Summer is almost here and there are dozens of reasons why you might be getting ready to host a party – birthdays, 4th of July, graduations, you name it.
But maybe this is your first time hosting a party and want to make sure it’s a success. Don’t worry, we have you covered. Here are 10 tips for hosting your next party.
1. Set The Scene
Setting up your house for the party will determine a lot about the experience people will have. For instance, you may want to use the backyard for your gathering with a beautiful pond fountain for a backdrop.
Or if you’re planning a large potluck to watch the game, you can set up your living room and kitchen to accommodate heating the meals or sitting around the television.
2. Always Have Some Type of Food
What’s one thing people can easily bond over? Food! Everyone loves food so if you’re planning on hosting a party, think about what types of foods you may want to include.
This can be things like little handheld appetizers or a full-on barbecue. Make sure to ask your guests if there are any dietary restrictions such as allergies or lifestyles that may need to be accommodated.
3. Don’t Over-Complicate It
It’s easy to get worked up over hosting a party. You think everything needs to be perfect to prove something to other people. The good news is, the people you’re inviting over are your friends and family.
You don’t have to prove anything to them. Take the pressure off yourself and try not to over-complicate what should be a fun time with people you love.
4. Make It BYOB
The type of party you’re hosting might determine what types of beverages there are. Aside from nonalcoholic sodas, waters, and juices, other adults may want to partake in a glass of wine or a cold beer.
Instead of paying for it all yourself and trying to accommodate everyone, make your party a BYOB (bring your own beverage). That way, people can have exactly the type of thing they want and can share if they decide to bring extra.
5. Ask For Help
While paper plates and plastic cups make for an easy clean-up, they aren’t the most environmentally-friendly option. Instead of leaving all of the cleaning on your shoulders, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
These are people you know and they’ll be more than grateful you’re taking the time to host a party in your home. They won’t say no if you ask them to help with the dishes or tidy up the food stations a bit.
6. Be Safe When Cooking
When they say there are too many cooks in the kitchen, they’re absolutely right. Getting extra help can sometimes mean there isn’t any room to orchestrate the cooking safely.
Don’t be afraid to ask people to step away so there aren’t any accidents when cooking or preparing the meals.
7. Set Expectations Up Front
The word “party” might mean a lot of different things to different people. If you’re hosting a get-together of friends to sit around and chat, let them know it’s going to be a low-key event.
If you want to blast music and get people dressing up for a theme, you might want to consider adding that type of information with their initial invite. This way people can decide for themselves if they want to partake or not.
8. You Don’t Have To Decorate
When you search online for party ideas, you’re probably going to get a laundry list of Pinterest links to inspire you. However, sometimes things you find online for hosting parties can be a little unrealistic.
You don’t have to decorate your home with elaborate decor for people to have a good time. People simply want to hang out together and enjoy one another’s company. It’s as simple as that, and no amount of streamers can take away from that.
9. Be Specific With Your Invites
If you want to have a good time hosting your party, you should know who you’re inviting. You might get carried away by allowing your guests to invite their friends you don’t know.
But the more this happens, the less likely you’ll know what to expect. The people you want to spend this time with are what will make the party a success.
10. Just Have Fun
Finally, and most importantly, allow yourself to have fun. It’s a party after all and just because you’re the host doesn’t mean you have to spend the entire time making sure everything is going flawlessly.
Once people begin to arrive, relieve yourself from some of the stress and just enjoy being around the people you love.
Leave a Reply