Pixabay @SplitShire
Elegant. Delightful. Impressive.
These are adjectives every host/hostess yearns to hear. Hosting the "event of the year" or "epic party" is positive feedback our inner entertainer craves. It's the champagne toast at the end of hard work and preparation.
But we know good parties-- unlike good times-- don't just happen. They take planning and foresight. And perhaps a few Tylenol to strategically bring all the elements together.
Debi Lilly, a corporate event planner, told LoveToKnow "make sure that you aren't going to forget any special details or be stuck the day of the event scrambling around trying to get something completed."
Professional event planners are sticklers for details. It's their special gift. And the touch of charm on which they build their business.
It's understandable that not all of us are gifted with Martha Stewart talents. Heck, we may not even know which fork goes where. And while we at Ice Now may not be in the event PLANNING business, but we are constantly behind the scenes at events and private gatherings. So here are 5 tips we've picked up for impressing even the snobbiest of party guests.
Details.... Details...
- Hire a doorman. If your event is at night, guests may be wearing a coat which obligates you as a host to provide them somewhere to put it. At the very least, ladies will be carrying a clutch or purse. One simple detail is to have an out-of-the way place to put these items. If it's in the budget, have a doorman to greet guests at the door and take any items they won't need. This person could also simply be a friend you enlist. Guests will be even more impressed if they are handed their first drink upon entering the party.
- Place cards. Assigned seating can be a sticky subject if you have that ONE guest who refuses to be told where to sit. Take this into consideration and then proceed. Assign guests together who are like-minded and to keep friends from talking across the table at one another. Make the place cards creative. Here are what other creative hosts have done. As you can see, almost any trinket or decorative object can be transformed into a place marker.
- Mix and match tableware. Do you not have enough matching place settings? Don't worry. The Bohemian table setting is popular and makes what could have been a hiccup in the decor, a planning win. Cheryl Style does this beautifully by mixing patterns, colors, and designs.
- A beautiful desert. The last course of the evening is desert. It's the final memory in the feast and should be an eye-catching centerpiece. Cake, petit fours, cupcakes, or chocolate-covered fruit-- it doesn't matter. It's all about how you display your beautiful treat.
- Sculpted ice cubes. Creative ice cubes are easy and fun. Any craft store sells shaped ice cube molds. Or, some ice companies (not to toot our own horn but yes, we do this) are now able to bring bags of shaped ice. Our offering includes diamonds and (soon) golf balls-- perfect for engagement parties and golf tournaments.
Grace under fireAs a host, just remember that things do get off track sometimes. And not everything goes according to plan. So even if things seem to be falling apart, what guests usually remember is how YOU handled the situation more than any mishap. Never let them see you sweat. Plan B may be even better than the original plan.
And if you stick to some beautiful, well-planned details, your friends WILL remember the little things. And sometimes, little things make all the difference.
