- Take a deep breath, then make a list. Keep the list(s) in a notebook and keep the notebook in the same place so you can easily find it. I keep lists of menus, grocery items, “to do” items and I check off items as soon as they are completed.
- Expect the unexpected. There will be spills, so don’t serve red wine or other colorful beverages because they are difficult to clean up. A guest will break a glass sometime during the evening. Have a dust buster or small broom and dustpan handy to clean away the mess and get on with the festivities as soon as possible. There will be guests with special diet, so include nut-free, gluten-free and vegetarian foods on your menu. Make sure you have plenty of batteries, light bulbs,
- Think about clean-up. Get as much trash in the last weekly garbage pick-up before the party so that your outside trashcans will be as empty as possible the day of the party. If it’s a large party, ask your neighbor if you can put some of the overflow trash in their trashcan and then invite them to your party as a courtesy. Have plenty of plastic wrap and storage bags for leftovers and trashbags. Clean out your refrigerator, freezer and pantry before you begin the party preparations so you will have plenty of room to store party food. Place coolers with ice outside with extra wine/champagne/beer/sodas for refilling the bar, to free up refrigerator space.
- Hire a bartender if possible. This will allow you to circulate with your guests instead of being tied up behind the bar. Make sure you have plenty of ice. Place open bottles of white wine/rosé wine/champagne in large ice buckets in areas where guests congregate so they can refill their own glasses.
- Be prepared for hostess gifts. Have an empty vase or two for gifts of flowers and have a place on the food table to put a plate of brownies or a cheeseball that your guests bring to your home that evening.
- Use nice quality plastic cocktail plates and festive plastic cups unless you have staff to pick up glassware and china. I like to use glass champagne flutes for a toast on these special occasions.
- Plan music for the evening. I find jazz and big band are perfect background music selections.
- Clean whatever you can ahead of time. Clean the guest bathroom the night before and make it off limits to family until party time. Shine silver and wrap with plastic wrap or silver bags to keep shiny.
- Sequester your pets comfortably in a bedroom with a note on the outside of the closed door “Please do not open, pets inside.” No host wants a “Tiger the dog chases Fluffy the cat through the wedding reception Brady Bunch espisode” during their party.
- Plan what you are going to wear (and it might be a good idea to find out what your partner/spouse is going to wear). This way you can avoid doing last minute ironing or looking for an outfit when you are busy with last minute party preparations.
2 Responses
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