A party should be fun, making people get together, and enjoyable. From hosting a birthday, holiday, graduation party, or just a dinner with some friends, needs a knowledge of some etiquettes. A great host is not only stack up food and drinks. Hosting a party is the opportunity to surprise and delight your guess, while sharing things you enjoy. It will happen if you plan and prioritize.

Learn how to be a good party host, so that everyone -and YOU- enjoy your party. Here’s some tips to do and not do while hosting a party.

Do: Having purpose and plan

Having a theme and purpose is not just for fun. It helps you choose easier for the details. Even it is just as simple as “BBQ dinner”, “Spiderman birthday party”, or “Eid/Christmas breakfast”. By determining theme and purpose, you can define the invitation, decorations, menus, guess lists, and budget. Write it down or even make a vision board, so that your party feel more cohesive and memorable. You can use pinterest for the reference.

Do: Make a clear and detailed invitations

Make sure to write the date, time to begin and end, place, RSVP instructions, until the special like theme, dress code, or potluck. A great invitation should tell a story and intrigue people to come. Therefore, spare some time to make it great.

Do: Follow up missing RSVPs, if you invite people

Sometimes people do not bother to reply invitation immediately. However, knowing how many people who will come on the party will less your stress. Make sure to give a clear instruction on your RSVP section. A week before the date, reply a kind message to your missing RSVPs. For example, “I want to make sure you have the invitation”, “I make dessert you want to try”, or “I will miss your jokes at my party”.

Do: Ask about food preferences

Between allergies, food intolerance, religious standard, or specific diets, many people have their food preferences. As a good host you will consider that while planning your menus. Give a specific label on most common allergies, such as nuts, seafood, or gluten. Make it good food label, so it will elevate your decoration.

Do: Connect with your guess

Try to mingle and talk with your guess. Not only some of them, but all of them alternately. Remember, they come for you. At least you spend your time to each of them. Or you can introduce some of your guess to avoid awkward. Try to relax and focus in front of them. Since, they might sense if you get stress or distracted.

Do: Stock fresh towel and soap

By being a host, your guess will use your bathroom. Ensure to clean your bathroom and add a little touch to make your guess more comfortable. Perhaps scented candles, a hand washing soap, or fresh towel. You can change your towel periodically considering how many guesses you have. Add tissue or hand sanitizer in the corner.

Do: Set the mood with lighting and music

The key is to find the balance for lighting and music. Too bright room, people feel on display, but too dark make people uncomfortable. Too loud music will make people shout each other’s. Set music based on your party theme and ambience you want to build.

Do: Build a prep and pre-stress day

If you just a guess, you can jump up one party to another in a row. However, do not do it as you a host. Clear a day before and after you host a party. The bigger party you host, the more days you need to prepare and release your stress. Saving your energy will make you a better party host.

These are what you can skip when you host a party!

Skip: Sending a paper invitation

Actually, it depends on your party. If you make a little party and meet easily with your guess, written invitation is a great touch. However, if you do not have time to make, it is better to skip paper invitation. You can use digital invitation with clear RSVPs sections. It will save your energy and environmentally friendly.

Skip: Making ALL the food from scratch

Some people might want to please others by cooking all the food they served in their party. However, it will stress you out and taking more time. If you want to cook, just one or two dishes. The rest you better buy from your regular store or restaurant. The trick is, take out the food from the container and put in an attractive way. For example, put a snack into a jar or plate with a party theme decoration.

Skip: Apologizing endlessly

Expect disaster on the party. From burning your food, running out of ice, do not have time to deep cleaning, and something like that. Please remember, you do not have to be perfect in hosting party. There must be something happened out of your plan.

Take it easy and stop apologizing to your guess. They might not notice little things. However, by apologizing, you just add a highlight to it. Therefore, take a deep breath on every situation and focus on solution.

Skip: Doing everything yourself

Hosting a party does not mean you should do everything by yourself. You can delegate some tasks to others. If your guess offers to bring a food, accept it. You can give a menu option. If some want to stay late and help you clean up, take it pleasantly. Enjoy extra time with them.

Skip: Deep cleaning every room of the house

Do not try to deep clean all of the room before party. Moreover, doing some repaint or renovate big things. Just focus on the room where people will come, such as living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Paying special attention to floor and countertop, and clearing up the clutter and garbage. Because its where the guest give attention. It is also worth to hire cleaners before and after party since it will reduce your stress level.

Skip: Playing therapist or referee

Sometimes your guess needs more attention. Perhaps they are in the family conflicts, working disagreement, or just melt down. As a good host, you need to care for all the guess not only one or some. Do what you need to do to help them, but you need to go back taking care others. If things getting worst, you can ask them to leave your party. It is your party. You set the tone of it.

Skip: Hosting open-ended party

Knowing the time of ending party is actually comforting because people know what to expect. It is not rude to remain everyone that it is the end of the party. Ending party in the right moment is a good sign of host. It is better than stressing others weather it is ok to leave or not.

Source:

https://www.rd.com/list/host-a-party/