To me, there’s nothing like a get together with the girls, friends or family, especially when it’s a casual party with special touches. It’s more about making your guests feel at home with simple decor that is still special, and effortless foods that are still delicious. It’s the kind of party that anyone can host, even if you don’t have an entertaining bone in your body.
I was going through some of my earlier event styling work, and found a brunch I held for the gals when I was doing my internship, that was themed around Pantone’s color of the year, Tangerine Tango. My assignment was to plan a small party with a specific theme, and an activity for guests. So, I thought why not do a #tbt post to this party since I do love its pretty details, especially the florals in bold orange and pinks that work perfectly for fall, and share some tips with you on hosting any party at home; whether it’s brunch with the girls, a bridal shower, or with the holidays fast approaching, a really special dinner party.
I used Pantone’s color Tangerine Tango as the starting point, and was inspired by a bohemian floral print blanket I had. I even took a photograph of the print and used it as the image for the invitations, as well as the food and drink labels, that I made. I wanted to hold a simple brunch, and carried on with the boho theme, inspired by Eastern European breakfast treats. If you do have a theme, incorporate it into your menu; keep in mind the time of day and the season of year. When possible always use what’s the freshest at the market. And while you may want to make every item, some bought items will not only save you time, but certain items taste better and are prettier, like breakfast pastries and macaroons, when from your favorite bakery. I wanted a breakfast treat that the girls could customize, and choose a yogurt parfait bar with toppings like fresh and dried fruit, nuts, granola, and honey. The perfectly chosen bottle wine or beer works great for a dinner or holiday party, along with a small bar area setup with a few special liquors for guest to make their own drink. For brunch or a shower, I like to create a signature cocktail drink, served alongside a fruit juice for non-alcohol drinkers, coffee, tea, and bottled waters. Fresh cheeses, crusty bread, fruits and nuts are a must in lieu of complicated hors d’oeuvres, and they will always please any crowd. Label food, if possible, even if it’s just family. You may know of allergies, but you don’t want to keep them guessing on what a filling may be for say a breakfast pastry. If there are guests who you don’t know well, then labels are a must!
As far as serving ware and linens, use what you have on hand. I love mixing different plates and platters together, just remember to keep everything in the same color family. And I’m a big believer of not using plastic ware, unless it’s a very casual bbq. Not saying you must use the best china you have, but simple white dishes can do wonders in elevating the look of your home party. For larger parties, say bridal showers, I recommend doing your research and renting. I’m fortunate that my parent’s home has a large ample basement that we use when entertaining the family for the holidays, so it was perfect for the gals to gather together to make glittered champagne flutes. A long table was setup with chairs and supplies at each place setting and I led the how to. Waiting for them as the walked downstairs were hand painted bags for their flutes, which were tied with the signature cocktail, a Tango Mimosa’s recipe. A large ample basement of dining/living space is perfect for guests to gather around a large table whether for eating or crafting.
As favors, I loved this diy, and since brunch’s theme centered around flowers and Spring was approaching, I wrapped flower seed packets into pretty paper flowers.Create small floral arrangements to place throughout your home – the coffee table, entrance table, bathroom, and the kitchen. They should be simple arrangements with beautiful florals you won’t need too much effort to put together. Best tip, make all floral pieces the day before your party.These bold colorful florals were beautiful parrot tulips, bright pink roses, crespedia, white hydrangeas, and orange spray roses.Use decor pieces you already have on hand. I used Buddha figurines from my collection scattered throughout.You’d be surprised how well you can cover up certain furniture pieces in your home when having a party. The floral printed blanket that inspired the color scheme, was used to cover up the entertainment unit in the living room and another piece in the dining room. I hung paper lanterns in bright pink and oranges. You don’t need to spend too much money when hosting a party at home, make as much as you can. My brunch included lots of paper flowers and a hand painted banner for the yogurt parfait bar area.Two Important Rules:
1.Select a Date and Time + Stick with It
Chances are, you will never find a date and time that works for all of your family and friends. The best thing you can do is select one that works best for YOU. That way, you won’t be stressed about working around multiple busy schedules. And KEEP THAT DATE and SET an RSVP DATE!
2.Send an Actual Invite – then Follow up with Tech.
It can be something as simple as a handwritten note on pretty paper or something more elaborate like these. You can choose to email, but with an overload of social media, it can become lost amongst the other emails your guests receive, plus I found something much more personal when you have an actual invite in hand…After mailing your invites, follow up with your guests – whether it’s calling or via text. Then follow up again on the RSVP date you’ve chosen.Hope you enjoyed walking down memory lane with me, and this inspired you to feel like a pro at hosting a home party!