We’ve all been there – really green at the party thing but we want to impress our friends. So what do we do? (Usually this happens only once before your husband either leaves you or leaves the party because you have become such a beast.) Biting off more than you can chew doesn’t work, trust me. It all usually starts with a pivotal moment – moving into a new house, entertaining as newlyweds for the first time, celebrating something (a birthday, anniversary or other Hallmark moment) and you decide it’s time to entertain. What fun!
Not. You decide that you’re going to design your own invitations, custom order stamps from Stamps.com, hand calligraphy them, etc. Then we move to the actual event. Why buy the Caesar salad dressing when you can make it? Why not toast the croutons too and then maybe even milk the cow to get ready for that parmesan cheese you’ve always wanted to package yourself. You get the picture. You’re in over your head and the fun has left your balloon.
What to do? Keep it simple.
* Pick a focus. If you love to bake, then bake until your heart’s content.
* Keep the bar menu limited (don’t serve 5 kinds of vodka, 3 kinds of rum and 7 kinds of tequila (with and without the worm), just do beer, wine, water, soft drinks and a signature drink or two.
* Get pre-prepared stuff. These days there are so many Dean & Deluca kind of stores all over the country that you can cheat. Get some amazing already made hors d’oeuvres, and even prepared entrees.
* Be a hostess for once. By keeping it simple you’ll actually enjoy your guests. That’s what they want you to do. Be nice to them.
* Get help. Enough can’t be said for getting the housekeeper for a couple of hours before the party to tidy up and wipe out the sinks, fluff the towels and give the vacuum a whirl. Get one for the day after too so you don’t have to deal with stinky, smelly dishes.
* Order flowers, don’t try to grow and arrange them yourself. Seriously, I can’t tell you how many clients swear that they are going to go to the flower market and handle all of the decor. Why would you do that??? Play set decorator, use props from your house for decor, order a few simple arrangements or take your friend up on her offer to pull something together. If you want to get really great bang for your buck, use potted plants or herbs as part of your centerpieces so you can either eat them, plant them or at least enjoy them for a little longer.
* Spend the money. If you’re on a budget, scale back your guest list, not the help. Keep things simpler and bring in the troops to assist you so you can assist your guests.
* Pick your battles and stay focused. Don’t try to do too much. Figure out what you love to do and do it. Then, make plans for the rest, at least until you get your sea legs with this whole entertaining thing.
* Remember to have fun. Life is short. Drink good vodka.
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