Tips for a Simple Sophisticated Party

Entertaining friends and family in your own home is one of those simple pleasures that can really make life living and show your loved ones you really care. However, in the 21st century, we all have so much to do that there is little time left to plan the perfect event and this can lead to ‘party planner’s stress’ and a damp squib of an event if we aren’t careful.

So, if you’re planning to host a party anytime soon, and you want it to be sophisticated without being stressful, check out these simple tips for party success:

Send Elegant Invites

Just because they’re your friends and you have all their cell numbers doesn’t mean that you can do away with invites.  No sophisticated hostess would deem it acceptable to send text or email invites rather than the real thing. Sure, it will take slightly more effort to go to the store and pick out some pretty invites, but it will set the tone for the whole party, so it’s pretty essential.

Keep the Menu Simple

Instead of trying to cook an elaborate multi-dish menu, bring out the classics and cook that one pot dish that you love. Something like beef bourguignon can be whipped up pretty quickly in advance, but it is also a very impressive, rich dish that your guests will love, and if your dress up your table with monogrammed napkins and your best silverware, your guests are guaranteed to be impressed by the elegance and sophistication of the evening, so much so that they won’t even question how much effort you put into the meal.

Make Signature Cocktails

Instead of spending a stressful evening mixing up all manner of cocktails for your guests, choose 2-3 of your favorites and let your guest know that they’ll only be able to choose from those. That way, you can mix up a few pitchers beforehand and spend more time socializing with your friends, which is the whole point of having a party really.

Itunes some Classy Tunes

Usually, listen to hip-hop or have a secret love of Justin Bieber? That simply won’t cut it at a sophisticated soiree, so before the party, download a classy playlist that will increase the elegance of your party immediately. Classical music and soft jazz work well, but feel free to play it by ear.

Buy Dessert

Buying a nice dessert from a local bakery will save you a lot of time and stress, and your guests will enjoy it just as much as anything you could make yourself. Just don’t buy a dessert from a regular store – they’re never as nice, and they’re rarely sophisticated either.

Raid Your Wardrobe

If you don’t have the time or money to shop for a new outfit, it is almost certain that you will have something suitable sitting in your wardrobe. You can rarely go wrong with a little black dress, providing it isn’t too little – this is a fancy party after all. The key is not to stress about your outfit. Pick something, wear it and forget about it.

How do you remove the stress of throwing a cocktail party for your friends?