Tell me your party hosting secrets

[parrty]

AIDBU because i'm using this board purely for traffic but tomorrow I am hosting a party for 20 people (before anyone gets their knickers in a twist i'm not in the UK its is 100% legal where I am and myself and my guests are happy covid is well controlled enough here that its safe to go ahead)
Now my question is I have never actually hosted a party before, please can you tell me your top hosting tips, things i've probably forgotten and need. Timing is late lunch, food will be served in buffet/help yourself form so if you have any crowd pleasing failsafe food suggestions that would be great also.

I'm probably over thinking it but I moved a the start of the year and due to covid didn't get much of a chance to settle and make friends now things have gotten back to normal i'd really like things to go well and not get myself a reputations as the areas worst hostess.

So jealous.

Seems like an issue from another lifetime

Totally agree with @Harriedharriet - a couple of large simple dishes is both much nicer and far less stressful! If it’s likely to be warm enough I’d roast a couple of chickens and salmon sides (I just wrap them in foil and bake with lemon juice) all to be served cold so easy to do in advance, bowl of mayonnaise and one of halved lemons, big bowl of steamed new potatoes and butter and a green salad. Caponata and burrata for the veggie (burrata or buffalo mozzarella I find good as they have a whole one to themselves so don’t have to fend off prying carnivore forks! Although I always double check it’s definitely veggie-friendly). Buy in a lemon tart a chocolate tart and cream. Oh and loads and loads of ice!

Sorry I got over-excited by the idea of a party, I love hosting! Meant to say that’s just how I’d approach it to give you some ideas, I’m not the party menu police! 😊

Lock the animals away !! Appear calm even if your stressed out! Lots of nibbles dotted around ..A smoking area is a must with clean ashtrays for the smokers...Comfy shoes (trust me on this one!) Ask more questions than talk about yourself,this so puts people at ease as they love to talk about themselves...fresh fruit and cheeseboards always and good coffee with brown sugar lumps and cream is an absolute must...plenty of napkins to go round then some more!! Small food for nibbles is ideal as someone always asks something when someone has taken a bite and small foods make that situation easier to handle! Have fun and enjoy your day

I cant manage endless flowers (which we already have for the party) cheap wine (which I dont want and some food banks wont take) unchilled champagne or random gifts.

Do you complain that your diamond slippers are too tight as well?!

On the hosting front, more drink than you think you'll need; vegetarian/vegan food options even if you aren't aware of anyone being so because it's easier than having to panic buy/cook something when someone arrives with a guest who is; and keep the music volume down. Loud music doesn't create atmosphere, it just means that everyone drinks instead of chatting and ends up trollied.

Oh, and don't forget lots of loo roll. I can only assume some people eat or steal it because rolls and rolls of it seem to get used.

Food, food, and more food. Any special dietary needs? I’m veggie, there’s never enough veggie options as the omnivores get in there and chomp it all

Thats because too many hosts and caterers do a buffet consisting of processed pork five ways and seem to forget that most people like things like onion bhajis and cheese sandwiches.

You need more plates/cutlery/glasses then you think even with the help of your maid. People often put everything down and get fresh sets when they go for a second helping.

Start with nibbles/crisps/nuts etc on arrival before you allow them on the food, make sure everyone is there before you open it.

Tripple veggie options and keep some aside for the veggie friends to add to the buffett later so they aren't going hungry because the carnivoeres raid that part of the table (and they will).

I wouldn't ask people to do jobs unless they know the house and you very well, it just adds stress because they will ask you for your approval. Just don't.

Def. get enough chairs and tables, you can't stand and eat and drink.

We always put drinks in large tubs with cold water/ice and everyone helps themselves. Keep an eye on it too see if it needs restocking.

Get some nice softdrinks, I hate it when the only alternatives are Sprite and Coke. Nice juice or a pitcher with fruity water, whatever is good in your location.

Are there any children coming? If so, maybe see if you can put a table up with some stuff to do. If not, all the better.

@orangenasturtium I'm British but not an expat I moved here with DP who was born here. I would love a British themed party but sadly I'm the only brit in attendance.
@Slothkin great minds think alike I just got back from the shop with a chickens and a ham. Plan to roast both early tomorrow morning and serve cold with diffetent salads, potatoes,cous cous, falafel (for the veggie). Fresh fruit and cake for pudding. I had planned a bbq but this seemed better for the veggie as more space for a selection of salads and also means I can prep in advance.

Make a list of the food you are making and any specific times you need to do things that are more last minute - heat oven, put tarts in oven etc. Otherwise you will forget about a dish!

Work out what you are serving each dish in. Either write a list or stick a bit of paper in each empty dish saying what is going in it.

Make/buy lots of ice.

That sounds delicious @parrty! I hope you all have a lovely day!

jealous as hell, we are supposed to be having parties!!!

Anyway we want yours to be great, and I have hosted and been to my fair share of parties

You will be amazed how much wine people get through - buy double or even treble the amount, and have a return arrangement for anything left over. Get plenty of white, red and rose. Some people will stay most of the evening into the night

Make sure you have coffees for the end of the night, and alcohol free cocktails for driver and pregnant friends etc.

If you are doing late lunch, make sure you have something else to bring out at 10pm - those that stay will start to get hungry again by then. Happened to us so many times and I was having to call for pizzas. Cheese boards, with rustic bread and that kind of thing can be easy and really spot on

Soft drinks and chilled water with cucumber or lemon is a must unless you want people to get really really drunk

Fairy lights everywhere, candles in lanterns and have it all set up for after dark, at least a few people will stay.

Music, make sure you have music.

Bar set up in the corner, and ask your help to pour drinks.

Get ready early so you are not rushing

Have fun!!!! Don't get so hung up on everything being 'perfect' - no one cares about that, they are there to enjoy themselves.

Sounds wonderful! And I'm jealous.
We have (had - sob!) a lot of parties and we love entertaining. My top tips are:
Plan your menu in advance and don't plan food that has to be cooked when your guests are there unless you have a chef
Think about dishes that can be eaten easily whatever format your party takes
Have lots and lots of alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks
Make sure you have tons of ice
Get some really nice flowers and have them around the house - I always put some in the bathroom
Have some good scented candles (not yankee etc!) and have them lit again I always have one in the bathrooms
candles / tealights
playlist for background music
get yourself ready early so no matter how early your guests turn up it won't matter
do not get your guests doing jobs - I HATE this if I am invited as a guest
have lovely canapes / nibbles ready, plated and good to go as soon as your guest arrive
We always have a signature cocktail or two and the appropriate glasses and garnishes (we sometimes rent glasses if we need 30 coupe glasses etc ) We give the guest a cocktail as soon as they arrive and it helps break the ice and get the party going
Proper recipe cocktails - not makey-upy things using the contents of an ancient drinks cabinet!

Introduce people to each other. Keep introducing people!
I rarely serve a buffet as I don't like them myself so usually opt for 2 main dishes - such as slow roast brisket in a big bowl with brioche buns in another dish and homemade coleslaw or chilli etc
Lots of desserts as people love these
More food for later if your guests arrive at lunchtime and leave at midnight - huge cheeseboard with crackers and fruit and nuts etc goes down well.

Have fun!

Fabulous advice thankyou all

Do you complain that your diamond slippers are too tight as well?!

Yes but I have amazing parties. We have one for family and close friends each summer and another for our colleagues and some close family and friends come. Each is about 50 people. We also host a few evening dos for 20 ish across a typical summer.

We invested in 70 white china plates from a catering company a few years ago. We have 70 glass bee bowls from La Rochere which are gorgeous. 100 champagne flutes, 100 sets of cutlery and loads of other bee glasses. That is the minimum for a party of 50.

Keep the cocktails simple. We might do aperol spritz and brambles and then big jugs of pimms on the table in summer.

There will always be someone who only wants heineken.

@covidclara I think you are the me I always wanted to be. Trying to think of something sarky to say to you because I am jealous

For a birthday party one idea i like is to ask each guest to bring one champagne glass as a gift for you - they can use it at the party and you get a lot less waste as they as they will know "their" glass.

My other big success is to buy a variety of ice cream bars and put them loose into a freezer drawer - then they are easy to serve and need no cutlery bowls or washing up and always seem a "treat". People like to have a choice!

Controversially i think it is a nuisance to be given flowers when hosting - the last thing you want to do is to have to find a vase and start arranging flowers = much prefer a book or chocolates

@ruthieness

For a birthday party one idea i like is to ask each guest to bring one champagne glass as a gift for you - they can use it at the party and you get a lot less waste as they as they will know "their" glass.

My other big success is to buy a variety of ice cream bars and put them loose into a freezer drawer - then they are easy to serve and need no cutlery bowls or washing up and always seem a "treat". People like to have a choice!

Controversially i think it is a nuisance to be given flowers when hosting - the last thing you want to do is to have to find a vase and start arranging flowers = much prefer a book or chocolates

What do you do with 50 crappy mismatched champagne glasses at the end?

Put them in the recycling?

I’ve inherited key party tips, and I’m afraid one of them is never have enough chairs or everyone will just sit down and run out of things to say. Make sure the party area is slightly too small for the number of people there again to create a nice atmosphere and prevent that thing Where people are in 2s and 3s all over the place.
But the most important one is HAVE A DRINK BEFORE THE GUESTS ARRIVE. That way you’re pleased to see them and not just gritting your teeth and thinking “I was up at dawn roasting chickens for you bastards”

If you are hosting a dinner party seat people next to oriole they do not know to keep the conversation flowing

Next to people!

“Pack of dogs”! Really?
Oh my, I’d decline based on that tiny detail alone.

Are all guests dog lovers? Are they ok with a pack of dogs running around where there is food?
Are you absolutely sure?

Have a good playlist of background music to suit the occasion. I always think it improves the ambiance and is often a talking point.

@Pickypolly it is 4 dogs all very well behaved and our garden is huge so plenty of space for them. Also every guest at this party also owns dogs. They are trained not to touch food or go in the kitchen but they can get cheeky and beg which is why someone was on hand to keep them out the way while people ate. Obviously if I had guests that didn't like dogs they'd be shut away.

Anyway party went well thankyou all for your tips

I am curious to know where you live OP.
Twenty friends and all dog owners??
Is it a rural/outback community?
I am guessing not an Islamic coutry.
South Africa perhaps??

@speakout close enough guess, semi rural but also available of large gardens and staff mean it's much easier for people to own dogs. I also work with animals so friends through work love dogs, some people I met volunteering at the dog shelter etc.