How to entertain at home without the added stress
Entertaining can be an overwhelming task or it can be a piece of cake if you’re the type of person who loves to entertain. For those of you who find this entertaining thing stressful then there is a way to make entertaining look easy and effortless without hiring a planner. Now planners don’t fret, I am only here to give tips to the person who may want to entertain a small group at home. So shall we begin?……….
“Where to start?”, this is typically the question that comes to mind after you have decided to host an event. Hopefully you have thought of what type of event you want to host but if you haven’t then it is best to decide on a theme or maybe certain vibe you are wanting for the event. Day, date, time, location, food, beverages, attire and guest list are crucial to your event so it is very important to be organized. I like to take it back old school when organizing so I pull out the pencil and paper (For some reason my handwriting is better with pencil). I recommend dissecting the event into smaller segments and work on one segment at a time.
The first segment to start with should be the when and where. The where has already been decided because you are hosting at home but let’s discuss the when. The type of event you are hosting will assist with your decision as to when the event will occur. Holidays are pretty much a given when talking about dates but you will have to select the time. Without professional help, it can be difficult to plan an event in such a short time especially if you have other full-time commitments. It is best to give yourself enough time to thoroughly plan so you can execute with minimal error. Having time on your side will also minimize your stress level because you want to be able to enjoy the event that you have made look effortless.
Guest listing should be the next segment to tackle. Many would plan the menu at this point but in my opinion I feel you should plan the menu at the end. I only say this because you want to be thoughtful of others dietary restrictions. If planning an event in a short notice, be prepared that some may be unable to attend. Hopefully your guest will give a response to whether they can or can’t attend. Sometimes the struggle comes when deciding on who to invite and will others get mad if you don’t invite them but you can’t worry about that because some events will require certain guest. For example, game night with coworkers shouldn’t offend family members for not being invited. Of course you should take in consideration others who may always invite you to their hosted events. You should know that every guest you invite will cost you money so it is okay to host a small gather amongst people who are closet in your life.
What’s next? You now have a guest list so it’s time to plan the food & beverage menu accordingly. If you intend to hire a caterer, having a confirmed headcount and guest listing will help the caterer to accurately prepare food for your event which includes any dietary restrictions. Being from Louisiana, I went through a period of not eating gumbo and this was the meal that everyone seemed to prepare. That being said, it may be considerate to provide something else for your guest even if it is a sandwich. So if you are wanting to prepare a particular meal during certain seasons, it is highly considerate to contact invited guest regarding any dietary restrictions. It is acceptable to host an event at home with a BYOB invitation. Non alcoholic beverages and along with mixers should be provided as a courtesy to your guest. We all know how expensive liquor can be so sticking to just wine is a great option. You can serve wine as is or prepare as Sangria as a beverage with alcohol content for your guest if you do not want to host a BYOB.
Décor is something to think about if you want your event to have a certain type of look. You could also keep it simple and use food/ beverage as a decor piece. Presentation is everything and the way your food is presented can make all the difference. I personally keep my decorations to minimal and use the food as design because I don’t want to spend the entire next day cleaning. Will your event have music? If so, are you going to make a mixed CD or will you stream music? Music is something easily forgotten about and something to consider when children are going to be present at the event. I hope some of the information provided will help you plan a effortless home event.
