Throwing a party in your home

[Anonymous]

Any tips? Advice? Things you do to get ready? To make guest comfortable? Things you notice as a guest that you appreciate or wish the host could do better?

[Anonymous]

Dim lighting, dimmer than you think, with no overhead light if you can avoid it.

Everything clean.

Lots of places to sit and a place to put a drink down next to each seat.

If it is a dinner party, have appetizers available when guests arrive.

Make sure there is water easily available in addition to cocktails, wine and beer.

I think too cold is better than too hot.

[Anonymous]

Unless you have a bartender, make it easy for guests to serve themselves drinks.

[Anonymous]

I recommend hiring a bartender (we often find hourly ones on craigslist) -- perk is they can also help clean up / do dishes at the end.

[Anonymous]

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Clean bathroom with extra toilet paper somewhere obvious, tampons, air purifiers, low music. Disagree about dim lighting.

[Anonymous]

Drinks where I can get them and water easily available.

In general, I am thrilled you have invited me over so relax and enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drinks where I can get them and water easily available.

In general, I am thrilled you have invited me over so relax and enjoy.

Thank you for saying this. As someone who is terribly anxious about hosting and has to host a party here shortly, I will try to remember your words.

[Anonymous]

The big one IMO is to make sure you have enough food and drink. Maybe enough place if people want to sit.

The more you have people over - the more you can see what worked and what didn’t and you can make adjustments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The big one IMO is to make sure you have enough food and drink. Maybe enough place if people want to sit.

The more you have people over - the more you can see what worked and what didn’t and you can make adjustments.

Me again - one other thing. If you’re having a lot of people over - I feel your house gets hotter than usual so you might want to start our cooler than usual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drinks where I can get them and water easily available.

In general, I am thrilled you have invited me over so relax and enjoy.

Thank you for saying this. As someone who is terribly anxious about hosting and has to host a party here shortly, I will try to remember your words.

I totally agree too! The first time I hosted a big party I told everyone it was the beta test and to come with low expectations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drinks where I can get them and water easily available.

In general, I am thrilled you have invited me over so relax and enjoy.

Thank you for saying this. As someone who is terribly anxious about hosting and has to host a party here shortly, I will try to remember your words.

Op here. Same! I am super anxious a both the party. Trying to stretch myself a bit more. Pinterest, Instagram and Martha Stewart have ruined us all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drinks where I can get them and water easily available.

In general, I am thrilled you have invited me over so relax and enjoy.

Thank you for saying this. As someone who is terribly anxious about hosting and has to host a party here shortly, I will try to remember your words.

Op here. Same! I am super anxious a both the party. Trying to stretch myself a bit more. Pinterest, Instagram and Martha Stewart have ruined us all![/quot

Yikes! “About the party”

[Anonymous]

I am also not a judger, OP, so go for it! Channel your inner Ina Garten—the point is connecting with people, so a mix of homemade and purchased is totally fine.

I’m nowhere near an expert hostess, but find it helpful to make a list of everything I’m serving. Then several hours beforehand, I set out all the serving dishes/utensils with post-its indicating what goes where. That way my husband and kids can help set up without constant questions.

[Anonymous]

Loving these! Especially the post-it’s so that I can have my family pitch in. That’s a great idea. Thanks everyone!