You may have attended many parties, but hosting one is a whole different ball game. Instead of just focusing on having fun yourself, you want your guests to enjoy as much as you do. You want them to share your joys and celebrations.
But most of all, you want to make it to the end of the night without a meltdown or some unexpected accident.
Whether you’re throwing a casual party for friends, a themed costume event, or a simple congratulatory party, here are some tips to help you host one without losing your sanity.
Don’t Overcomplicate the Guest List
If you invite your work friends, your old friends, your neighbors, and even your cousins, it’s the perfect recipe for social disaster.
Keep the vibe consistent. If the party is for celebrating your promotion, only invite people from work, not your high school friends. If it’s a birthday party, you’d ring up your friends and family instead.
If it’s a general “let’s have some fun” part, pick a theme and invite accordingly. Everyone has different comfort zones and boundaries with different groups of people. You could be making the silliest jokes with your friends until you notice your manager judging you from the side.
Your party should not be a social experiment.
Stock Up on Drinks
There is no party without drinks. Even if people aren’t drinking alcohol, they still need something for their throat. And if you want to be inclusive, keeping other drinks like juice and mocktails is a great move.
But if you’re serving alcohol specifically, don’t just rely on whatever random bottles you have in your fridge. Don’t panic and run to the store either. You can save yourself time and energy by using a drink ordering app instead.
It’s the best choice of all, given that it works even when you run out of drinks. Most apps will let you order everything you need and have it delivered straight to your door.
Have Something to Eat
You don’t need a full-course meal or a fancy dinner.
For parties, finger foods are the best. You can get:
- Chips
- Dips
- Sliders
- Mini tacos
- Anything that doesn’t require a knife to eat.
Bonus points if it can be eaten while holding a drink and chatting with a friend.
Always overestimate how much people will eat. It’s better to have leftovers than hear complaints from hungry guests.
Make a Playlist to Match
You might think you want to control the music, but after your third cocktail, you’ll be playing sad indie songs that ruin the vibe.
It’s best to make a playlist beforehand. It should be long enough that it won’t loop too soon, and fun enough that it keeps people dancing or at least moving a little.
If music is not your thing, ask a friend to take over. There’s always that one friend with amazing playlists.
Offer Some Activities
Some people genuinely enjoy social settings. Others stand awkwardly in the corner, silently bonding with the plant.
Add something interactive to your party. Even for social people, getting bored with small talk is normal. You can consider something as simple as a card game or karaoke.
It gives people something to bond over besides surface-level conversations and work complaints.
