Choosing to throw a party at your home can be a very exciting and fun project to take on. However, it can also be the cause for some anxiety and extra stress if you’re not usually in the position of host or hostess.
The following guide is going to outline exactly what you need to be doing to guarantee your party is a success and people enjoy themselves. It’s all about being prepared and attending to the details if you want to have a positive experience hosting a party at your home. Don’t be afraid to ask your spouse for help or guests to bring a dish to pass if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Start Planning Early
It’s in your best interest to start planning early and not leave any details to the last minute. Start by getting a date on the calendar and sending out an invitation to guests well in advance. Then create a to-do list of all you want to include and purchase for your party before you begin shopping for anything. This checklist will help to make sure you’re covering all of the important aspects and not forgetting about any major tasks. Start thinking early on about what theme you wish to have and what type of décor and kinds of food you’ll likely want to include as well. The earlier you start planning, the better because this way you’ll feel less rushed and stressed out as the party date approaches and it becomes crunch time.
Take Time to Clean
It’s extremely important that you make time to tidy up if you’re going to host the perfect party at your home. The last situation you want is to run out of time and have guests show up to a messy space. Pay particular attention to cleaning up the area and bathrooms you and your visitors will be using while they’re over. You may even think about hiring a professional cleaning service to help you if you have a lot of square footage to attend to and not a lot of time. It’s okay to lead guests toward the area where you want them to hang out and close doors and turn off lights where you prefer they don’t enter.
Invite the Right People
Your party will be that much more fun when the right people are present in your home. Consider which of your friends get along the best and who you may not have seen in a while when creating the guest list. Having people in your home who are known for starting drama or being unruly will likely set you up to have a disappointing time at your event. You want to include guests who you know are polite, sociable and will make for an enjoyable experience for all. Discuss the guest list with your spouse ahead of time, so you’re both on the same page and only invite people who you both agree upon.
Have A Variety of Food, Drinks & Desserts
Another aspect you want to be sure you execute properly has to do with the food and drinks. It’s a wise idea to have a variety of options depending on personal preference, food allergies, and health habits. For instance, this post from TwoSleevers is an excellent idea for a healthier dessert option for those following the Keto Diet. Also, provide plenty of drink options including non-alcoholic selections for those who choose not to drink. What you’re serving to eat and drink will undoubtedly impact whether or not those invited have a good time at your party.
Greet Your Guests
The worst mistake you can make is to invite everyone over and then disappear once they arrive. It’s crucial you greet your guests as they show up and strive to make them feel welcome into your home right away. Stand by the door and be the one to answer it and say hello until all of your visitors have arrived, then you can go and mingle freely with the others. Have a designated spot to put shoes and coats, so people know where to place them when they enter your house. It’s also a good idea to offer your guests food and drink right away as they arrive and get comfortable in your home.
Include some Entertainment
Remember that at the end of the day you’re hosting a party, and people are coming over to have some fun. You can host the perfect gathering at your home by including some form of entertainment. For instance:
- Play music
- Play games
- Take pictures
- Host a contest
- Have a dance off
- Do karaoke
Have a few ideas prepared and then stick with what you believe will be the most amusing given the group of people you invited. If you notice others aren’t enjoying the activity or it seems boring then stop doing it and move on to another option or put some music on and simply enjoy each other’s company.
Make Your Rounds, Be Friendly & Enjoy Yourself
As the host or hostess, it’s your job to help ensure everyone invited has a pleasant time at your party. Commit to making your rounds and making sure you speak and mingle with everyone who you invited over. People will notice if you only give attention to some guests and not others or if you’re coming off rude and inconsiderate in your own home. Be friendly by introducing people who don’t know each other to one another and getting everyone what they need such as food, drinks and letting them know where the restroom is in your house.
Additionally, don’t forget to relax a bit and enjoy yourself
It is rare we have parties at our house. These are all great tips!
Good information and very useful
Good utilize over the summer parties.. and bbqs