Entertaining tips

[Soror]

I have always liked having people over- however life has made that not very possible for a while. First we had the fire, then the rebuilding and a new baby. Finally finished the house(2 yrs later) then another baby. Anyway, things are finally settled down and I would love to invite lots of people over. So, many people I owe an invitation. I have guests coming this weekend actually 12-15 people.

 

I have been looking around the house and trying to make it more inviting- any ideas there? What do you see in others that makes you want to sit down and relax? I had rearranged the living room as my sitting was too far spread apart it seemed when people were over they had a hard time talking to each other.

 

I think candles are usually nice but my guests this weekend are allergic to everything under the sun. I was thinking of maybe cooking some cinnamon or orange on the stove for a nice smell. I was thinking i should make sure to have plenty of lights on and the heat up a bit from usual, maybe some soft music in the background?

 

I don't know- I am looking for tips from expert entertainers and those who like to be entertained!

[regentrude]

I love entertaining. We frequently have groups of people (12-20) over for after dinner receptions; in summer and fall we have grill parties with 30-40 people; we often have a few people for dinner.

I do not serve a sit-down multi course dinner for more than 8 people. If it's more, food is buffet style.

The one thing I found true time and time again: it does not matter what my house looks like, whether the sofas are inviting, whether there are nuts on the coffee table - everybody will stand in the kitchen where the buffet is (or be outside in summer). People will sit at the kitchen table. They may drag up extra chairs if the evening wears on. The freshly cleaned living room will be deserted and the sofa empty.

If there are more than 6 people, soft music is not heard and might as well be off - and loud music is a conversation killer.

I make sure the guest bathroom is clean and has plenty of fresh towels and soap.

 

Relax and enjoy your party.

[Gratia271]

I love entertaining. We frequently have groups of people (12-20) over for after dinner receptions; in summer and fall we have grill parties with 30-40 people; we often have a few people for dinner.

I do not serve a sit-down multi course dinner for more than 8 people. If it's more, food is buffet style.

The one thing I found true time and time again: it does not matter what my house looks like, whether the sofas are inviting, whether there are nuts on the coffee table - everybody will stand in the kitchen where the buffet is (or be outside in summer). People will sit at the kitchen table. They may drag up extra chairs if the evening wears on. The freshly cleaned living room will be deserted and the sofa empty.

If there are more than 6 people, soft music is not heard and might as well be off - and loud music is a conversation killer.

I make sure the guest bathroom is clean and has plenty of fresh towels and soap.

 

Relax and enjoy your party.

 

After spending the first several years of marriage wasting time getting things just "perfect", we realized what Regentrude posted above. It is so true. Buffet style for 10 or more is much easier and enjoyable for everyone. People stand around talking or sit down around tables or are outdoors on our deck. Other than the bathrooms, the rooms are largely ignored.

[Soror]

Oh, good points to remember the bathrooms and making sure they are stocked w/ soap and tp. Need to make sure the trash is empty as well. I hate it when people come over and the trash is full.

 

I wasn't planning on doing formal, it is kind of potluck and the food will be in the kitchen. My dining/living area is one great room, so the living area will be used, I would guess. Or perhaps the ladies will be in the kitchen talking. When I have company it does seem we end up in the kitchen, that is where I am most comfortable myself.

 

We won't be able to be outside this time of year unfortunately, when I have had bigger parties before it has been when the weather was nice enough to be outside, so thus my worry about seating on the inside more. I thought the music(soft) would be nice but perhaps you are right and it will be too much.

[Tap]

Oh, good points to remember the bathrooms and making sure they are stocked w/ soap and tp. Need to make sure the trash is empty as well. I hate it when people come over and the trash is full.

 

I wasn't planning on doing formal, it is kind of potluck and the food will be in the kitchen. My dining/living area is one great room, so the living area will be used, I would guess. Or perhaps the ladies will be in the kitchen talking. When I have company it does seem we end up in the kitchen, that is where I am most comfortable myself.

 

We won't be able to be outside this time of year unfortunately, when I have had bigger parties before it has been when the weather was nice enough to be outside, so thus my worry about seating on the inside more. I thought the music(soft) would be nice but perhaps you are right and it will be too much.

 

 

I leave music on. It is nice to have a bit of ambiance as people arrive and in case there is a lull in conversation, especially when people are eating. Soft music does get drowned out with conversation, but if it can be heard (due to a quiet moment) it is nice to have.

 

My favorite dinner music is Corrine Bailey Ray's channel on Pandora. Modern, jazzy music.

[Hoggirl]

I always clear off my coffee tables, end tables, counters, etc. as much as possible. People need places to set drinks, plates, etc.

 

I turn on every light in the house.

 

I try to have different "stations" for food - a station for alcoholic drinks, a station for non-alcoholic drinks, a station for the "main" food, and a station for dessert. This keeps people from bottle-necking.

 

Figure out where you want people to put purses and coats ahead of time. Enlist someone to help you with this, b/c it is hard to keep up if several folks arrive all at the same time.

[QueenCat]

 

I try to have different "stations" for food - a station for alcoholic drinks, a station for non-alcoholic drinks, a station for the "main" food, and a station for dessert. This keeps people from bottle-necking.

 

 

I have found stations to be very helpful in keeping people from bottle-necking. It also helps new people get to meet people as people are more spread out.

[Soror]

Oh, all good thoughts! I hadn't thought about coats but we will certainly have to put them someplace as it is winter and my entry won't hold them all. I like the idea of different serving stations as well.

[Chris in VA]

The only group we ever have over is the youth at church, whom we have here for the SuperBowl every year--about 40 kids and maybe 5 adults.

 

One thing I do is put a roll of paper towels (nice, thick ones, like Bounty, if I can) in the bathroom, along with a pretty towel. Then I make sure I empty the trash a couple of times (just surreptitiously! lol). Somehow I feel better offering a nice paper towel that is clean, rather than just a cloth towel that will be used by 45 people. You can get very pretty paper handtowels that look like a basket of napkins--it's a nice solution to the gross towel dilemma.