Best Interior Designer: Tips on Hosting a Cocktail Party

I’ve been skiing the past 5 days and to help keep me upright and others around me safe I enlist the services of a trainer who helps me learn to be a better skier. It’s working, slowly, and I enjoy the process and the practice. Something we were speaking of this past week echoes in my mind this morning and I want to share this concept with you.

I find it interesting how many people (that I speak with) don’t entertain in their homes at all. For a long list of reasons they never share their homes with people in their life. Call it fear; call it insecurity; call it laziness?

There may be many reasons, but the net result is that people lose the opportunity of playing the role of host, which in my opinion, is one of the most thrilling adventures one can set out on.

Hosting guests in your home allows for a powerful connection to take place. Guest and Host, both having their responsibilities, interact in ways never imagined. Both parties win and you are then ready to begin planning your next entertaining event.

Here are tips for jump-starting the Host Within!

    1. Start small. You don’t have to host the entire office staff. Keep it small. I like 6 people as it give each guest five opportunities to engage in conversation.
    2. Keep is simple. You do not need to serve a sit-down dinner to 36 of your nearest and dearest. Plan a simple cocktail hour at your home before going on to dinner. This could not be a better idea. The numbers are small, the time frame is compact and the evening has another destination, which takes great pressure off you.
    3. Enlist the help of your friends. Let your closest friends know what you are up to and ask for their help. Whether they assist by attending or by helping you gather the guest list, it is always stress reducing to know that you are not alone in the adventure.
    4. Have fun. If you don’t enjoy your party no one will. I understand the risk you take in opening your home. I can only share with you from years of experience (all accomplished on a shoe-string budget) that if you can enjoy yourself at your own party you won’t trade the experience for anything, ever.