At first the idea of throwing a party at your pad sounds awesome. You get some friends together, you get to have a good time, and at the end of the night you don't have to worry about catching a cab or finding someone to drive you home. And what are the holidays for, but letting your hair down? So you set a date, you tell some people, you spend the day cleaning your place, throw some food together, and hope for the best. Right? Wrong. If you want to have an amazing get-together that has people asking when your next fete is going to be, it's a bit more involved than a slapdash "get together." Of course, you don't have to let your guests know that. The bigger of a deal you make it to them, the less comfortable they may feel when they arrive. That's just one of our tips for throwing a fantastic party in which everyone gets along, there's nothing but peace and love and it's all perfect — sort of. Stuff happens, regardless. But we've got tips to help you cope with those little mishaps like a pro. Before you know it, you'll be the preferred hose amongst your friends. And who doesn't like to be the most popular girl in the room?
Arguably the most important part of throwing a party, you've got to prepare yourself, your place, and your guest list to the best of your ability while mitigating stress and frazzled nerves. How to?
Hire someone to come in and help to prepare food, shop, or clean up ahead of time. At the very least, ask a friend or family member and offer some sort of compensation such as first dibs on the goodies, the addition of their own playlist to the party mix, or you returning the favor when they throw their next bash.
Invites should go out a few weeks ahead of time, so people have ample time to make room in their schedule without forgetting it's happening. Try to keep track of who you invite. An open Facebook event is not the way to go. Give yourself time on the day of to prepare, it's not a day to sleep in or have brunch first. Not only do you have to set up, you have to get ready yourself! Look chic.
The key to getting guests to mingle is you! The rule of thumb is to introduce, introduce, introduce. And do a thorough job of it. For example, just sharing first names is lame. Suggest something two people might have in common. Like, "Hey Jen. This is Dave. He's in my underwater basket weaving class on Thursdays. He loves wicker as much as you do!" Mingle with guests on your own, too. Ask how someone's day went. How their job is going, etc. Try to be specific rather than, "What's new?" It's an awkward question. If nothing is new, they'll be at a loss and the convo will be DOA. If something great is on the horizon, a humble person might be hesitant to share and a cocky one will overshare, which will get on your nerves. Though not entirely necessary, it's polite to greet as many people at the door as you're able to and to take their coats. If you go this route, make sure you let them know where you've stashed their outerwear so they can retrieve it without having to seek you out first.
Your guests will look to you upon arrival to set the tone. Be casual, comfortable, and gregarious. Keep calm — don't forget, it's just a party! Everyone is there to have a good time and they want to see you having fun too. When it comes to drinking, keep your pace at slow and steady. Walk away smiling from any remark that upsets you, realize it could be brought on by the whisky flask hidden in someone's blazer. If someone gets out of control, don't be afraid to ask them to hoof it home or have a particularly manly man at the party do it for you.
image: Getty
Via: Hostess With the Mostest: How to Throw a Killer Holiday Party and Survive to Tell the Tale