Ten Ingredients for Hosting the Perfect Party

Simple Ways to Create the Right Mood for Your Party

When entertaining friends and family, we always plan on hosting the perfect party. However, details like a beautifully set table and centerpiece, although nice, does not turn a good event into a great one. Instead, think about the atmosphere of your party, and how it can make your guests feel comfortable and in the mood to socialize. With the following ten ingredients, you’ll have a recipe for the perfect backdrop to a memorable party.

1. Chemistry - The most important ingredient for a perfect party is the right chemistry among your guests. Are party personalities compatible? Do you want to mix heavy drinkers with non-drinkers. Do your guests share enough interests that they can converse comfortably? Is there enough diversity in interests to encourage good, strong conversations?


2. Soundtrack - Never underestimate the role of music at a party. Music fills gaps in conversation and creates a tempo for the mood of your party. If you’re looking for something more lively , play dance tracks to inspire your guests to get on their feet. If you’re planning a small, cozy get together, select quiet songs that don’t override the conversation. MP3 players make it easy to organize the perfect selection of songs to move the natural flow of your party. Start out with quieter music for the first hour as guests arrive. Follow with bolder, more upbeat tunes. Then when you’re ready for things to wind down, turn to a softer, mellow playlist. Your guests will enjoy the rhythm.


3. Space and Traffic - Before you finalize your guest list, consider the amount of space available for your party. Obviously, too many people will make the party crowded and uncomfortable yet too few can be equally uncomfortable. After deciding on the right number of guests, look at the layout of your rooms. Try to set up your party so that traffic moves freely around the buffet or dining table. Encourage guests to mingle by setting up the bar in one room, the food in a few different rooms, and seating in several areas.


4. Ice Breakers - Some of your guests will find it uncomfortable to mingle with new people. Warm things up with a simple ice breaker game. For example, attach the name of a famous person to the back of each guest as they arrive at your party. Their mission is to go around asking others for clues to their identity. What ensues is pure comedy.


5. Theme - Choosing a theme for your party makes it extra memorable, and your party planning will be easier. Coming up with a theme for your party is a really fun way to get the creative juices flowing - not to mention, build excitement for your guests. Best of all, a theme helps put all the planning pieces into place including the menu, beverages, decorations, and music.


6. Beverages - Whether you decide to serve alcohol or not, your guests expect something to drink the moment they arrive. Serving a colorful mixed drink based on your party’s theme makes the bar feel festive and is a fun way to get people socializing. Don’t have a theme for your party? It’s still easy enough to come up with a name for a drink. Call a fruity, mango drink for a summer party your Summer Mango Madness; or call a winter cocktail topped with a cream liqueur a Fireside Snowcap. The point is, get creative.


7. Food - Perhaps one of the most important elements to every successful party comes down to one thing: food. Most likely, your guests are expecting you to have something to nosh on at your party. And you’re going to want to give them the fuel they need to keep the party energized. But choosing what you serve them might make the difference between an outstanding party and a ho hum affair. If you are providing the food for the party, and it’s not a community pot luck event, find a way to tie the menu together. Make sure your menu reflects the theme of your party. For example, a theme, such as “A Day at the Seashore” provides a framework for a menu filled with seafood and boardwalk- variety of sweets. Another inspiring idea is a “make your own pizza” party. Serve an Italian cheese tray as an appetizer and end the evening with biscotti and espresso for dessert.


8. Colors - Choose one, two, or three colors that complement your theme and use them wherever possible. Flowers and table linens are easy ways to decorate your party with vibrant colors. But don’t limit yourself to the dining area. Think off the table and offer cocktails and food ithat complement your color palette. Look through magazines or lifestyle websites for color ideas. For example, if you’re throwing a tropical island themed party, think about choosing lime, red and yellow color schemes. You can serve food and drinks that belong in the same color family such as strawberry daiquiris; cucumber canapes topped with cream cheese and red peppers; pineapple halves filled with red grapes and chunks of parrano cheese; and green salad with sliced starfruit.


9. Help - You may believe that you can do it all by yourself, but there’s no harm in lining up some assistance. The more help you have, the more time you will have with your guests. For big affairs, think about going all out and hire a caterer to bring the food, serve, and clean up. Also, hire a bartender to mix and serve drinks. Maybe, after all the party planning and organizing, all you want is someone to help you serve and clean up after the party. If you think that you can’t afford hired help, you have options. A neighborhood teenager might jump at the chance to earn a little extra cash by helping you with these tasks. And don’t forget, your best friends will certainly be willing to lend a helping hand if you ask.


10. Entertainment - Want to really give them something to talk about? Do something completely different for your party. Set up a screen outside and show a movie. Call it “Screen on the Green” and invite friends and family to picnic. Are you a sports-crazed fanatic. Tell guests to show up wearing their favorite jersey for the big game. Break out the cards and set up a friendly poker tournament. Or, if you’re the role-playing gamer, organize a murder mystery game. There are tons of ideas out there for party entertainment. You just need one to get the party started.