Party Planning Tips

As you gear up for summer, here are a couple tips to make your next party stunning and stress free.

Choose a theme:

Your theme doesn’t have to be too literal, but a theme helps tie everything together and provides a great starting point. Whether it’s an era, season, or animal, choosing a theme helps make decision making easier by building around a common idea. For a recent barbecue I chose flamingos to be the theme (inspired by one of my favorite lifestyle bloggers, Kelly Golightly). By choosing flamingos I immediately thought summer, tropical, fruit, pink, which helped inspire the party.

Choose a color palette:

This will marry with your theme and keep things focused. If you are throwing a backyard fiesta, pick dishes and flowers in a mix of bright colors and prints. If you want a more sophisticated party, choose a simple color palette such as white dishes with metallic accents. 

Decorations:

You don’t have to go buy anything new, handmade paper streamers or cut out letters can add a simple sweetness and will emphasize your celebration.

Music:

It’s nice to switch out your typical tunes for something more party specific. If you’re having a tropical themed barbecue, maybe test out ukulele Pandora stations. If you're throwing a fondue party, crank up some '70s classics.

Choose a signature drink:

Choosing a signature drink keeps you from becoming overwhelmed trying to accommodate every taste. A great summer drink for an outdoor party is a Skinny Piña Colada. Want something more sophisticated? You can never go wrong with a classic martini or Manhattan.

Planning the menu:

Take into consideration the season, time of day, whether you are indoors or outdoors and dietary considerations. I know you can’t accommodate every taste, but if you have a vegan friend it’s nice to have a couple of options for him or her. If your party is outdoors stay away from anything mayonnaise based or foods that cannot hold up in the heat. A regular mixed green salad will just wilt. Opt for couscous, bean or pasta salads that will keep better in the heat.

Relax, relax, relax:

I have a tendency to be over ambitious when it comes to parties. No one wants to see their host stressed. If you want to make a super complicated dish, be simple with everything else so you can also enjoy your party. 

Here are a couple carefree dishes that are simple or can be made ahead of time:

Appetizers:

Cheese Plates – simple and sophisticated. Pair inexpensive cheese's like sharp cheddar, pepperjack or Swiss. Or splurge on more expensive kinds like manchego, camembert or parmesan.

Pastry Cups - Add anything to these little cups from chicken salad, eggs to create mini quiche, or brie and jam for a perfect one bite appetizer.

Fresh herbs - Store bought dips taste homemade with a sprinkle of cilantro, parsley or chives!

Mains:

“En papillote” - You can put almost anything in parchment paper. Seal the edges and tie with kitchen twine and your guests will feel like they're opening a gift for dinner. The parchment packets can be assembled ahead of time and simply popped in the oven when the time is right. Plus cleanup is a breeze!

Barbecue - Marinate meats or vegetables the night before and toss them on the grill. Violá!  

Dessert:

Crème Brûlée - These delectable custards are simple to make, the only complicated part is you need to plan ahead. The custards should typical be taken out of the refrigerator for 20 minutes, caramelized, then placed back in the refrigerator for another 20-30 minutes before being served. Make sure to allot yourself enough time. 

Homemade whipped cream and seasonal berries - homemade whipped cream takes 3 ingredients and two minutes to make. It will always be leaps and bounds better than any storebought brand.