Here are 10 tips to help your party be a huge success and a gif to go with each. Cuz, well, gifs are amazeballs.
1. Pick a theme and a few colors to compliment it then repeat. For example, if you find a bright, pretty blue to use don’t all of the sudden toss a dingy blue into the mix.
2. Write your party schedule down but it should fit on a post-it note. Keeping the schedule light will help the party stay on track. Maybe a welcome and a couple of games is plenty. Choose games that help guests interact together rather than be quiet. Remember, it’s all about connecting.
3. Keep your guest list to a reasonable number. You don’t have to invite everyone and their second cousin twice removed to have a special day.
4. Don’t over ask from your guests. A nice gift can cost $25-35 so asking for other things on top of it is a bit much. Remember, only one person wins that coveted baby shower diaper raffle, so that leaves you with a houseful of people who dished out a whole lot of bling & won nothing and only one happy winner.
5. Greet guests with a drinky-poo and make sure they know you’re so happy they came. A cup of coffee or a mini martini in the hand go a long way to bring comfort to a guest who doesn’t know everyone. Be sure your greeting is genuine.
6. Introduce guests to one another when the opportunities arise. Share with them something they both have in common or tell them about a funny thing that happened to you this week (like your oven dying the morning of the bridal shower or how you picked up an eleven-foot couch in a small pick up truck). Shared laughter and common interests are both great ways to get a friendship started.
7. Create a photo booth. Post your hashtag so everyone knows it. Pull together some props and a fun background. make it easy for guests to use their phones to take pics & share them.
8. Have enough space and seats for your guests. I’ve been invited to gatherings that are hours long with limited space and no room to sit. Unless you’re playing a game of Musical Chairs, make sure there’s enough seating.
9. Make sure the eats line up with the hour. If your party’s at noonish, guests will expect lunch. If it’s at three o’clock, snacks are just fine. I once went to a party with one bag of chips and one liter of Coca Cola for twelve guests to share. Your food spread doesn’t have to be homemade or elaborate, but you do want to be sure there is plenty. Potlucks are often a great way to accommodate a crowd.
10. Be in the hostess zone. To be honest, I’m still working on this one. I hosted my last gathering make-up free. No, I wasn’t being brave. I was being behind. As the host, it’s most important that you have the time and energy to connect with your guest of honor and guests. Get plenty of rest, delegate duties and dishes where possible, and get ready at least an hour before helpers or guests arrive so you too can have fun and not become an after-thought.