down five different numbers between 1-20 (depending on the group size). The host starts calling out numbers between 1-20 randomly (don't use the same number twice), and the people who have that number written on their paper have to make the sound of the animal they wrote on their paper. Pause slightly between numbers. Barnyard animals are not shy, so there should be a lot of loud sounds. After someone has all five numbers called out that they wrote down, they win...BUT...they have to stand up, bend their knees, flap their "wings" and crow like a rooster to receive their prize. Be aware that several may win at the same time.
Here's a bunch more!
http://www.partygamecentral.com/
Hope this help's if your feeling a little quezzy about havin' a party! DO IT, IT'S FUN!
2 comments:
Mom, you are seriously the BEST party thrower i know!!!! you should go into business!! luv u!!
You do throw a good party. And, btw, your hardwoord looks really pretty! Do you like it? Send more pictures so we can see it better!
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