One of the best things about November and December is the uptick in the number of house parties...unless you suffer from hosting stress, as many of us do. To help combat the (unnecessary! really!) worries around throwing a party, here are 101 tips from our archives, ready and waiting, to help you muster up the confidence to host a get together this season, big or small:
# 1 - 8: How to Enjoy Your Own Party
#9 - 18: Always Entertaining Party Games
#19 - 33: Top 15 Holiday Party Tips
#34 - 40: Small Space Dinner Party: Creative Options
#41 - 45: How To Clean Up Quickly: Before Company Arrives
#45 - 50: Ideas For The Best Party Lighting
#51 - 57: When Kids Are Coming to Your House
# 58 - 62: Last Minute Party Staples: Throwing a Party on the Fly
#63 - 68: A Vintage Chic Holiday Party
#69 - 78: Tips for Throwing a Party in a Small Space
#79 - 83: Outdoor Party Ideas for Cold Weather
#84 - 90: How to Manage Pets at the Party
#91 - 93: Make a Storyboard For Your Party
#94 - 97: Assigned Seats for Holiday Dinners
#98 - 101: Creating Space for a Party
Images: 1. Mat Sanders, 2. Laure Joliet, 3. Living Loving Small on Apartment Therapy, 4. edenpictures with a Creative Commons License, 5. Bob Coscarelli/Chicago Home + Garden on Apartment Therapy, 6. Amanda Johnson
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Comments (7)
My best idea for a simple party is a case of good champagne, and a big box of chocolates. It's great for a weekday after work party. No fuss, no mess, and no one else will have a party like yours.
My best ever party was an all-girl Vlaentines Day party, to which every guest bought a bouquet of flowers (single blossom only... ie, all tulips, all daisies, all rooses) in pink or white. It was so marvelous without men to cater to... everyone left with several new friends... and a bouquet of flowers they selected from the unbelievably beautiful buckets and buckets of flowers. Everyone woke up on Valentines Day with a bouquet by their bedside, whether they had a sweetheart or not. http://howtorunyourlife.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-weather-valentines-day-with.html
pam h
howtorunyourlife.blogspot.com
just the fact that you have 101 posts with tips about stress-free party planning STRESSES ME OUT!
Early on in our relationship (now 34 years+), my husband and I adopted the simple motto for parties, "we WILL have a good time, no matter who gets hurt." It helped me (ever the worrier;my husband is Mr. Outgoing Extrovert) to focus on the idea that this was to have fun and it still makes me smile. I guess in the end it helps keep things in perspective.
Love this.
There are two cornerstones for me planning a party:
1) Do everything I can to have everything ready a day ahead of time.
2) Since everything is done ahead of time, take the dog for a really long rollerblade or snow ski. It wears him out while saving some of my energy.
I will use this article over and over again
Great ideas! Now I just need an excuse to host a party!