How To Host A Great Party

Planning a get-together soon? If you’re preparing to host family and friends at home, try these tips to make it a gathering to remember.

Greet Everybody

Hosting a great party starts with being a great host. To make everyone feel welcome, take the time to greet them at the door. It will show that you’re excited to see them there, and that you want to spend time with them. It’s easy to get caught up with preparations, but make sure you get out of the kitchen long enough to share a warm welcome and show your guests around.

Keep Your Guests in Mind

When preparing the menu, consider what your guests enjoy. Aim for broad appeal, but try to tailor the flavors to what will make everyone happy. You don’t have to make anything fancy or complicated, just make sure it’s tasty and satisfying. Food that can be prepared ahead of time will free you up closer to their arrival, too. Have a backup plan, of course, and remember that a wise chef once suggested that everyone should keep some pigs-in-a-blanket in the freezer just in case. You can incorporate your guests’ tastes into the night’s musical playlist as well.

Think of the Children

If you anticipate some younger guests at your get-together, make sure to have something to keep them preoccupied as the party goes on. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but some games or drawing supplies should help keep them entertained if they find the grown-ups’ conversation less than enthralling. You might want to prep some treats just for them, too.

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Mind the Pets

While some pets get along splendidly with guests, others don’t like sharing their space, and it’s important to know which camp your pets fall into. If you know your guests and your pets will get along throughout the evening, it might be fine to let everyone mingle. However, you can avoid all kinds of interruptions and clatter if you relegate the pets to another part of the house for a while – or even schedule a playdate elsewhere for the day.

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