Would Anyone Care to Plan My Party for Me?

Updated on October 13, 2012
L.M. asks from Conneaut, OH
10 answers

It's a home sales party (yeah yeah groan) but just close friends I"m thinking no more than 10 ladies all 30 something mamas
And it can be any time after 4 pm. I'm hoping some of you are just party people that love planning events and know how to add just the right touches to make it all come together effortlessly ( or at least so it seems that way)

What time would you suggest?

I"m ok with doing a casual dinner/ not a sit down five course meal. or i could do snackies give me your opinions and your menus, please?

I guess i can ask the lady doing the party if she has any doorprizes, (Its a thirty one party not pamperchef or adult lingerie so she might not have anything she's just starting) If she doesn't should I buy some tealights or little pocket handsanitzers as a Thank you for coming or is that over the top?

I"m pretty lacking in socai hosting experience and I'm a little bit of a freak and would need most stuff taken care of ahead of time so i 'm not fussing and hyperfocused on something silly.

This is a very good thing for me to be doing, it's is stretching my comfort zone but i need that, and it will mean i need to clean the house, and i need that motivation too.

So thank you in advance anyone that can help me make some decisons.

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K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

Wish I was closer...I could hook you up!

I would say 7-7:30pm would be good. That gives people time to get off work and get dinner ready for their families...and also allows you to just put on some coffee and have cookies or light desserts as 'food'.

The tea candles is a great touch...never be afraid to give gifts as a 'Thank You'...people love that!

~Good for you for reaching beyond your comfort zone!!! Don't worry about it, I am sure you will get lots of ideas from all these great ladies and I am sure everything will come together nicely!

3 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

Good suggestions so far. I would say most people will have eaten, so go light on the food. Some cheese and crackers, some grapes on the cheese platter (green or red, or some of each - but definitely seedless!). You can pre-cut the cheese if you want but not until close to the party so it doesn't dry out. Fruit is nice too because it's "dessert-y" for those who have eaten and healthy for those who have not. If you have time, a really cute way to serve fruit that looks festive and makes it easy to eat is to create fruit kabobs. Get long toothpicks, about 4 inches long. I like the plastic ones that have a little "arrowhead" on the pointy end but you can use plain wooden ones with the little frill on the end. Just don't get standard toothpick length - get the longer ones. If the supermarket doesn't have them, the party store will.

Select a variety of fruits in different colors. Ue any of these: strawberries, raspberries (if firm), kiwi, cantaloupe, honeydew, red or green grapes (unless using on the cheese platter), pineapple, blueberry, mandarin orange segments. Get a small seedless watermelon with no big scratches or dents at least on one side. Remember that honeydew, grapes and kiwi are all green, oranges and canteloupe are both orange, berries and watermelon are red, etc. You're going to alternate them on skewers so you don't want "matching colors" together. Just get an assortment of maybe 6 things. Peel the kiwi, cut large grapes in half, cut the larger fruits into chunks that are similar in size. Wash the watermelon (important) - salmonella can be on the outer rinds of fruits. Cut the watermelon in half and scoop out the fruit from one half, leaving the white stuff and the green rind. Drain the shell over paper towels, and put on a platter. You can leave the paper towels underneath the melon if the edges don't show - that will pick up any juice that continues to leak a little! Use a skewer to poke a bunch of holes in the green rind about 1 inch apart - you can do it in rows or just random. Assemble 3 or 4 pieces of fruit on each toothpick, varying the order. Not every toothpick will have the same fruits so don't try to cram all 7 or 8 varieties onto one pick! Leave 1/2 inch on the pointy end. Insert the toothpicks into the holes in the watermelon rind - don't try to poke holes with the toothpicks themselves as they will break and you will get frustrated. When you are done, it will look like a giant fruit porcupine. It's really cute, lets people choose some finger food, and it's really just one item that looks really varied.

Another option is chocolate covered strawberries - you can buy a chocolate melt or use dark chocolate you melt yourself. Use the large strawberries with the stems on them because that gives people a "handle" for picking it up.

I've also seen frozen phyllo dough cups that are not expensive. They are small, about 1 inch across. Use any sweetened cream cheese filling recipe, and spoon the mixture into each dough shell, then top with a sliver of kiwi or a blueberry or raspberry or one of each. A friend made these recently and they looked so elegant but were really easy.

You can also go to a bakery and get some small designer cookies or cannolis. You can also get some large brownies, put them in the fridge, and when cold, cut them in quarters so they make little bites.

A dish of almonds is nice too and healthy; anyone with a nut allergy can avoid them more easily than in some of the desserts.

Have some little paper plates and cocktail napkins.

You can serve wine, sparkling cider or sparkling grape juice (white only!), or decaf. My experience is that people just don't drink regular coffee at night.

Don't do all of these things - just pick two or three items and go with that. Don't have a big huge spread because it will detract from the party wares.

A party favor is a cute idea but not necessary. A little candle is cute (maybe a fall scent like pumpkin or spice?). Hand sanitizer is a little less charming.

2 moms found this helpful
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H.G.

answers from New York on

I'm a Pampered Chef consultant and I've done almost 500 parties, so I'd say I'm pretty experienced. I've also been to lots of other home parties. I like to tell my Hosts to keep it simple. Invite way more people than you want. Only about 1/3 to 1/2 of those invited will attend. You cannot invite too many people - believe me. No consultant wants to show up and do a demo for 2 people. Get some butts in the seats for her.

We usually invite people to come at about 7 pm if the party is Mon-Friday. Weekend attendance has never been that good for me, so I'd suggest keeping it on a Thursday or Friday night. Since it will be after the dinner hour, just put out some snacks (again, keep it simple). I suggest cheese/crackers, chips/dip, fresh veggies to dip also. Maybe some nuts and a plate of cookies/brownies for anyone with a sweet tooth. You could do a warm taco type of dip if you'd like (they can be prepared ahead of time and either microwaved or baked at the last minute). Do not plan on serving dinner food. It's too much and it will interfere with the demonstrator's plan. Have some soda, water and whatever else your friends like to drink available (wine isn't necessary but you can have it if you'd like). You don't need to serve coffee. I find most people don't drink it anyway.

Other than cleaning your house and making room for the consultant to set up a table and/or display - that's it. The consultant should be doing the bulk of the work. Just relax & have fun & don't be stressed. Nobody likes a fussy Host. Enjoy yourself. You could provide a little thank you gift for your guests, but it's generally not necessary.

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M.K.

answers from Columbus on

I just went to a "Mary Kay" party - definitely keep it simple. A couple snack-type items, veggies and dip - can all be prepared ahead of time; a couple soft drinks and water. Small plates and napkins and you're good to go.

7:00 is a good time - it's not too early and it's not too late!!

I totally get the stretching your comfort zone. Sounds like me!! As for cleaning - I just cleaned because of my son's birthday party - that was my motivation!! lol!!

Good luck!!

1 mom found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Two words: food, and drink.
That's all you need! Something to nibble and something to sip (and make sure there is SOME alcohol, even if it's diluted in a punch.)
I've been to several of these, hosted one, and the key really is a RELAXED environment.
I would do a 4 to 6, or 7 to 9, and serve refreshments only, meaning light appetizers and drinks, maybe a plate of cookies and/or a bowl of pretty candy. A "dinner' gets expensive and stressful, whereas appetizers and drinks just means snacks, so you can do anything from chips, dip and fruit to fancy canapes, your choice :)
And yes, ask about door prizes, those are always a hit, and there should be a little bit of fun. Good luck!

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S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

2 or 3 varieties of munchies + some drinks.

& that's it! Hosting can be quite painless if you limit yourself & make it easy. :)

Do a vegie tray with dip. Present it nicely.
Add a hot dip....like the ever-popular buffalo chix dip.
& then maybe a tray of tortilla pinwheels or go with fruit kabobs.

Contact me if you need recipes!

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A.B.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I agree with cookingmom, I am an Independent Partylite consultant and I tell me hosts the same exact thing she said!

Home sales parties are made to stress you out, keep it simple so you can sit down and enjoy the party as well and figure out what you want to get for free!

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Wine or specialty drinks to get thru it. Everyone who goes knows they are expected to spend a certain amount of $$$ so make it worth it for you.

Finger foods, and please don't pressure too much.

I get so many invites/ (invoices) for so many different things that I just prefer to make a donation to the hostess because that's what is all about and not worth my time to sit through a presentation to purchase something I don't need or want.

I'd just give you money because that's the bottom line.

I'll confess, I do like the pure romance and that type of party!!

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Don't worry....you can do it!
-start cleaning your house in daily chunks (this is vital)
-no sit down meal. Just snacks & decently proportioned food
-food ideas
veggie tray w/ranch
salami, sliced good cheese, deli bread, hot mustard, reg mustard
chips & pico de gallo
or you could do a taco bar (easy & filling)
drinks (a few sodas, bottled water, wine & 2 types of beer)
set up some candles in tall votives throughout your house (kitchen, living
room, bathroom)
make sure you have plenty of toilet paper
for door prizes (get smthg little like blank stationary cards)
-brownie bites for dessert or store bought choc chip cookies set out on a plate

You will be fine, have fun and it's not a big deal. don't worry yourself too much. Enjoy. :)

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J.D.

answers from Cincinnati on

If its on a Friday night, i would say 7:00. On Saturday or Sunday, I would do it at 2:00. I would just do appetizers like chips and dip or chips and salsa, veggie tray, cheese ball, potato chips, pretzels, cheese and crackers etc etc. and for drinks I would have either just soda or maybe soda and then one of those punch drinks.
You don't need to buy anything as a thank you. Most parties usually have an item or 2 thats given away. I haven't been to a 31 party so I don't know if its the same type of thing where they give stuff away.

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