The Holiday season is upon us once again. Christmas music is playing in stores and on the radio, Holiday-themed commercials are taking over the TV.
With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away, we would like to share some tips and tricks for preparing your Eastbrook Home for parties and guests. Whether you’re hosting a large group for a sit-down dinner in West Michigan, or a casual buffet in Greater Lansing, a little preparation can help make your event an even bigger success.
First, your pre-party preparations will be much easier if you have a game plan to follow. Before you start to decorate or purchasing food and drinks, consider what kind of party you wish to have. Are you going to host a formal dinner party with fancy dress and expensive champagne? Or are you planning a casual get-together with folding chairs and a buffet? It would be easy to set up tables full of food in the garage, but formal guests would probably not expect to eat a 5-course meal on folding chairs.
Once you have a theme, decide on the number of guests you wish to invite. Running out of food or beverages in the middle of an event can quickly change the mood, but so can forcing people to walk a half-mile from the nearest parking area – especially since West Michigan has already seen an accumulation of snow on the ground.
Your driveways and walkways will see a lot more foot traffic during your party, so plan ahead for that as well. Keep the salt handy in case your finished paths become slippery in the snow, and be sure the path from the street to your front door is cleared and well-lit.
Be sure you have adequate space available for people to park, and to drop off or pick up passengers and food. It’s always best to be respectful of your neighbors, so discuss your party traffic with them well in advance to avoid aggravations caused by tire tracks, or by blocked driveways and sidewalks.
As your game plan takes shape, a little pre-party preparation can make setting up for your event and clearing away the aftermath much less of a chore. Dedicate some cabinet space near your main entertainment are to make it easy for guests to replenish snack bowls or drinks. That will also make it easy to put your party supplies away once everyone has gone home.
If you’ll be preparing the meal for your event, start early and freeze what you can. The more you can cook ahead of time, the less work you’ll need to do the day of the event. Decorating early and even completing setup tasks during the week ahead, such as setting and decorating your tables, can help to relieve party-day stress.
There are other tasks that can help to lighten the host’s workload as well. Choose a place ahead of time as a catch-all for your guest’s winter coats that’s nearby and to reach. If you’ll have a kid’s table, select a spot that’s easy to clean up and prepare supplies for unexpected spills.
Clean up can also be easier with a little forethought. Throw a large pan full of warm soapy water in the sink to clean up anything you can, such as glasses and lightly-used utensils, and lighten the workload once your party has ended. Instead of throwing empty glasses and dishes in the sink, place them right into the dishwasher.
And if guests offer to help clean up your home – let them do it.
With a little party planning, you can ensure your holiday gathering is enjoyable for your guests and does not become a burden for you. A successful party is fun for the guests and the hosts alike!
The coming winter is a great time to begin discussing, or even planning, the home of your dreams. Contact Eastbrook and we may even be able to get you into your dream home in time to host next year’s holiday parties.
Contact Eastbrook Homes today and see why we always give you more home for your money. We also give you more space to entertain your family and friends for your money too!
