The party season is fast approaching and while everyone loves the idea of entertaining, it can actually be stressful and tiresome. With some advance planning and clever tricks on the day, you can not only host a great party, but enjoy it yourself!
Think ahead…
- Decide the date that best suits you and your guests.
- Consider the weather - if you are thinking of an outdoor party, will it cause a problem if the weather isn’t ideal? Always have a ‘Plan B’ just in case.
- Set up an online party invitation, i.e. through facebook. This saves you time and money on actual invitations and keeps you on top of who is coming. Send out a reminder a few days before so you don’t have last minute surprises.
- Complete a checklist to determine your requirements and keep an eye on it to make sure you have not missed anything important.
- Buy the things you need in advance and prep as much as you can leaving enough time for the last-minute things, you don’t want to be running around frantically on the day.
- Establish a realistic working budget and stick to it. If you love to host, but money is tight, consider a pot luck where everyone contributes something to the menu. Ensure you monitor who’s bringing what so you don’t end up with 12 Christmas Puddings and no main course.
- Consider a cocktail party, if the idea of a sit-down dinner seems too daunting. There are lovely selections of appetisers and canapes available, or you can always have these catered. Consider hiring a bar tender and waiters for an elegant touch.
- Use all-white dishes - if you don’t have enough, you can borrow some from a friend. They do not need to match but the white will tie everything together.
- Determine what you need to hire as this can take a lot of the pressure off. You can hire everything from dishware and glasses, to tables, chairs, sofas and bars. You can even rent plants and decorations to set the scene.
- If you are having a sit-down dinner, decide on the style of your table setting and seating arrangements and mix the guests up if they don’t know each other for more fun. Make centerpieces in advance.
- Think about the music, this can take some early effort but a few great playlists on the night can make or break a party and take your focus off what to play. Select music to suit the mood and enhance the theme.
- Think about games. A games night is a great way to get friends together for some fun and celebration. This takes the pressure off you to keep everyone entertained and you can join the fun. In this case, a buffet style appetiser or casual dinner spread is a simpler way to go.
- Prepare the food as much in advance as possible and start defrosting a day or two beforehand.
- Plan what you are going to wear in advance and have it ironed and hanging on your door, ready to step into before your guests start arriving.
On the day…
First thing in the morning:
- Receive deliveries such as cakes, rental furniture, dishware, marquee, etc.
- Buy ice. Put it in cool boxes with the drinks about two to three hours beforehand or half an hour before if using open buckets. This frees up space in the fridge for food.
- Sparkle! To make things easy, hire someone to come in and do a thorough clean so you don’t have to. Do not forget the bathrooms and outdoor areas, if your party is spilling out to the garden. Lay out candles, towels and hand soap and ensure there is plenty of tissue.
Set the table. Do this first thing to make sure you have everything you need. Get the kids to help.
Hopefully, you have followed our tips and have left yourself enough time to pamper yourself before the party. Have your hair and nails done and enjoy a cup of tea before you get dressed.
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