The goal of summer entertaining is to have fun, but when you are hosting dozens of people at your home, often “fun” is the last thing that comes to mind. After all, before your guests arrive there’s cleaning, cooking and organizing to be done.
One way to keep a summer party from turning into a chore is to infuse fun into the planning process. Think outside of the box with these simple yet creative ideas:
Invite a variety of people: A simple way to add zing to your summer bash is to invite a diverse crowd. Instead of just inviting people from your office or the neighborhood, mix it up and ask friends of all ages, professions, backgrounds, and interests to your summer shindig. Doing so will not only make your job as party host easier, but also, by the end of the night you will have the satisfaction of introducing people who wouldn’t ordinarily mingle together.
Mix and mingle: To further enhance better guest relations, have partygoers switch seats after each course or design games that encourage interaction between more than just a handful of people at a time. Also, help spark conversations by leaving out books or cards that contain unusual facts or jokes.
Decor: Exercise creativity in your decor as well. For example, instead of using boring vases to display flowers, use hurricane candleholders. Another creative idea is to place salsa, guacamole and tortilla chips in margarita glasses for appealing appetizers at a summer fiesta. You could also use traditional water glasses to hold breadsticks for an Italian-themed party or hollow out pineapples and coconuts and use them as cups for a Hawaiian-themed luau. For the pool, place floating candles or a fountain in the water.
For kids: If you are hosting an informal gathering with kids hand out plastic containers, so they can keep busy trying to capture fireflies. Also, consider purchasing coloring books and puzzles to keep at the children’s table. The books and toys will keep youngsters occupied while the food is being prepared.
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