April’s book Clvb pick was fashion designer, Lela Rose’s book, Fresh Air affairs. While I am not much of a fashionista, style and design are certainly on my mind as I prepare for gatherings and host parties. As I began reading this book, I found myself reflecting on my mother who is the ultimate party planner. Unlike the Martha Stewart host, she is more of a “type b”host that creatively thinks of details while at the same time not stressing over perfection. Though deeply intentional, she does not stress about making things perfect. As I read through Rose’s book I kept thinking about how intention and thoughtfulness is critical to the success of a party.
Pulling from both my mother and Roses’s way of hosting, I have put together 10 tips for throwing any sort of party. You don’t have to break the bank to throw an excellent soirée.
Know Your Why (yes, even for a party): Identify why people are coming together. Is it a child’s birthday party? Dinner party, baby-shower or wedding celebration? This will help you make decisions on what kinds of things to do and the general mood you want to create.
Pick a Theme: Themed parties do not have to be cheesy. Having a theme actually helps guests know what to expect, how to dress and how formal or casual the event is.
Create a Color Palette: Having a color palette helps make any event feel more cohesive. Depending on the “why” and theme of a party. Are you having a baby shower? Stay away from moody colors and tones. Are you throwing a David Bowie party? You better have some hot pink pops in your florals and in your food selection!
Plan Ahead: If you are someone who is good at winging things, put your “chill” aside to make some intentional plans for this event. You don’t want to get yourself in a Herodian situation where you cut off someone’s head on whim just to please your guests.
Signature Drink: While Lela Rose loves her cocktails, you do not have to have an alcoholic beverage to make people relax. My main regret in my most recent gathering was only offering water as a dinner option. This is a huge no-no when hosting a party. We can literally drink water any time, Parties are special so having a special drink is par the course.
Preparing the Food: Everyone loves a good lentil soup but that is not always the right vibe for a party. You can make pizza fancy and a formal plated dinner lame depending on the context. Choose the right food for your occasion by thinking about why your guests are gathered. If they are at a house show where bands are playing, lentil soup is fine. If you are throwing a party for a bunch of foodies and can’t cook, spend your budget on catering. I always prefer to cook to accommodate my guests.
Dress in Coordination: Once you’ve established your theme, go to your closet and find the outfit that most closely aligns with the theme of your party. I never wear sequins in day to day life ( I am more of a sweatshirt gal) but you better believe I have a go-to vintage 80’s sequin top that I pull out for parties.
Utilize Thrift Stores: In Lela Rose’s book she gives an example of embroidering napkins for a party. While very impressive, not all of us have time or the talent to embroider our napkins. I like to utilize thrift stores for small intentional accents. When my husband and I were getting married, I had friends and family collect tea cups from antique stores to use as centerpieces.
Always have music!: Whether it’s a live band or a carefully considered playlist, make sure you have a place where music can be played and heard. It should also fit the theme. Play jazz at a Gatsby party, make sure you have some 90s Jay-Z for a dance party or Iron and Wine for an intimate dinner. If you need a playlist guy, I know a playlist guy. 😉
Always have Flowers:They do not have to be extravagent to make an impact. Perhaps you put a few bud vase clusters around the house, greenery for garlands flowing down a table or even create a photo wall. Flowers make guests feel like they are worth the beauty and charm of your time and intention.
You can read Lela Rose’s book by ordering on Amazon but I recommend you order it from my favorite book store, Fabled, based in Waco, TX. You can also buy a used copy of my mom’s book on children’s parties published in 1994 HERE.