Yes, you hear that right, your duties begin already before the first people step through your front door. In fact, every step you make in planning your party is a pre-party duty. I think you are doing perfectly well. Now let me give you some more hints and tips on your pre-party duties, before the first guests ring your doorbell. Do you already feel “the perfect host” syndrome because you have about everything in place? Well congratulations, one of your main duties is to have a good time yourself. If you are not enjoying yourself, how can you expect others to do so?
So take it a little easier, get loose, do not worry if you make a little mistake, most of your guests will never notice it, they will notice if you enjoy yourself. They will also notice if you are nervous and stressed. These emotions will be spread a lot faster at the party. As a host, it is your task to “determine” the mood on the party. You are about to find out how your mood affects the party.
Do you need a co-host?
Do not ever hesitate to arrange some assistance, to pull the party-cart together with you. You can ask one co-host or even two or three! This depends on the size of your party and the time you can spent on it.
You wonder whom you should ask. Well that can be your best friend, your husband or wife, your nephew, niece or whomever. You can even ask your mother, though in my case that would be the worst idea ever. Give it a good thought; look for someone who complements your talents. If you are not that familiar with etiquette, than find someone who is. If you are not good with different kind of wines, look for a wine connoisseur.
What you absolutely need to check before the party actually starts is, that you know about your guests before they enter your house. No doubt, that you know those guests who are already your friends. However, you invited also others, whom you not know so well.
As a good host, you should. So try to figure out about their favorite food, drinks, snacks etc. You score even better if you know something about their likes and dislikes at the dinner table. I know that it is very difficult to present a menu that pleases all of your guests. Nevertheless, you can at least try to reckon with all of them. For example if James, one of your guests, hates beef, you can serve a side dish with something he adores and save the beef for the real beefeaters. Alternatively, you work with two main courses, so that your guests can choose. This is of course a little more work, but if you know it in time, the preparation of it will be easy.
Now, picture you have some vegan guests, guests who are vegetarian for 100%, then you should take care of a meatless dish as well, so that those guests leave the table just as satisfied as the meat-eaters.
Creating the perfect guest list is the greatest talent and gift that all great hosts seem to have. The right mix of people is the solid base of any good party.
Now you wonder how I create this perfect guest list. Well, to start with, you have to think of all the aspects of your guests.
I give you an example. Never invite one lone unmarried single if the rest of your guests are coming as married or romancing couples. Always create a steady mix of married and unmarried as well as men and women. One lonely girl on your guest list, surrounded by only men, will probably feel uncomfortable. However, do not plan a “matchmaking” list as well. Little people love to be put in that situation. Besides that, it can be very embarrassing for both you and your guests if the atmosphere on the party lowers to some kind of speed dating atmosphere.
In the perfect party world….
An hour maybe forty-five minutes before the doorbell rings for the first time, you are already standing with the doorknob in your hands. Every professional party planner will tell you that.
Hey wake up, I tell you that only happens in the abstract party world. Reality is different; I guess you are dressed all right, but there are always a few tasks left to do (or even a few more). Now when the first guest rings the bell and you will try to break the ice…… don’t. Let him or her do that for you, fill the ice bucket and maybe even some other small works. This gives two advantages. At first your guest will feel more comfortable and at home already. Second, it relieves you from a couple of little tasks that you had not done so fare. Now this takes me from your pre-host duties to your hosting duties.