If the allure of pretend tea's tantalizing aroma still beckons, don't toss your host hat out the window just yet. You can savor the experience of hosting a grown-up party with equally boundless enthusiasm. The secret? De-stress for success.
Timing is everything
Don't bite off more than you can chew
Before you make your guest list, ask yourself some tough questions. Do you really have enough space in your house to accommodate your guests? Would it be better to hold the event someplace else? Can you afford all the supplies and food items that you'll need? Do you want to cook for everybody? Are you kitchen-savvy enough to pull this thing off without the help of a caterer?
If any of your answers give you pause, consider alternatives. Holding an event outside the confines of your home or backyard doesn't mean that you have to rent the main ballroom at a fancy hotel. For example, with a little advance notice, many parks, museums and restaurants offer use of their facilities for a nominal fee. Sometimes you can hold a party at such a facility for free.
Not your mother's potluck
Limit labor
The most important step toward party nirvana? Craft a guest list that only includes people with whom you enjoy spending time-fun people who are going to laugh along with you and make the best of the day, even if the birthday cake collapses.
If the presence of a particular individual brings you nothing but aggravation, don't invite said person to your get-together. Whenever possible, avoid including people who are particularly negative, intrusive or critical. If Great Aunt Susie can't sit through your daughter's birthday party without needing "something stronger than this punch," being rude to other guests or complaining loudly about every item that you're serving, you don't need to have her at your party. Instead, meet her for lunch at a nice restaurant. People there are paid to handle difficult customers, and you don't have to cook.
Mix and match
Protect your time and sanity. Become a realistic, stress-free host. Both you and your guests will conclude each fete with smiles on your faces!
Your guest list is a key component of your party. Take a second look at it before sending off your invitations. Be sure that invitees will enjoy one another's company by including people of somewhat similar ages, interests and backgrounds. Rather than creating potential party poison by throwing the wrong people together, consider having two smaller, more intimate gatherings. For a child's birthday party, it may be appropriate to have a low-key family gathering, including older relatives-this event could be as simple as a lunch or dinner with balloons and cake. Then have a separate afternoon party for your child's friends and their parents-this event might include games, music and the uproarious behavior of three-year-olds.
We all want to be gracious, unselfish hosts. But you are allowed to throw a party that's going to be as enjoyable for you as it is for your guests.Let's say you're a great cook, and you enjoy making all of the food for events yourself. Save your sanity: Pick three to five menu items that you will create from scratch. Beyond that, purchase what you will need. If you're already making homemade baked chicken, homemade potato salad and a birthday cake from scratch, purchase the coleslaw, salad dressing and veggie dip. Buy premade crudités instead of spending an hour slicing vegetables. With the high-quality gourmet products available in even the most mundane grocery stores these days, you really can substitute a few store-bought items without sacrificing the overall good taste of your event's cuisine.
If cooking isn't your strong suit, consider a potluck. Unless the affair you're planning requires a really formal feel, potlucks can be great fun for guests and hosts alike. Consider a themed potluck (i.e., international fare), to give the event a more modern twist. One of our oldest adages should be strictly heeded when you're planning any event. Take a good look at that calendar. Never plan to host an event during a time period that is unusually busy for you. You may tell yourself that you can squeeze in a party scheduled on the weekend before your big presentation at the annual sales meeting. If you take a moment to be honest with yourself, you will realize that either your work or your party will ultimately suffer if you choose to host at an inopportune time.
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Keeping things casual and planning ahead of time will make it easy for you to host a party. A thoughtful menu and guest list will make hosting a party run smoothly. |
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You as the holiday party host always want to make sure your guests are happy and satisfied at your party. But it's not easy task to host a party alone and accomplish this. In fact it can be overwhelming. |
