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10 Party Planning

G rand Desig nA clear picture of the party style andsize is the )ecrel or )ucLess every ti"ne.Before planning venues, invitatiorrs,settings, entertainment and food anddrink, decide on exactly the right typeof party. Energy and enthusiasm areessential for getting things moving, butit is best to sort out guidel nes withinwhich to plan before ideas snowballand practicalities are forgotten n aninitial wave of excitement.

There are established routines andetiquette for many occasions andutilizing these is often sens ble. Theyrange from formal dinner parties,society drinks gatherings or balls toweddings, anniversaries and seasonalgatherings. There are also just as manysmall or substantiatly la.qe gatl-er rg5that are organized for no particularreason other than meetinq up andsocializing, for example overcom ngwinter blues. making the most of thesummer sun or catchinq up with agroup of friends.

Below An attractive buffet table withplates and napkins piled high.

or Simple Style?Who's vvho?Start with an outline guest plan: is thisa gathering for six or sixty, under-fivesor over-fifties, family or friends, bestbuddies or business associates? lf youare inviting a complete mix of family,f riends, colleagues and neighbours,a proper plan would be a sensib estarting point. ldentify the differenttypes and ages; by fitting individualsnto groups you will be sure to inc ude

something for everyone. This eases thero e of host or hostess, which cannvolve looking after small groups or

couples -

or worse -

individuals driftlngabout on the fringes of the party.

Time of dayThe party may be to celebrate amarriage, baby naming or christening,or lt may be a social event. lt may notbe a particularly jolly occasion, forexample a post-funeral wake. Doublecheck arrangements that cannot berhdnged 'aler, lor exar]p,e timin95for ceremonies, photography orperformances and estimated travellingt me between event and party venue.

Above Summer barbecues can beday or early evening social event5.

Consider the different ages of, orrelationship between guests beforefrxrng times. A two-phase celebrationis popular for very different groups; itwould typically comprise a formal meal,low-key lunch or early evening drinksparty followed by a lively gatheringlater for younger guests or closefr ends. This solution works as well forrt[o,mal otcasions a l'ou.e warn.rg,open house for a summer barbecue oran annual family gathering as forweddings. Plan the transition betweenday and evening, and decide whetherthose invited to the first part of theparty will also stay late.

Fornai gatnerings to. ea.ly ever,ngdrinks preceding a late supper for afew friends or pre-lunch gatherings'nusr bp well orchestrated. llvirationsshould indicate the time when guestsare expected to leave: "Pre-dinnerdrnks between 6 p.m. and 7.30 p.m."A verbal or informal note to join familyor weekend guests for "a drink beforelunch" should include the expectedtime of arjval and departure. Be clearto avoid any confusion.

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Party Planning 11

Smarten up ordress dorrvn?Once you know whom and when,make a decis on on how you want yourguests to dress and behave, and followthis through in inv tat ons, food andenterta nment. Be clear on nvitarionsif you expect formal dress (wh te t eand bal gowns; black tre, tuxedo andevening wear; morning wear, or tophats and tails, and hats), lounge suits orsmart daywear. You will not need tostiprlate dress for an nforma' occasior'.lndicate any special requirements, suchas swimm ng th ngs and towels forpoo side parlres, sun hats and p cnicblankets to sit on, and sweaters orshawls for even ngs outdoors.

Before and afterGuests may need accommodation forthe night before and/or after the party.After a ong journey, house guests willusually want to arrive early enough tofreshen up. lnclude the preparationof guests' rooms in your plans andtrmings, re'ne'nber,ng the I trle thilgsthat rnake people feel weLcome andrelaxed

- flowers, magazines, drinks,

biscu ts (cookies) or chocolates, as wellas towels, soap, shampoo and tlssues.Keepinq a few disposable, trave -size miniatures, or spare smalltoothbrushes, toothpaste, smallpacks of ant -perspirant and bottlesof moisturizer n stock s a good ideafor party guests who stay unexpectediy.

Pay attention to detail whenentertaining youngsters, espec allyif they may be too shy to ask forforgotten essent als. For a specialoccasion sLeepover you could preparefun s eepover packs rncluding noveltytoothbrushes, f ruit-f lavouredtoothpaste, wacky toiletries, expandingface cloths. reading materlal such ascomlcs, mini torches, tasty midnightsnacks and fruit, and sma I packs ofdrinks or bottles of water.

Above Add romantic touches to atable dressed in white for a wedding.

For arge gatherings, check the ocahoteLs and provide guests with detailsof price, locat on and availabllity whensending out nvitations. Rememberbreakfast on the morn ng after theparty and make flexible arrangements.

Party pri(eAs each name is added to the guestist and every idea mul ed and jottedbear in m nd the cost. Decide on thetype of party to suit the funds avaiiable,then work out a realistic budget inmore deta I before progressing fromrdea to plan. This is just as importantfor smal1, informaL events as for once-in-a-llfetime occasions f you want toavoid overspending.

Soning an orrlire budget at thisstage s essential and easy: make a listof every aspect of the party, adding arealistic (generous rather than rnean)cost and contacting supp iers to checkspecial pr ce>. For exrravagdll. oc(asrolsirvo v ng l-oLel>, venJes, cdrerers.entertainers and so on, make specificenquir es at this f rst stage. Divide thecosts into fixed amounts for the

occas on and variab e prices thatincrease with the number of guests -refreshments in particu ar - rememberthat the venue s ze may change { theguest isr grows too o1g. Spreadingthe cost by paying for some items, suchas wine, spir ts or beer, completely orpa.tly n advance rs one way or easrngan overstretched budget, especiallywhen planning a party at home.

Below Simple sna cks, drinks and brightdecorations are good basics for a party.

'12 Parly Planning

Have List, ll Organ izeWidinner parties and drlnks parties aregood Friday affairs, as are after-theatreor post-exhibition suppers.

Weekends are popular for groupevents for families and for activity clubqet-togethers or excursions. Whileweekend brunches are general y greatfor those without young children,Saturday brunch can also start famrlyactivities on a high note and theafternoon rs a good choice forchildren's partres. lf Saturday lunchis diff icult for working hosts andguests who have to juqqle familycommitments, the evening is good

Above Champagne is generally servedat weddings and formal occasions.

Below Ore-pot feasts, such asmoussala, a- good fu supper pdrties.

Lists are essential when planning for aspecial occasion. Suggesting that thereshould be a system for making themmay sound like overkill, but even themost super-efficient llsts can becomeso mo11 ed wilh addirions .hdl tl-eybecome uninterpretable. The answeris to have separate lists with differentinformation. Using a computer or aspiral-bound notepad is bril iant forkeeping lists on separate pages buttogether in one place. Jot the date oneach page and include notes ofdiscussions with suppliers, ordersplaced and ideas. as well as the guestlist, special requirements, shopping andso on. Using this system, it s easy toflip through to check detarl, and t isa good idea to flag significant pagesyou refer to frequently, such as theinvitatlon list where you wil tick or

Above Make lsts for organizing allaspects of party planning.

cross off guests' names as replies comen. Start with a list of the usual

requirements for different occasionsand then personalize it to your style.

Which day?Work functions are best from midweekonwards. Friday can be a good day forunch or an evening party if partners

are invited; Wednesday or Thursday aremore convenient for "colleague on y"events (especially if there wil be acomparatively early f inish).

Weekday dinner parlies can benconvenient, but midweek evenings

can be a good choice for drinksgatherings or supper parties desrgnedto end early. Relaxed and informal

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Party Planning 13

':. large and/or formal dinner parties.S;turday s popular for weddings,, owlng time for guests to travel;:-lday is ideal when the marriaqei .vrtlessed by a srral number o{-:iations and followed by a party'cr friends and associates.

Sunday lunch ls extremely versatile:: allows plenty of time for preparation,rd is suitable for informal or smart:'rangements for family, couples,: .rgles or a m xture.

Parties and celebratlons for clubs:rd classes are usually planned for the:ay and time when the meetings are-ormal y held. Annual dinners tend to:e organized {or Friday or Saturday:ienings, depending on the work:ommitments of members.

Schedul ing an irnportantcelebration. sts should include all the details,.'rhereas a schedule will set datesand deadlines for the tasks. Draw up a"'raster schedule of key dates, tasks and'em nders with references back to thelsts for deta ls where necessary. Listscan then be updated as time passes.

A few months may be enough timeor organizing srmp e weddings but

one to two years is usually allowed

Above A stylishly dressed table for aThan ksgivi ng celebration.

for extravagant affairs. Timing oftendepends on the book ng requirementsof venues and officia s; check thesecareful y. Find out about caterers,entertainment and transport, andcheck the avai abi ity of all relatedaspects before booking the ma n evenl

Put dates to the lists and check thatthey are all possible. Then draw up theout ine schedule

- the master gu de to

sourcing, booking, confirm ng andchecking every aspect of thecelebrat on. Schedule key dates foreverything. Adding mlnor aspects may)eem pr(ky, partrcu arly wl^en copingwith a big party, but they can easily be{orgotten later. Use a familiar meansof ayout, if posslb e, be that a yearp anner, kitchen calendar, chart on anoticeboard or computer program.

Scrutinize your schedule forbottlenecks and potential problems.lf too many tasks coincide makeahernative drralge'renrs by'nov r^gjobs to different dates or delegatethem to helpers. When you are happythat you have not missed anything,make sure the schedule looks neat,tidy and is easy to follow.

Schedule checksBelow are items to add to theschedule according to the needs o{the occasion, placing each againsta date when it has to be done.

Formalities: legal/paperworkrequirements, bookinq alloff icials, confirmationVenue: viewing, booking,and confirmation, checkingfacilities, preparationEntertainment: booking, venuepreparation/layout requi rements,details of repertoireAccommodation: source detailsCaterers: ref erences/assessing,booking, menu decisions and/ortasting session, confirmation ofnumbers, caterer's advance v sitSpecial catering: special d ets,f inalizing details of presentationFood preparation: ordering,shopping, key dates for advancecooking, days for final preparationBar: delivery/collection of drinksand glasses, return of itemsProfessional help at home:gardening, cleaning, kitchen help(before or after), butlet wa tingstaff, bar staffFlowers; booking, venue visitand desrgn liaisonGuest list: invitations out, givea date for replies backGifts: buy, pack

14 Party Planning

Choosing a VenueThe occasion, type and size of party,budget, convenience and availabilitya I influence the cholce of venue.

Home optionsEntertaining at home can be nylish ifrrere s srilab e spar e. Wn le c lear nqfurniture to the edges of one or twosmall rooms and letting everyone sp llinto the hall or lobby and kiichen maybe fine for an informal party, it is notnecessarily the answer for a specialce ebration. Unless there is ample f loorand table space, plus kitchen faci it essufficient to cater for a sit-down meal, abLiet is'nost praciical. Wher servirga fork buffet, remember that someguests may prefer to sit down to eat.When finger buffets or snacks areserued, guests do not need so muchspace, especlally if the refreshmentsare handed around.

Make use of outdoor areas andconsider hiring an awning or marquee.Tables. chairs and barbecues can bearranged on firm areas; rugs andcushlons can be laid on lawns. Beprepared for poor weather andconsider erecting large umbrellas.

Below With attention to detail, dressinga table at home can be very elegant.

Hotels and restaurantsSelect a venue by recommendation,reputation and persona experience fpossible. Vlsit the restaurant for a rneato d))ess geleral qual lV and amb err e.When comparing establ shments,prepare a standard checklrst and donot be embarrassed to make noteswhi e you are there. The follow ngare points to consider:. How many guests can be catered forand rn which room/bar Check themaximum number of covers usua lycatered for; point out, if necessary, thatyou do not want their capabilit es to beoverstretched. Will a bar adjorn ng afunction room be exclusively for theuse of your parry or will it also be opento the public? Check bar closing times.

Ahove Put extra tables on patios andin courtyards for hame entertaining.

. What types of menus are offereddno dl wnaT prire pe' head? What sincluded ln the price per head? Arechildren s portions provided at reducedcost (prudent when a wedding guestlist ncludes many children)?. Do the regular kitchen staff preparespecial functions, or are outsidecaterers or temporary chefs employed?. Check wine ists and bar pr ces. Askwhether you will be able to supply yourown w ne or champagne and whatcorkage charge is applied?. Cleck arrangemer.s [or over>eeingthe smooth runnlng of the occasiondnd wlether a rdster of (eremontes

Party Plan ning 15

: 3va lable. Ask about the su tab lity of--:;ces'or speecl^e' o' f

"npl [', a ror:rJrpment is avai able.. c check accommodat on, assess the

- oe aqd ype o{ roo''ns ard p'..e::- room/person, with or w thout:':akfast. Ask if favourab e rates w I:: offered for a block booking.. foes the business have existing inks.. :r enterta ners? At what time in the:. enLng must music end? Are there::r:icular florists who know the- lie /restaurant? Simi arly, there may:: a usefu nk with photographers,.'o are fam liar with the setting.. s the venue eas ly access ble by car:' rar ? s there ample park ng?

Hired hall or rooms:ommun ty, sports, arts, soc al and: groL) venJe. o'ten have 'ooms':' h re. Some may have links with:aierers, entertainers and dressers tolepare the venue (and you may be:c iged to use bar facil ties or caterers);

Below Always visit hotel ar restaurant.,erues to check the space and facilittescefore you book.

accommodation may even be providedn some c ubs. Less expens ve venuesare economical for self-catering. Po ntsto check include:. Heating ( s th s lnc uded in the cost?).. L ght ng and how it can be adaptedto mprove the amb ence.. Kitchen facil t es for food preparat onand storage, heating and c ear ng up.. Tables and chairs check how manythere are, the table slzes and make surethey provlde enough space for thenumber of guests. Bar fac I ti-"s and whether alcoho isallowed, entertainment perm ts.. C oakroom faci ities.. C ean ng and preparation of venue -w I the space be clear and c ean? Howfar in advance wil you have access forsett ng out tables, decorat ng thespace, laying out {ood7 Clear ng upafterwards

- wi I th s have to b-"

completed on the evening or next day?

Marquee hireTh s may be a practical so ution toga n ng a l-weather space f you haved drge. a oaroel Hre(orroar e5provide qu dance on size, numbers

Above Brighten up hired tables withtable linen and ribbons.

accommodated and access requ redfor erect on. Erected sample marqueesor a portfo io of examples should beavailab e. Check the ining is intact, the'oo t"q s so id, .^d the e s o'ov 5io1for power, heating and lighting.

PicnisThese may be informa and fun, orforma soc al occasions attached tospo'1 r g o' ellerta'ael 6venIsI o lof, r-slor a1d et qJe te for s61 611occas ons, such as the serving of sty ishcar-boot (-trunk) hampers, or candle itp cn cs n a country-house gardenWhen obtaining tickets for events,check deta s of times and facil ties,parking (and distance from picnic area),dress and conduct code.

Parties afloatBoats range frorn f oating Testaurantsand bars to those with facrl tres forextens ve parties. Smalier vesse s can behired f or small groups with or w thoutprofessrona staff, and entertaining upto a dozen fr ends wlth a champagneunch or early supper is fun. Checkthat the company r g dly app iessafety regulations jf n doubt seekadvice from re evant locaL author t es.Inspect the vessel's facil tles thoroughly.Check the duration and route of thetrlp and access and park r.lg at ortransport to the po nt of departure.

16 Party Planning

By lnvitation OnlyCommon sense and consideration arevrtalfor informal invitatiols while rulesof etiquette apply to formal invitationsA note can sometimes follow informalverbal invitations or a telephone call ofconfirmation a couple of days inaovarce

- typically when organizing

dinner parties with f riends. The timingfor sending out informal nvitationsdepends entirely on how busy andflexible everyone is.

lnvitation informationIt may seem like a statement of theobvious but it is surprisingly easy tomiss details or to include incorrect orcon'licting dates and days. lnvitationsneed to include the following:. Guesr name5, wiLh corre(t titles.. Host and/or hostess names.. Occasion or reason for party.. Venue.. Day and date.

The right time. Breakfast may be arranged fromearly until mid-morning.. Coffee mornings are usuallyscheduledforll a.m.. Brunch can be planned for anytime from mid-morning to earlylunch, between usual breakfastand lunch times.. Lunch is usually arranged at12.30 p.m. or 1 p.m. but invitatronsmay be for an early or late lunch.. Afternoon tea invitations are oftenscheduled for 3 p.m. or slightly later.Children's tea usually follows the endof afternoon school. usually about4 p.m.. Supper is often early or lateevening, indicating a light menurather than dinner.

. Cocktails and drinks are servedfrom 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.. Dinner is usually served from/.JU p.m. untrl E.JU p.m., wttninvitations requesting the arrivalof guests about 30 minutesbeforehand for pre-dinner drinks.o "At home" indicates a period oftrme during which guests may ariveand depart. This is informal andusually includes light nibblesand refreshments rather than asubstantial or formal meal.. "Open house" is the contemporaryand particularly informal version of"At home", often extending fromlunch (or mid-morning brunch)through to the evening and intendedfor a mix o{ families, friends andcolleagues of all ages.

. Trme: this may be approximate or during which guests are expected . RSVP (repondez s'il vous plait replyprecise. Before a formal meal, it is usual (within the first 15 minutes). The time please), sometimes with a date, is ato indicate a period of about 30 minutes may include the expected duration of polite way of reminding guests that

the gathering or a time when an evening a reply is required.Below Simple themes work best when will end

- expressed as "carriages at . Address. telephone and other contact

making your own invitations. ... " on formal dinner invitations. details for replying.. Dress code and any otherinformation: white tie indicating wingcollars, white ties and tails {or men, balgowns for women; black tie and dinnerjacket (tuxedo) is standard eveningwear for men, when women may wearlong or short dresses. Notes on a partytheme or other special dressrequirements should be included.

Formal invitationsWritten requests for the company ofguests at a notable occasion are sent atleast a month in advance. This is typicalof celebrations, such as weddings, whenfour to six weeks' notice is practical.(Key guests should be aware of thedate well in advance.) Parties organizedaround public events may be arrangedthree to six months in advance.

Party Planning 17

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:bove Stationery for formal occasions- -

aes in many different styles.

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-rbers when book ng a venue,-:-'rm with supp iers and make sure-. iat ons are sent out n good t me- crder for replies to be returned

--. lf e required date.

The right title-

rCresslng guests by an ncorrect tit e-:y cause of{ence. check with the- luseholds or offices o{ those rn pub ic-' offic al roles. There are reference::oks deta llng al contemporary and:':ditiona ly correct Jorms of address:-d greeting, ncluding academ crJal ficat ons, re gious orders and: rsit ons, m litary ranks, t t ed persons:rd those of any office requiring-:cogn tion. when in doubt about how:cquaintances and relatives prefer to:e addressed, check with them, f:oss b e. Otherwise, close famiy or', ends may be able to advise.

Trad tiona ly, a married woman takes-ne name or initia s of her husband.rhen addressed singly or as a couple,'or examp e IVlr and Mrs lohn Smith,vlrs John Sm th or lvlrs J. Sm th.-lowever, some object to this,

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preferring to use the r first name, andwomen may reta n their own familyname after marriage, choosing the t t eMs ^sleao of Mrss or Mr). Addressrigunmarried couples as "Mr and Mrs" isusually unacceptable to them and bothnames should be used.

lnventive invitationsDress the message up accord ng to thetype of party. Concentrate on sty e andqual ty for al inv tations, from heavyf at cards with { ne letter ng anddiscreet decorative edging to brightfo ded cards that may be fun but fallshort of becoming garish.

When using profess onal designersand pr nters ask to see samples andprices per quantity and remember that5glgqlrrg'ron Irel LsLa'eoertoiremay be more convenient and moresuccessful than asking them to createsomething different and compl cated.Craft techn ques, art ski ls orcall graphy can be used to makeinvitat ons and party stationery. lnvolvethe children when preparing funinvitations for junror events.

A persona computer can be usedto des gn and pr nt stationery toprofessiona standards. lf the printer isnot I ke y to deliver the requrred quality

Above Good quality paper and stmpledecorations make pretty invitatians.

n terms of co our and graphics, ready-printed paper, cards and matchingenve opes can be used as a base forp ain bLack pr nting.

F na y, creative f air and techno ogyare by no means essent a , as ready-pr nted party stat onery s ava lablefrom qual ty stationers and generastores. Neat handwrit ng is al that isrequired to add individual deta ls.

Below For farmal occasions, take care10 use rhe tOil-(t ttltes [ar guests.

1 8 Party Planning

Materials Lists

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Equipment andMake ists of all equ pment needed atlhe oJtsel lo be 5L.e -hal ave./trt1gis readily availab e, budgeted andscheduled. This app ies whenentertaining at home, part cu ar yfor se f-catering. When caterers arecomm ss oned they w ll usua ly sourcea I equ pment related to prepar ng andserv ng the food, often inc ud ng tab esand chairs. lf you have part cu ar ideaset them be known in advance

Buying or hiring?rrr ro r, o'to1 the or y p.actiLd, opt 01for large celebrations. However, if youregularly entertain medrum-stzegatherrngs at home, jt may be worthbuyrng a basic k t. For examp e, goodqua ity white china, p ain glasswareand dishrvashersafe standard cutleryare often avaiiab e from factory outlets.Plain whire f lat sheets are an alternat veto table linen and perfectly presentablewhen dressed up for the occas on. Forlnformal, family and chi dren s part es itis worth buying rigid plast c plates and

Above Table linen, napkins andglassware can all be hired.

d shes that can be stacked in the d shwasher rather than spending a most asmuch on d sposable ware that wil beLSed.rsl o1(e SorT oLt sla(, do E,covered, storage boxes at the sametime so that "the kit" can be packedaway afterwards for use next time.

Large itelYrsTab es and charrs are usua ly nc udedln the hire fee for hal s. Check numbersand condition when book ng, mak ngsure that they al stand securely whenopened. For parties at home, t isusual y poss b e to utilrze or borrowspare household or garden tab es, butcha rs can be more of a problem H ringfolding or stack ng plastic cha rs maybe the answer.

Ren enbe' prolect vp'loor cove'rrgslor pale or precious carpets, espec al ywhen planning an indoor-outdoorparty w th guests of a I ages. Spec al stnon-sl p cover ngs can be usefu nhaliways or over areas of carpet bythe patio or French doors.

When planning a large barbecuepdrty', con< dFr l- I 19 ld ge gds o-charcoal barbecues from caterers'suppl ers. They wi I make cooklngots of food easier than coping onthe minimum of space on the homebarbecue. Outdoor gas heaters canalso be hired.

le+t Plain white linen napkins can bedecorated with fresh flowers.

Below Make sure the barbecue is largeenough to cater far all yaur guests.

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Party Planning 19

Check availability of enterta nment

=:u pment, such as inflatable play::^ires or borncy castles, wher f,xrng:-e pafty date, to avoid disappo ntment.

-s< if the equipment wil be assembled:- nflated on delivery or left for you to.'ect, in which case make sure the-:cessary tools are also provided.

Food preparation andserving equipmentl:iering hire special sts provide=,ery,thing from d sposable tems to-arched table inen and napkins,:- na and cutlery and serv ng:ru pment, inc uding folding tables:-c chairs. When mak ng your ists,:.:'i requlrements by category and then:-eck outstanding queries with the hire

'3re. Count and check equiprnent,,.ren taking del very to make sure that-

s all c ean, present and undamag-"d.'rnere is anything dirty, missing or:amaged, et the company knowrmediately otherwise you may be^eld responsible and charged for the::oblem at the end of the hire period.'.lost of the fo lowing tems can be:asi y h red:

Below Check in advance that yau haveatl the cooking equipment you need.

Above Champagne flutes, ice bucketsand uueLs Lan all be hircd for parties.

. Cook 19 pd1s, lrays ard d sl-es -

make sure your oven and hobs(stovetop) are large enough for them.. Coffee makers and water boilers.. Servilg bowls, t'ay: ard d >l e:compare the cost of high-qual tyd sposable items with hire charges.. Table crockery make a I st from themenu, remembering cruets andsauceboats, if necessary, and cups, potsand spoons for coffee. Water jugs(pitchers) and glasses may be ncludedwith table crockery.. Glassware may be hired or borrowedfree of charge from wrne suppliers orsupermarkets

- this may include spirit

and beer g asses.. Table liren, rapk,r-s and crtlery.plus serving cutlery.

All the trimmingsL st al the decorative tr mmlngs andf n shing touches:. Room decorations and streamers;garden decorations.. Plants and/or decorat ons for pat oand garden.. Decorat ve indoor or outdoorlighring; cardles or ga'der flares.. Outdoor f ireworks.

Above Brght streamers and partyhooters jazz up a birthday party table.

. Tab e decorat ons, separated intofresh or silk f owers and others, suchas coloured strings, confetti, candles,party poppers, whist es, bubb es, tablecrackers, indoor spark ers and othermini ndoor fireworks.. Ba loons or ba loon decorat ons.. Guest gifts or ch ldrenb goodre bagsto take away and party-qame pr zes.. Small cake boxes.

Below Children love brightly colouredgoodie bags to take home.

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20 Party Planning

Table Etiquette,For formal occasions the host andhostess take their places at the endsof the table, with the most importantmale and female guests on their right(female to host. male to hostess). Theremaining guests are seated in orderof rank alternating male and female.When there is a master or top table,the most important quests take centreplace. This arrangement is adopted forweddings. with the bride and groomin the middle, flanked by their parentsand in-laws, with chief bridesmaid andbest man at the ends.

Couples are usually seated oppositeeach other, the idea being thatconversation flows around the table,not across it. When the numbers ofmen and women are equal, they areseated alternately around the table.

Above Make sure there is ample elbow-room bciilcen each table setling.

Below Coloured rnodern cutlery mixedwiLh clegant antique silver pieces.

Settings and Style

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Seat people who are likely to havesomething in common next to eachotle'. t is conside'ate ro avord pairingindlviduals whose opinions clashdramatically. When placlng guestsamong several tables, try to achieve acompat ble but interesting mix on eachtable. When there are children atformal occasions, it is sensible to putthem on tables near the entrance, foreasy cloakroom access. Guests withbabies or small chrldren may needspace for prams or high chairs.

I\,4ake sure the writing on placecards is large enough to be legible byguests as they walk around the table.Display a seating plan on a board nearthe entrance to dining areas at largeformal gatherings.

Forrrral table settingsThe simple rule for formal settings ls tolay cutlery for opening courses on theoutside, starting from the right, andwork in towards the plate.. Use a large d nner plate to check thespace for each setting and leave plentyo' e bow-roon between settinqs.

Above Use tradftional etiquette to avoidconfusion: cutlery i> placed on eitherside of the plates in order of courses.

. Working from the right, lay the breadknife, soup spoon. fish kni{e or smallside knife tor ihe [irst cour5e, la'9eknife for the main course and dessertspoon. Working in from the left, lay thefish fork or small fork for first course,fork for main course and dessert fork.. For slightly less formal arrangements,the dessertspoon and fork may be laidacross the top of the setting. spoon atthe top (on the outside), with rts handleto the right and fork below (on thein>ide), with its handle to the lef l.. Cheese knives and tools, such as alobster pick or escargot tongs, may bebrought in with the appropriate course.The cheese knife may be laid across thetop, below the dessertspoon and {ork.. Arrange glasses at the top rightabove the setting in the order in whichthey are used. lnclude a water gobletor glass. white and red wine glasses.. Distribute serving cutlery, cruets andbutter dishes evenly around the tabl-".

Party Planning 21

Above Cheyrons a re just one way of'trding linen napkins.

Below Cutlery can be bound together-c add interest to an empty bowl.

Contemporary styletlaunt convent on to make a designstatement. The civillzed rule when:xplor ng ''rew Ldble-laytlg ter.itory 5to be practical and avoid confusingdiners or causing embarrassment. lf thecut ery is not laid in conventionapositions it should be clear for whichcourse it is intended. Bread knives canbe laid on side p ates, cutlery for thefirst course can be laid on a baseplatter with a napkin or brought nwith the food, leaving the ma n coursecutlery on the table. For a stark effectleave the tab e bare, lay ng starchedlinen rao, ns at each place ano br r-gout cutlery as courses are served.

Go for graphic I nes and clean textureson table decorations, including anyflowers and cand es.

Base platters that remain in positionurder plates lor i.5r cou.se and 'naircourse look attractive. They shouldbe significantly arger than, andcomfortab y hold, the main-courseplate so that lt does not rattle. Glass,metal, wood or china in bo d colourslook especially dramatic under white orblack plates. Match napkins to the basep atter, arranging them on top as partof the setting.

Fun and livelyStrew the tab e with streamers and fundecorations rn caref ully coordinatedcolours. Bold flower petals andsJCcJ ent leaves make a crarge

"orrthe usua floral decorations. Crystals,beads and giass baubles can be usedto good effect ln centrepieces or cornerdecorations. Use ow or very tallcandles to create pools of ight. Makesure they do not block the view. Addcrackers and rndoor table fireworks forlive y interva s between courses.

Below Outdoor entertaining can beformal and stylish.

Above A wide selection of noveltyitems is available for children's parties.

Mix and matchU timately, the best parties and mealsare those where good food andenrerrai^ing corpany are sha.ed i1a relaxed atmosphere.

Mixing and match ng food, tablestyle and room setting can result in awonderfully eclectic party. There is noreason why all the china, glassware,cutlery and I nen should match; pickingout one colour to use for decorat onswil transform a complete muddle ofequ pment into a lively style.

22 Party Pla n n ing

Presentation and BuffetsRef ect the style in atmosphere andpreselrar or, ' orr the frst impre

Party Planning 23

r:.ompaniments is logical if the menu

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