This week’s list is Ten Tips for Throwing a Big Party.
I love to throw parties, and while Neal is more of a small dinner party fan, I still remember how to do it up BIG!
1. Have a theme. An off-beat holiday to celebrate, a contest (we had a smallish big party that disguised itself as a cheesecake taste testing. Loads of fun!), costumes all make a Big Party more festive.
2. Make it potluck. That doesn’t get the hostess out of doing any cooking at all, but it sure takes off the pressure. It really helps to ask guests to let you know what they’re bringing. Make them commit!
3. Accommodate different dietary needs. Since I often flaunt my own Tip #2 and fix all the food myself, and as a vegetarian, I think it is gracious to find out about such needs and provide food for different eaters, to the best of my ability.
4. Mix signature drinks. Whether you’re serving beer, wine, cocktails, or mocktails, keep the drink menu simple. Save money and effort. People tend to bring whatever they prefer to drink with them, so that’s not a way that I accommodate my guests.
5. Mix great music. How did we deal with music pre-iPod? In my salad days*, I was married to a musician, so music was never a problem; our parties usually had an on-going jam session. Now, with fewer musicians in my life, I like to mix playlists to suit the mood I want to create. Even better is when a friend with a big music collection will make the playlist!
6. Circulate. Introduce strangers to each other, and use my favorite hostess trick: figure out the intersection between the strangers, share it with them, then leave them to make scintillating conversation. “Oh, Jane, did you know that Carl recently returned from Rome? Carl, Jane was raised in Rome!” And…they are off…and they think it’s the best party ever because they made fantastic conversation! Oh, how I love to hostess.
7. Embrace your space. I have had mobs in tiny apartments. If your guests come with a good attitude, they’ll have a fantastic time, no matter what your space offers.
8. Clean up discreetly. Even better, hire someone to pick up empty plates, take out garbage, to do all the little things that take you away from your guests. High school or college students with restaurant experience are perfect.
9. Encourage dancing. At least one person at every Big Party is a good dancer. Ferret out that person, and get everyone else moving, too!
10. Have fun. If you have fun, your guests will have fun. Set the tone and enjoy the wonderful people sharing your home for the Big Party.
What is your favorite tip for throwing a Big Party? Be sure to check out the other posts via Carole’s blog!
*Neal informed me that most Americans will read “salad days” as meaning “the best years of my life”. I do not, in fact, consider the years of my former marriage the best of my life. Rather, I had Shakespeare’s Cleopatra in mind. Specifically, I used this phrase in reference to the quote “…my salad days/when I was green in judgement, cold in blood”. Apologies for any misunderstandings!
Why is it that after reading your list, all I can see is Audrey Hepburn in her little apartment in Breakfast at Tiffany’s? :^)
And this is reason number 512 why Iove you. I am very intimidate by the party throwing! This was the perfect pre birthday party peptalk I needed!
Most excellent list! Great suggestions, all. (And I’m now thinking that I need a Cheesecake Tasting Party in my life!)
Your list is great! And I always do that introduction trick, too. It really helps people to mingle. I love the idea of a Signature Drink and I’m going to think of one for Dale’s party. We’ll have beer, water, and soft drinks but I like the idea of a Signature Cocktail rather than wine. It’s an old-fashioned carnival theme party, I’ll have to come up with something that fits into that theme.
I haven’t thrown a big party in years, maybe because the tequila tasting part of the party got out of hand. 😉