A toast to the host: how to make your next party perfect – Cornerstone
The Holiday Season is just around the corner, meaning that ‘tis the season to get planning! Here at Cornerstone Canmore, we’re fortunate to have an in-house team of event planners that make hosting an event a breeze. To help take some of the stress off your shoulders, we’ve compiled a few of their top tips to help you host the perfect party this year!
First things first: your guests need to be able to get the right information to know how to get to your event. Regardless of whether your invites will be hard copy or digital, you’ll want to make sure you are specific with details about date, time and location. You should also include any necessary instructions for guests such as where to park, what entrance to use, and dress code.
Setting the Stage
If your venue features several different halls or rooms, make it easy for your guests to locate where they’re going. Once they arrive, ensure that your area is warm, welcoming, and easy to navigate. Remove any items that might create pathway barriers, and direct new arrivals to your main area to socialize and settle in. Do your best to mingle and chat with everyone, facilitating introductions in the process.
One of the aspects of hosting that people tend to find most daunting is the idea that they have to “do everything alone”. You can lead the charge, but even if you’re a solo host, it’s best to recruit a few helpers who can help you throughout the evening. Having a team to assist you with beverage refills, seating arrangements, food serving, etc. can help to alleviate some of your stress. Assign everyone a role, so when it’s game time, everyone knows exactly where they need to be. If you find yourself needing a hand in the moment…don’t be afraid to ask! A “perfect” host knows when to politely lean on others, not just carry the event by themselves.
This can be one of the most difficult hosting elements to master. Ideally, you will have some sort of timeline going into your event, allowing you to know when to seat guests for dinner, serve dessert, etc. Sometimes, however, things don’t go quite as planned. It’s best to stick to elements that allow you a certain degree of flexibility to prevent any unnecessary mishaps should your evening deviate from the set course momentarily. For example, when considering your food choices, opt to serve a dish that has a more forgiving window in the oven, just in case you find yourself temporarily distracted.
And, most importantly…
Don’t Forget to Enjoy Yourself!
Remember to breathe and relax, after all, it’s only a party! One of the most common complaints we hear from hosts is that they never get to enjoy their events because they’re so caught up in making every last moment perfect. Try to allow yourself to have fun, after all,…you’ve earned it! The most memorable get-togethers tend to be those where the host is relaxed and confident in themselves. Allow yourself to be in the moment by eliminating distractions like cell phones, televisions, or tablets, and truly engage with your guests. We bet you’ll be happy you did!
Looking to host a festive party, family reunion, or corporate gathering? Cornerstone Canmore can help. We offer event services, including in-house catering. Contact us today to learn more!