Spring is the perfect time to open your patio doors and invite some friends over—but don’t get overwhelmed. Entertaining can look like a party of 40 guests with a bartender and passed appetizers, or four people with a box of pizza and a bottle of wine. Don’t let your own expectations get in the way of making memories with people you love or want to connect with. Take these entertaining tips with a grain of salt—do one of them or all of them. No one will know what’s missing.
Set the date, time, and reason for the party.
Give your guests enough notice. I like to send Evites. They are free and can now be sent straight to your friends’ cell phone numbers.
Embrace the outdoors.
Move some tables and chairs outside. Create small groupings to encourage conversations. Have a place to move everyone indoors if the weather changes.
Make a theme.
A theme helps to set the mood and can run through the menu and decor. For an elegant evening, bring out your china and light some candles. If you’re serving tacos or other Mexican food, add bright tablecloths and fresh flowers.
Make a signature drink.
Along with the theme, a coordinating cocktail brings it all together. Add a little unexpected twist to an existing drink. Offer a pink grapefruit margarita with your tacos by adding a little Aperol, or use blood orange juice or peach nectar in sparkling wine for a girls’ brunch.
Don’t forget some music.
You don’t even need your own playlist. Check out the already-made Spotify lists with names like “Sunday Brunch” or “Cozy Dinner Mix.” Use portable speakers to have the music throughout the party if you don’t already have a speaker setup.
Plan an activity or entertainment.
This can be so many things—playing a question-and-answer game, live music, or maybe the food is the center of the evening, like build-your-own pizza or decorating holiday cookies.
KISS.
Keep it simple, stupid. The most important part of having a gathering is making sure YOU enjoy it. Do as much as you can in the days or hours before the party so that you can relax with your guests. They are there to see you. Outsource what you don’t enjoy doing. This could mean ordering takeout, hiring a caterer, or enlisting a teen to pass appetizers. My biggest tip is to just have the party. People are just grateful to be invited over.
