How to Be the Most Entertaining Party Host
These practical party planning tips will help you keep your gathering relaxed, stress-free, and fun if you are hosting a party or any sort of casual get-together. There’s no need to have a nervous breakdown when you host a party at home. You can do many things, such as playing a game of Texas Holdem, watching a movie, listening to music, or all of the above. Also, remember to keep the kitchen clean; it is always the hangout hotspot no matter the kind of party you’re hosting.
Give yourself more time than you need
When we get a little ambitious, the laws of physics can seem to be defied. Think of how much you can accomplish in 20 minutes that would typically take an hour. The plan will not work no matter how well you put it together. It is essential to give yourself a little breathing room when you are hosting an event, so if you think it will take an hour, give yourself an hour and fifteen minutes; you will thank yourself later.
Have a good bottle opener around
Your carpet and your time will both benefit from having a good bottle opener. So much wine has been spilled by hosts and guests as they have tried to pry them open. Have a couple to hand, with different abilities such as opening beers and wine bottles. In addition, keep bins or rubbish bags around for easy cleaning throughout the night.
Use a cooking method
Hosting and doing everything on one’s plate can be stressful for hosts and those trying to be heroes. It is a given that your guests will show up when you have completed getting ready and ruined the food you have been dying to try for the first time, as you have no idea how much time has elapsed. Planning an event involves following two rules you will not break:
1) Not adding any new dishes
2) Prepare three cooked dishes ahead and three that are assembled only.
As a result, prepare salads, cheese boards, and desserts the day before to counterbalance each main course. Therefore, you can focus on organizing one main centerpiece, which requires some extra time and effort. There will be no hassle with the easy-to-assemble items available from the fridge.
Set the rules of the home
Are you not allowed to keep shoes on in your house? Be sure to let people know! People who wear heels in public may experience resentment if they have to remove them, but it won’t be an issue with enough warning. If you want people to leave before a particular time, you can also include an end time in an invitation. For example, when a birthday or dinner party concludes with dessert, it is natural, or a viewing party ends with the end of the movie or program. Dinner parties should start 30 minutes before the actual time of the party. If many people are attending, leave up to an hour.
Use good lighting and scents
Get those delicious smells going to encourage everyone to eat by lighting candles, slicing citrus for cocktails, and toasting crostini. In addition, lower the lights a couple of degrees lower than you think is appropriate and use tea candles as a substitute. There is nothing more pleasing than candlelight, and your single friends will appreciate it.
Invite close friends a little earlier
Make sure you invite a few friends over a little earlier so they can help you decant wine, mix cocktails, and otherwise set up the room for guests before the rest of your party arrives. Additionally, having your friends around will help you de-stress and make it less awkward when that random “plus one” shows up just when you need it.
Play some music
Fill those awkward pauses with your favorite moderately energetic music to avoid awkward silences. For us, indie rock or instrumentals are excellent choices, but whatever your preference is fine!
Ask for help
No offense intended, but I constantly say “I’m fine!” in response to offers of assistance. That’s what the host means when they reject an offer: Don’t do it! Thank the generous soul who offered their help. If you need help preparing the cheese board, lighting candles, or doing dishes, they can do those last-minute details while you concentrate on those essential things.
Cleaning up the mess
Congratulations! You pulled it off! What a great evening. The candles have been blown out, and shoes have been removed. You are about to get into the tub when you notice the dishes piled up on the counter. After the party, find someone to help you with the dishes. Having to complete a series of tedious tasks should not diminish the feeling of relief following the last person’s departure. After a night of fun with friends, load the dishwasher, listen to some music, and then make yourself comfortable in bed.
Be yourself
The responsibility of being a host is to make sure everyone who enters your home has a great experience. If it’s this kind of party, you must ensure that everyone is well-fed, well-hydrated, and generally enjoying themselves. Keep the energy flowing the whole night by introducing everyone, keep the conversation light and moving along, and maintain the energy throughout. Enjoy the night and remember to breathe. Party planning can be so engrossing that we forget actually to enjoy ourselves at the event. Taking the time to appreciate an evening with friends while enjoying delicious food and drinks is vital.