It’s always a great time to enjoy a social event. Very often we go out to relax and enjoy outdoor events. Sometimes, we prefer to invite a number of guests and throw a social dinner or something to have that intimate event in our own home. Here are a few things, my Top 10 List I keep in mind when organising an event at home. With a positive mindset and preparation in advance simply Keep calm, trust the process and you will have a great time with your friends!
1 Create the guest list first
The people will determine all the other things you will prepare. Mix up your guest list. It’s less enjoyable for everyone if your entire party is made up of people who see each other on a regular basis. Instead, choose guests you know who share common interests, whether it’s fashion or cars or video games, include a few friends who are expert socialites and invite an acquaintance or two who you’ve been hoping to get to know better—some reserved person who looks interesting from your circle. Also consider matchmaking opportunities and try to think who would be an awesome match for a friend who is too shy to set a date!
2. Hide visual clutter
In my case, kids toys, bricks, Play Doh and a hundred teddy bears. The more serene your home is, the more serene your guests will feel. So use your dinner party as an opportunity to clear out the extras. Cut down the number of framed photos on the mantel to one or two. Remove excessive clutter of milkshake mixers, handbags, shoes (because Swedish love to keep ALL their shoes by the door!) Don’t know why but they do. My husband is Swedish so hunny the shoes are going into the wardrobe tonight ok?)
3. Dress up your home a little
Try to make your home as special as you want the evening to be. With simple touches like softer lighting, candles and a few pops of colour with unfussy floral arrangements. In Malta a little trip to Next Home, Butlers or FINO for that special piece usually does the trick for us.
4. Create a Simple Menu
The idea to organise these social events is not to show your friends how good you are at cooking, in my case its like a 4 out of 10 score haha but to mix and mingle, so make sure your party-day to-do list is minimal. Your guests are there to spend time with you that day so keep it simple! Pick crowd-pleasing dishes you can prepare beforehand and just warm up and finish quickly when the guests arrive and are enjoying their first glasses of vino. Ask if they have any allergies too. You don’t want anyone rushing to the hospital from your event because you forgot to ask the simple question.
5. Have pre-prepared snacks at the ready as appetizers
To make people feel comfortable and as an ice breaker, always have prepared snacks ready on the table or in the sofa area. That takes the pressure off your cooking time and gets them to feel comfortable. Nuts, cheeses, cured meats or something like sushi and sliced cucumbers and carrots with dips are the perfect small bites for guests to nibble on while they wait for cooked food to be served.
6. Set up all your glassware in advance
Think ahead. Rather than rushing to get each new guest a drink, encourage everyone to help themselves. Prepare all the glasses in advance and all the first few bottles so that they are welcomed with their drinks upon arrival.
7. Music to set the tone
Avoid that awkward feeling. Music must be playing from the moment they arrive so prepare your playlist in advance or do as I do – switch on the TV to your favourite music channel and that saves you changing music all the time. You can also delegate that task to your partner. Like That is you JOB today so please don’t mess it up
8. Don’t apologize! Once the party gets going, avoid pointing out flaws like that the floors need re-finishing or your kitchen or sofa is outdated. It is not important at this stage.
9. Pick your outfit for that evening
Part of going to social events (for me) is dressing up and having fun with fashion so yes even for your own party. Please ladies take time to think ahead what you are wearing depending on the work load you have, what the theme is and what the temperature will be including your hair and makeup. You are the host so you don’t want to look like you have just fell off the bed and did not have time to make yourself look decent, hair looking like a mop! Plan that one hour for yourself please, for me. You will feel great when they arrive to your party or dinner or whatever and they want a selfie with you!
10. Get some help or outsource the catering
Sometimes we are not all very good at home economics and all the manual things and doing all things at once including timing foods and hosting at the same time so if you really want to enjoy your party and you don’t want to panic, get some help from either your partner or even better an outside catering company for example who will come prepped with everything for you to enjoy your event. There are many companies who offer this service such as ZEST who we highly recommend. It is entirely up to your budget and the number of guests you have decided to entertain! Wee haa !
How’s that for a Top 10 List?
Hope this has helped some of you get inspired to have a lovely dinner or Christmas do at home.
I would like to thank FINO for allowing me to shoot this Just Cavalli dress at their showrooms during their OPEN DAY when they had a live chef cooking for guests including me, which gave me the idea to write this blog today about entertaining guests, something I also enjoy!
XXX
Grazielle
I was wearing
Dress: Just Cavalli from The Luxury Outlet
Jewellery & Bag: Porto @Portomaso
Shoes: River Island, The Point
Location: FINO Showrooms
Fashion Photography: Luke Testaferrata Moroni Viani
Food Photography: Brian Grech Photography
