Wondering how party-planning pros make it look so easy? Every good hostess knows a little organization goes a long way!
Can I ask a few quick questions about your party-hosting habits?
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Do you look forward to planning holiday gatherings and celebrating the joys of the season with friends and family and then lose your enthusiasm when you consider the work involved?
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Do you rarely have time to mingle with guests at your parties because you feel trapped in the kitchen?
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Do you wish you could organize like a party-planning pro?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you're in need of a new party-planning strategy. Here are simple organizing tips that will make party planning and hostess duties effortless and ‑- yes ‑- enjoyable.
Begin with the Basics
First things first. Who would you like to invite to your party? Distant relatives? Close friends? Coworkers with whom you'd like to build rapport? The guest list will help determine the tone of the party.
The next step? Make a guest list. Before you start writing down names, I want you to put a number in the upper right-hand corner of the piece of paper. This figure represents the amount of money you can comfortably spend on your gathering. Try to stick to it. You don't want to overspend and feel overwhelmed when those credit card bills start rolling in next month.
Now it's time to determine the type of party you want. Would you like to have a dessert party or a formal sit-down dinner? Perhaps a buffet is ideal given the configuration of your living space. Or consider a potluck party. Then you can ask guests to bring their favorite dishes or help you complete a specific menu ‑- you may end up with a gorgeous feast!
Will your party have a theme? A theme can help you plan, and it can also add to the fun. One year, I asked each guest to bring a traditional dish from the culture of his or her ancestors. As we ate the meal, we reminisced about our families' food traditions and shared fond childhood memories. Such meals are a wonderful (not to mention delicious) way to learn about those you love.
Have you ever hosted a tree-trimming party? It's one of my favorite kinds of holiday gatherings. In exchange for a lovely buffet of food, each guest brings an ornament for your Christmas tree. Then every year when you decorate your tree, those precious mementos will remind you of your special gathering and the friends you hold so dear.
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