Filed under: Fun Stuff, Parties & Entertaining
We asked the experts for their take on manners, cocktails and everything in between!Hosting friends and family at home can be tons of fun, but sometimes it's hard to know where to begin. Celebrations come in all shapes and sizes, so to help us navigate what it means to entertain today, we asked experts to share their top tips.
Party Prep
Anna Post, a great-great granddaughter of etiquette and entertaining guru Emily Post, says the secret to a successful party is planning. "I can't stress it enough," she says. "Planning ahead allows you to become a guest at your own event. If you're running around at the last minute, you miss out on spending quality time with your guests."
Post, who co-wrote the recent book Emily Post's Great Get-Togethers with her sister Lizzie, recommends creating a detailed timeline as far out from your date as possible. On this list should be everything from menu-planning, shopping -- all the way up to getting dressed the day of! "Do as much as possible beforehand, so when it's party time, you're ready to go. And work in one extra hour. I don't know anyone who couldn't use that extra time right before a party," she says.
Photo: Oh Happy Day
Entertaining and food expert Jeanne Benedict agrees. "No one ever wants to turn into a 'Hostzilla,' so do as much as you can ahead of time. Even though you're likely to shop for your fresh ingredients right before the event, make a list so you know exactly what you need and work that shopping time into your schedule." And she says, don't try to be perfect.
"I always say, know what you do best and let yourself off the hook for the rest," she says. "If you're a star in the kitchen, put your energy into the meal. Crafty? Then make a killer centerpiece. Use your talents to help you shine."
A relaxed host is able to tend to guests, rather than being holed up in the kitchen for the entire party. When we wrote about Jordan Ferney's rooftop party, we were smitten with her sense of style. But the vibe captured in her photos was just as seductive -- the relaxed feel of the party seemed to reflect the laid-back style of the host.
Star designer David Stark shared the recipe for this blood orange, fennel and black olive salad with Design*Sponge. Photo: Design*Sponge
When planning what to serve, keep the focus on your talents -- and on your guests. David Stark, New York-based event producer and author of the recently released David Stark Design, always serves a delicious entree during a dinner party, but often skips a sit-down appetizer. "I leave out treats to nibble on before we sit so that my guests are in control of how much they truly want to eat before sitting down to the main meal. Plus, it takes the pressure off of preparing lots of courses."
If a sit-down meal seems overwhelming, go for a buffet instead. "Invite friends over for an open-house type cocktail party," suggests Stark. "I love the idea of having a buffet set up with all kinds of yummy appetizers that can be combined into a gracious meal."
Need some inspiration? Turn to the past, says Benedict. "I usually reinvent recipes from vintage cookbooks with new ingredients." For example, Benedict recently served her party guests rosemary-infused marshmallows. "An unlikely flavor pairing maybe, but they were a hit!"
In addition to your menu, cocktails are sure to be at the top of your to-do list. While signature drinks seem to be a popular trend, our experts actually suggest a more casual, personal approach.
"If you're just starting to stock your bar, I suggest having at least three bottles of liquor at home, such as vodka, gin and scotch," says Post. "But really, I think it depends on knowing your guests' tastes. For me, my friends and I love champagne, cava and prosecco dressed up with something special like elderflower liquor."
Stark has a similar approach. "I like to have a slim array of options to keep it simple for me and my guests," he says. Instead of signature cocktails, which can sometimes be tedious to put together, Stark stocks up on the basics: beer, wine, prosecco, vodka and scotch, as well as a variety of mixers, fresh citrus and olives to provide plenty of mixing opportunities for his guests.
Party expert Jeanne Benedict scooped up these dollar-bin martini shakers and transformed them into pretty flower displays (left) for a Mad Men premier party; At right, she surprised guests with rosemary-infused marshmellows. Photo: Jeanne Benedict
Décor Do's
Dressing up your party can be another challenge, especially when it comes to your table. "I find the old ideas of matchy-matchy table settings to be quite boring, actually," says Stark. "I am much more interested in eclectic collections of tableware that have been gathered over time, layering china (a salad plate over a charger from a different set, for instance) is much like layering an outfit when getting dressed."
And what about the notion of one grand centerpiece? "The single floral centerpiece is by no means the rule of thumb," he says. "I create multi-leveled still-lifes that combine flowers, containers, candles, fruits and objects to great effect." Putting the effort into such details lets your guests know just how much you care.
"I'm a big believer in giving your guests some 'wow,' says Benedict. "Always give your party some personality, infuse it with what inspires you. The better your party looks and feels, the better time your guests will have."
David Stark groups an uneven amount of flowers in interesting vessels to create an out of the ordinary centerpiece (left), while he used candlelight as an easy way to set the mood for a festive gathering (right). Photo: David Stark Design
Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams shared some of their favorite party tips with us, while HGTV stars recently dished on wine and design.