Party Invitations

An informal party calls for little more that a quick telephone call or a casual mention on your next encounter.

More formal occasions - weddings, engagements and christening for example , will always call for a letter or invitation card. You can make these yourself if you have the time and creativity; your guests will be pleased with your extra thoughtfulness and find it an invitation hard to refuse. Make sure you specify all the vital information: date, time, address, type or party, attire (formal, informal, fancy dress or 'come as your are'), telephone number, reply address and an RSVP date. If you're holding the party at an unusual venue that may be unfamiliar to the guests, it's always wise to include a map or directions. Try to issue mailed and telephone invitations on the same day.

The Right Mix of People

The blend of people that determines the life of the party.

What makes come parties buzz with excitement and fun while others tend to fizz out in unfulfilled expectation? Mostly, it's the blend of people that determines the life of the party. Too many talkers and not enough listeners can result in a loud and obnoxious group who are continually fighting for center stage, while a thoughtful bunch of philosophers will most likely spend the night mumbling into their beards! Mix interests, lifestyles and age groups till you have a marvelous medley from all walks of life-then watch the conversation crackle!

If you're an inexperienced host, do yourself a favor and avoid a large gathering; invite only those friends and family you feel comfortable with. If disaster does strike, at least with a team of friendly faces around you, you will be able to grin and bear it!

Children

Always be prepared for entertaining children. They usually don't want to be part of the adults' party so try to give them something amusing to do on their own. Videos and popcorn can be very useful.

If you have children of your own, ask friends to bring theirs along-- this way you won't have to worry about your brood getting bored and your guests will save on babysitting costs. Babies should be in a convenient bedroom away from the noise but near the parents, who'll probably spend all night popping in and out to check on them.

Neighbors

People and parties inevitably mean noise --- sometimes more noise than you had anticipated! Show your neighbors some consideration by observing noise pollution curfews if they apply in your neighborhood. Ask rowdy guests to move inside the house where more noise can be absorbed; issue guests with parking suggestions if street parking is a problem, and make sure they don't encroach on your neighbors property. The best neighbor-taming method is to invite your immediate neighbors to join in - they may decline the invitation but appreciate it anyway.

Consider A Theme

Consider special effects for both formal and casual occasions; you can go all the way and ask your guests to dress up appropriately, or simply use the theme as a way of linking food, music, lighting and venue. Possible themes might be Sixties, gangster, Western, jazz, any nationality, color, buffet, formal, beach, or picnic. If holding a costume party, make sure you give your guests plenty of time to invent their costumes. Remember, a theme gives people something to focus on; it can make planning easier for you and the party much more unusual and exciting for your guests.

Menu Planning 

There's no need to spend hours in the kitchen in order to provide spectacular party fare: all you need is the fight mix of food and little care in its presentation. Visualize the food an drink you intend to serve as a painting-look for balance and harmony in color, taste and texture. Choose exciting and different ways to garnish plates and serving dishes as this can make all the difference to the 'eye appeal of the food, no matter how tasty it is.

You main guidelines for menu planning should be based on the occasion itself; what's good fare for one party may be inappropriate for another. Never experiment with new dishes on the day or night of the party, always stick with tried and true successes or have a test run a week before. Combine interesting flavors and color; and watch for too much soft or too much hard food served together.

Plan Ahead

Do try make things easy for yourself by doing as much preparation ahead of time as possible. All-important mood setters like lighting and music should be thought about well in advance, leaving no room for last minute panic. Decorations such as flowers can be arranged the day before. Easy-to-prepare-and-serve foods will leave the host more relaxed and able to enjoy the occasion just as much as the guests. Many dishes can be frozen successfully, leaving only garnishes to be added. The better the planning, the greater your enjoyment will be.