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Hosting a Designer Harvest Party
The season of hosting guests is upon us, and as fun as it is, it can also be stressful! There are so many components to creating the perfect atmosphere for the perfect dinner party. You’ve got the table settings, lighting, music, menu, and an idea of how the evening will flow. It can be a headache! We’re here to help. Here is our step by step guide to hosting a designer harvest party.
PREPARE
This preparation phase should be where you put the majority of your hard work. If you’re prepared, the day before or day of setup is a breeze! Here’s your preparation checklist.
Make your menu. Keep it simple. Don’t go overboard! Choose a couple items you can make a day or two before your party so you have less to do the day of. Make your grocery list, then keep all your ingredients together if possible until it’s time to cook, so that you’re not searching through the fridge, pantry, drawers, etc.
Send your invitations at least a week in advance. Whether it’s an evite, text, or old school snail mail, people get busy around this time of year, so send your invitations early enough to ensure as many of your friends are available as possible.
Decide on your table settings. If you don’t have the plates, napkins, cutlery, or centerpieces you want, make a list of ones you’d like to buy and get them ahead of time! You can also borrow from a friend who you know has what you’re looking for and return them the next day.
Clean your house AND set the table a few days before the party. The day of the dinner, you should be able to focus on the food, and if your house is already clean and your table is already set, it will relieve a lot of stress on the day of your party.
PARTY
With all your preparations done, you should have time to sit back and relax during your party. Enjoying what you’ve created is just as important as your guests enjoying it. Here are some tips to help you create and keep the mood during the night.
An hour before your guests arrive, light candles! It’ll get your house smelling amazing, and the candlelight creates a relaxing atmosphere. Dim the lights and let the candles do the work.
Have music playing BEFORE guests arrive, so there’s never a moment of awkward silence. Make a playlist that’s either the length of the party, or find one on the streaming service you use. There’s a ton of amazing “Dinner Party” playlists out there. Find one you like, then you’ve ticked something else off your list of things to think about.
Guests will be arriving at different times, and let’s be real, not everyone is on time. Have a selected drink and appetizer out and ready to serve while you wait for everyone to arrive. Use a bar cart or tray to make the pre-dinner cocktail and snack easy to see right when you walk in, so people have something to occupy themselves with while you wait for everyone to arrive.
Relax and have fun. It seems obvious, but how many of us get caught up in the hostess mindset that we forget to sit back and enjoy our friends and family sitting around the table together! Turn any thoughts of cleanup off until your last guest has left. Be present. Your guests came to be with you!
O + A PARTY ESSENTIALS
We’re here to help you create the most magical dinner party ambience. Here are some must-haves from our Home Market we recommend for your designer harvest party this fall. Come on in and grab your favorites!
We hope you have a wonderful time hosting a designer harvest party!