During the winter holiday season we're all over-booked and overwhelmed. Still, it's the time of year when we feel an irrepressible urge to open our homes, cluster with others of our species, and warble maudlin and/or silly songs.
We want to recreate those warm fuzzy moments form the movies, complete with happy family and loving friends. Yeah, well. Hollywood doesn't get it right in the first take and the real-life hostess doesn't, either. Giving up our desire to out-do Martha Stewart and focusing instead on creating an enjoyable event - for our guests as well as for ourselves - makes entertaining a snap.
Here are a few tips to help keep you sane through the holiday parties.
Identify your primary stressor.
Some party-related chores loom larger than others. The trick is to figure out which part of entertaining consumes too much of your physical and mental energy, and then take it down a notch. Are you determined to have a spotless house? Enlist the help of family or hire a professional cleaner. Do you think you need to have 20 exotic courses? Find a caterer, load up on ready-made goodies at the deli, or even better - pick ONE exotic dish to impress your guests and fill the rest of the table with easy-to-prepare and ready-made items. You don't have to do it single-handedly.
Team up with a friend or neighbor to co-host the event and divide the work. Money doesn't matter. Mood matters.
There's no need to redecorate, remodel, or refurnish your home. Your guests want to enjoy themselves, spend time with pleasant people, and celebrate. Tuck the most obvious clutter into a closet, wipe off the horizontal surfaces, and turn down the lights. Dust is less visible in candlelight and it gives a charming ambiance to any space. Provide a comfortable environment.
Think about what you would need to be comfortable at someone else's party. A fully stocked bar? A fully stocked bathroom? A convenient place to shed your coat and purse? Chances are, your guests have the same needs, so attend to those things and worry about valet parking later. Turn off the tube.
If guests sprawl in front of the TV, your party is doomed (unless, of course, it's a Super Bowl Party) It's the conversation and mingling of personalities that makes a party fun. Turn down the thermostat.
Any crowd generates body heat, and a warm room leads to sluggish guests. Make them feel welcome.
A host or hostess should greet every arriving guest, help them with coats and other burdens, offer food, and stay with the newcomers until they've assimilated. It's a good idea to assign this duty to one or two outgoing people, either family members or good friends, so that no arriving guest is overlooked. Help guests flow.
Set up more than one table for main courses, appetizers, desserts, and drinks. Place bowls of munchables in every room where guests will gather. This helps to keep people moving and movement adds energy to the event. Be a considerate host.
Have non-alcoholic beverages and meat-free foods for guests. Your most important job is to make everyone feel comfortable, and a considerate hostess will always consider the comfort of guests. Brunch, lunch, or tea?
Less formal than a sit-down dinner, more formal than buffet or cocktails, any of these smaller gatherings might fit better with your schedule. Embrace imperfection.
Someone will spill a drink or a full plate. Something will get broken. An hors'dourve will burn while you're distracted with last-minute tasks. Your party doesn't have to be perfect in order to be a hit. Relax, have a glass of wine, and enjoy good times with good friends. Be Available
Your most important responsibility is to spend time with guests, so take advantage of every opportunity to delegate some of the work. When guests ask if there is anything they can do to help, say “Yes.” People like to be helpful, so keep a few tasks available for them. Perhaps the first to arrive can become greeters, or help with lighting candles or setting out plates and food. Remember the Point of the Party
You've opened your home to people you care about and enjoy spending time with so that you can share the joy of the holiday season. If you and your guests have fun, relax, and take away some happy memories, your party is a success.
