Although I’m an introvert, I’ve always loved hosting parties. Truth be told, sometimes I enjoy the party planning just as much as the party itself! We host friends at our apartment on a fairly regular basis, and I’ve learned some things along the way about pulling off the perfect party.
- Even if it’s just a casual get-together, which most of ours are these days, the most important thing is to be prepared. We always have paper plates, napkins and plastic cups on hand, and it’s nice to not worry about dishes.
- Figure out a few go-to snacks and keep extras around. One of our favorites is Trader Joe’s spinach artichoke dip. It looks really strange before you heat it up, but it tastes amazing, and it doesn’t take up much space in the freezer. Our friends love it and they know that if there’s a party at our place, there will be multiple kinds of chips and dip. There are worse reputations, right?
- Opt for big batch cocktails and food you can prepare ahead. The tough part about being the hostess is that it’s easy to get stuck in the kitchen. Lately, I’ve been trying to minimize that as much as possible by putting out larger portions of things in the first place so I don’t feel like I’m on refill duty all night.
- Don’t leave getting ready for last. I used to wait until everything was ready before I got dressed and dealt with my makeup and hair, but I was never able to put as much thought into my look as I wanted. Now, I’ll get ready earlier and put on an apron. There are so many cute options!
- Combine old school and new school. Although we’ll sometimes just throw together a Facebook event, I really miss paper invitations. So, it should come as no surprise that I really love scrolling through all of the adorable invites on Paperless Post. There are tons of free and affordable options, and so many stationary brands and fashion designers have created collaborations. They’re super easy to customize and they even get delivered in a digital envelope. I just sent out this Kate Spade design to invite friends for cocktails on my birthday. I decided not to host at home, but I still wanted to do something a little fancier than Facebook to spread the word.
- Make everything a party! There is so much negativity in our world today and I think it’s even more important than ever to take advantage of every opportunity to celebrate the positive. Make up a pretend holiday, celebrate your half birthday, or get together just because. And, if you’re doing it, do it right! I’m all about party decorations and balloons, even for small occasions. Life is too short to not have fun!
This post was written in collaboration with Anagram Interactive. All opinions are my own.
