Carolyne Roehm offers a few helpful tips to help make your party a success
- Plan your party on paper. Making lists really helps to keep you focused on the necessary tasks. Once you have the reason, inspiration, or theme for your party, make a list of the mechanics to bring your ideas into reality.
- Make sure to have a detailed guest list with pertinent information; home address, home and office phone numbers (this now includes cell phone numbers and email address), proper salutation, and name of assistant, if applicable.
- If you want special flowers, trees, fabrics, or party rentals such as chairs, tableware, tablecloths, or scenic props, research and order them in advance.
- You don’t have to spend a fortune. If you have your heart set on floral decorations then look for the more inexpensive flowers like carnations of Alstromeria; they make beautiful arrangements by themselves or mixed with a more expensive flower. If you’re on a tight budget, look for things outseide to use as decorations, such as pinecones or brnaches sprayed with snow. I’ve even used swamp grass. Fruits and vegetables also make wonderful centerpieces.
- Determine if you need a caterer, cook, serving staff, or parking attendants. Then book those people for the date, establishing fees and working them into the budget. This also includes entertainment. For example, for an Autumn Barn Dance, I needed to book fiddlers and dancers who could show the guests how to perform the basic do-si-do.
- While selecting a menu, make sure to focus on food that is appropriate for the season. Good-looking food amplifies the taste, so don’t forget presentation is an ingredient to every dish.
- Party favors make a delightful gesture for your guests. Again, this can be inexpensive; I’ve given everything from small silver frames to handmade cookies. (In fact, we had to make more cookies afterwards for guests that were so thrilled by them.)
- Leave enough time to relax and get ready before the party. If you aren’t relaxed, your guests won’t relax.
- When disaster hits (and let’s face it, at some point it always will), laugh it off and improvise. I always have a backup plan, like frozen homemade Bolognese, canned clams, or the phone number to a good take-out place (just remember to remove their packaging).
- And finally, HAVE FUN!
