This past weekend we hosted a prom dinner party for 18. 3 out of our 4 children all went to senior prom and I told each of them that as a gift to them I would feed their friends and host the pre dance pictures. It truly is such a blessing to be able to be involved in their lives in this way. I have served the same main dish for all of them and actually, it’s the dish I serve most frequently to big groups.
Today I’m going to take you along as I show you steps to keep your party planning as stress-free as possible.
Where do I start?
Typically The party planning begins weeks before the actual event. I try not to stress about the big event but instead take little bites off the checklist each day. This helps so much when it comes to the actual day of the party. I have learned to trust the process and allow myself grace when it doesn’t all go as planned. Like that time I decided to make crusty baguettes at the last second but forgot to spray the baking sheet with grease and the bread all stuck to the sheet. I just tell myself, “roll baby… It doesn’t have to define your evening.” If you laugh it off your guests will feel more at ease. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
The Week of the Party
Obviously most any party includes food. I typically have thought through my menu long before the week of the party. I have served enough people through the years that I know the foods that tend to work well when I plan an event of size. Also I take into consideration who is coming. Are there special needs in the group when it comes to menu planning. If I have a food allergy or non meat eaters I try to be sensitive to my guests needs. After I have determined my menu I can start thinking about shopping for my food
Typically at the first of the week, I buy all my food that will keep for 5 days. This helps me feel like I’m ahead of the game. That way if something changes or I forgot something on my list I have a little cushion to grab it later in the week. I typically don’t buy things like lettuce or fruit until a day or two before the party to keep it as fresh as possible.
I’m also beginning to seriously think through my tablescape. If I’m hosting an outdoor party, which is my favorite place to host, These are some of the factors I’m considering.
1.Who’s coming to dinner.
2. What I’m serving for dinner.
3. What the weather will be like.
If we are outside the week of the party is spent thinking through what the landscape looks like. Do I need flowers? Do things look weedy? Are there bushes to trim? Does the lawn need to be mowed?
Our property has lots of flowerbeds so I try to stay on top of it so it’s not overwhelming when the week arrives. I have found if I can get an early start in the spring and then mulch, the beds will stay fairly manageable all summer.
The day before the party I clean my house. I clean areas that probably won’t even be seen but it makes me feel peaceful when I know things are clean and in their proper place. Plus I don’t love cleaning. I do it out of necessity so if I can get that out of the way all the other stuff is just fluff and fun for me.
Day of the Party Checklist
- Lists. I keep lots of lists around when I’m planning a party. Especially the day of the party. If I have a checklist it helps me stay on track and keeps my head cleared. So I make lists about what needs to happen before people arrive. I also have a menu checklist ( I have been known to forget something I was going to serve In the Refrigerator 🙂 ) So a menu checklist helps me when things start to ramp up or people start to come and I’m sidetracked.
- Food Prep. If I can make anything ahead of time I do. Even a day or two before. Desserts are great for this. Make as much as possible before the day of your event to limit the amount of stress you feel on that day. Cut up the veggies, marinate the chicken, or put the lasagna together and let it sit in the Refridgerator until it needs to go into the oven.
- Setting the table. This is my favorite part. I think the table is one of the most important parts of the entire event. I don’t think a table has to be elaborate, in fact, some of the best tables I’ve been at use a paper plate or solo cup. However, remember The table sets the stage for your event. It tells people what they can expect. I like to make a table that compels people to come and sit awhile. A table that lets my guest know they are special and I put thought and care into preparing for them. When I’m outdoors I use nature on my tables. I often use Cut flowers, Vines, or greenery for the center of the table. I also have “invested” in actual dinnerware and goblets. I love to get dinnerware at the dollar tree. When you reuse it, it costs less than paper and it feels so much fancier.
4. An Hour before guests arrive. The hour before the guests arrive you will be doing all the last minute things. Straightening up your kitchen. Maybe one last quick sweep in the area you’ve been working. This is also typically when I Throw on some makeup and change my clothes. But my goal is to keep this last hour as free from stress as possible.
Why Do I do this? Because it doesn’t matter if your setting is perfect, your food is delightful and your house is spotless if you are stressed and uptight when your guests arrive they will feel it. Don’t forget that the most important part of your whole event is about to happen. When people walk through your door or into your backyard you want to make them feel loved and let them know you are glad they came. Your goal in prepping ahead is to bless your guest, not impress them. Keep this in mind and your whole focus shifts from self to service.
What about space issues
You may wonder what to do if you have limited space in your home. For years we hosted mostly in the summer because of this very reason. I didn’t have a big enough house to hold many around my table. This is why the yard is one of the best places to host a party. If you live in an urban area where yard space is limited as well, you may need to get creative and go to a park or rent a space.
Final tips on Hosting an outdoor party
While hosting outside is my prefrence because of a variety of reasons, You definitly are more vunerable to the enviroment. Bugs and weather can be the two biggest drawbacks. I would suggest having a back up plan available. A place inside or a tent that could shelter your guests in an emergency.
Like everything in life the more you do it the better you will get at it. Don’t quit after the first attempt or the 10th. Don’t forget to give yourself grace as you keep serving and loving others.
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More on Hosting and party planning from the blog
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Here’s a behind the scenes look at the day of our prom dinner.
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