Entertaining Tips - General Things To Remember
Party Tips
1. Invitations are dependent on the formality of the event. Invitations for more formal occasions can be printed or hand written but in either case delivered via traditional snail mail or in person. For informal events invitations can take the form of email or eVite (www.eVite.com) or also in person. If you are the guest, you must RSVP as soon as possible. In fact, when an invitation is sent, it is very impolite to ignore it. RSVP's should be included in a self-addressed stamped envelope by your potential hostess and this should make it easy for the guest to reply. If there is only a phone number or email address then you as the guest should reply as soon as you know if you will be able to attend or not. Do not make the host have to call you.
2. As the hostess you must greet your guests at the door, and you should have a safe place for their personal items. Be sure to be very familiar with your guest’s invitees so that you are in a prepared position to introduce people – introduce everyone. Accept hostess gifts graciously and conversely, if you are the guest, try to bring a gift that is small and one which the hostess will not feel the need to use that night; for example, dessert or flowers. A properly prepared event will already have the table decorated and dessert planned, so it would be difficult and awkward for the hostess to incorporate a gift like this. However, a bottle of nice wine is always welcome and is easy for you as the guest to plan for.
3. The hostess should be particularly attentive to their guests by offering drinks and hors de oeuvres.
4. During hors de oeuvres, the hostess should politely and discreetly move between the kitchen and guests to have the first course on the table before the guests are asked to take their seats.
5. Upon calling guests to the table, the hostess should direct the seating, even with placards there can be some uncomfortable moments. If you are hosting a dinner party and some of your guests are new to the group, it is smart to write their names on both sides of the placecards. That way, if someone forgets a name they will be able to subtly glance at the place-card. This will make people more comfortable and keep the conversation flowing.
6. When guests leave, a gracious hostess should walk them to the door, say a brief good-bye and return to the other guests. If you are the guest, do not engage the hostess in a long conversation at the door. This often times will make a polite hostess feel uncomfortable and take her away from the other remaining guests.
7. Children
The hostess of a formal evening has many options when dealing with children. You can feed your children early and let them greet guests and serve hors de oeuvres; then quietly slip off to watch some TV and bed. Moreover, a great event planner may wish to have a baby sitter on hand to help facilitate this.
A well planned dinner for adults, can be matched by a fun and more relaxed atmosphere for the children; by ordering pizza and cokes for the teenagers and allowing them to watch a movie in a room away from the dining area.
If the occasion is less formal then a creative hostess can give children jobs and let them participate in the entire evening by adding the proverbial "children's table."