Anyone can plan a party, but my goal over the next few weeks is to help you plan one well. To get you ahead of the learning curve, let me begin by offering a few suggestions:
First, keep in mind that you should only throw a party that you feel comfortable giving. If you hate having people in your home and worry that something will break, take advantage of the gorgeous weather and throw an outdoor fall party. An easy suggestion for Halloween night: Place a firepit on your driveway and invite friends over for s’mores and drinks—full party credit, a break for trick-or-treaters, and best of all, no one in your house.
If you prefer a more formal party during the fall, throw an outdoor patio party complete with torches, high-top tables, linens, fresh flowers, and votives. Firepits and outdoor heaters allow you to keep everyone comfortable into the night. Be sure to let your guests know that it’s an outdoor party when you send the invitation so they will dress accordingly.
Remember that the host sets the tone for the party. I can’t tell you how many parties I’ve attended where the host looks exhausted at the start. A tired or stressed host makes everyone feel bad and sets an awful tone.
My advice—give yourself at least one hour off to relax before your party starts. A break from the planning or cooking will refresh you and prepare you for your guests’ arrivals. If your budget permits, consider hiring help to serve and clean up. You’ll have more fun and you won’t be up until the wee hours doing the dishes. If your budget won’t permit, don’t do the dishes by yourself while your guests are there—either let them help or save the clean up for later. It’s a great way to get your stragglers to leave.
