Entertaining Checklist
Y
our Party Checklist
Make your party planning easy with our party checklist. We've also includes some ideas and quick tips to make the planning and set up process a little easier.
Click here to download a PDF and print at home
__Food. Chips, nuts, cheese, paté, olives, bread, crackers, herbed salami, a roasted turkey, a baked ham, a tray of sushi, a smoked salmon, a big bowl of shrimp, and a table of desserts will be appreciated.
__Drink. Wine, beer, champagne, and/or liquor should be present in abundance, as well as mixers, sodas, and at least one interesting non-alcoholic beverage such as hot mulled cider.
__Ice. There's no such thing as too much ice. You'll need a half-pound of ice for each guest, plus lots more for coolers and champagne buckets.
__Coffee. Make a pot after midnight and set it out with cream, sugar, and artificial sweetener.
__Music. You don't have to hire a 15-piece mariachi band, but you must have a good stereo system and a fine selection of party CDs. If your collection isn't geared toward the festive, the silly, and the soul-train-line-inspiring, borrow discs from friends - or even have guests bring their favorites for a musical potluck.
__Lighting. Banish overhead lights. Keep lighting dim and indirect. Create dramatic pools of light in key areas by clustering choirs of candles together, balling up Christmas lights and setting them out in bowls, or installing a mirror ball (with pin spot). Black lights should be avoided, because they instantly reveal who has fake teeth and who's wearing a white bra under her sweater. If you have a fireplace, light a roaring fire to inject any party with relaxed elegance.
___Decorations. You don't need piles of balloons or miles of crepe paper, unless you're hosting a high school prom. But it's nice to have flowers, candles (always unscented), and event-appropriate visuals, such as a big "Happy Birthday!" banner.
__Paper goods. Buy cups, heavy-gauge plates, and napkins in various sizes, and don't forget the forks and knives. Even if you're using your own glassware and tableware, you should have stacks of cocktail napkins on hand for use as coasters, Frito grease blotters, spill wipers, and olive pit receptacles.
__Ashtrays. Even if you're banishing smokers to the back porch, have plenty of these on hand.
__Beer cooler. An antique copper kettle is the most attractive option. A galvanized aluminum garbage can isn't as pretty, but if you can line it with a heavy-duty garbage bag it will get the job done. The ugliest of all are those plastic coolers that get hauled to football games.
_Trash cans. Keep a large trash can in the kitchen as well as strategically placed smaller trash cans so that guests can easy rid themselves of plates, napkins and the like. This will make your job of cleaning up a lot easier after the party.
__And don't forget...corkscrews, bottle openers, stirrers, cocktail shakers, ice bucket and tongs, cutting boards, and enough sharp knives to handle meats and cheeses at the buffet and lemons and limes at the bar.
