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Holiday party planning 101
Pull off the swankest of parties with this short but stylish list of hosting dos and don'ts.
By Ryan Jennings
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10. Prepare for the teetotalers. Some people don't drink (if you can believe it?!) while others may have to drive home -- that doesn't mean you shouldn't make them feel special. Prepare a virgin cocktail or serve them sparkling water in wine glasses and garnish with a few frozen berries. Pretty and delicious.
9. Rotate the hand towels half-way through the evening. While you're reapplying your lip gloss check the saturation level on the hand towels. You may only need to switch the back to the front but if they're soaked through you can replace with fresh towels. It's a small thing that your guests notice.
8. Split the food in half. Cut wedges of cheese in two; keep a bag of shrimp on reserve and an un-open box of crackers. This way you can replenish and refresh -- it keeps the buffet table looking good and ensures food isn't sitting out for several hours at a time.
7. Don't ask your guests to remove their shoes. Unless there's a snow-fall coinciding with your party there's really no excuse. Shoes are part of the ensemble, for both men and women, and sock-feet clash with almost all décor. Hardwood, laminate and tile floors can be cleaned with a quick mop. Carpet floors, well, invest in a heavy-duty vacuum or consider resurfacing.
6. Roll up area rugs, stash the fragile objet d'art and clear space for chat circles and a possible dance floor -- it's the holidays, guests want to dance off all the extra calories.
5. Rent glassware, dishes and linens. Party rentals are relatively inexpensive and they show up clean and go away dirty. No dishes and no worries about breakage -- worth every penny the next day, and so much more sophisticated than plastic, not to mention environmentally friendlier.
More tips on the next page!
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