The Fine Art of Entertaining: Rules to Live By (With or Without Weed)

Credit: Photo Illustration by Ad Age. Composite images: VH1, istock

Growing up, I was always mesmerized by the likes of Martha Stewart. She had this ability to seemingly throw together the perfect hors d'oeuvres, the perfect invitation, the perfect decor, and the perfect ambiance. It all seemed so cool, so breezy, so… well, easy. The reality is, nothing is ever that simple and none of us are Martha Stewart.

Entertaining can seem daunting, but I’m here to tell you, it doesn’t have to be. Follow these steps, and I guarantee your friends will be equally mesmerized by you.

Set the mood.

First, determine what is the reason for this party.

Maybe you’re celebrating a birthday or promotion, maybe it's the first day of summer and you want to throw a BBQ, or maybe you just want a reason to put on a cute outfit and be with your friends. This will determine the mood you want to set for the gathering. Dress up your space to match the occasion. It could be as simple as lighting candles and dimming the lights or as elaborate as redecorating your whole space with themed decorations. In most cases, I find simple and subtle to be your best friend. You’ll be amazed how much your space can transform with a change in lighting and some great music.

Tailor your playlist to match the mood and make sure it’s long enough! No one wants to hear the same song played on loop for 3 hours straight. Spotify and Apple Music have great curated playlists if that seems too intimidating or music is not really your thing. 

Curate your menu.

Now that the mood is set, let’s talk about food and drinks.

Some gatherings require several courses of food, or maybe you just want snacks and appetizers. Whatever you decide, make sure the food tells a story. If you’re throwing a BBQ, having sushi on the menu, may not make a ton of sense and throw off the whole vibe. If you’re throwing a classy cocktail party, maybe ordering greasy pizza from the chain down the street is not the best idea. Even if they have a buy one get one free deal. Impress your guests, with seasonal ingredients and flavors that complement each other. If you have no idea where to begin, the world wide web can be an incredibly helpful tool.

The internet is filled with sample menus, ranging in theme and difficulty, and even DIY cocktails and drinks that you can easily execute with a few ingredients. Your guests will feel so special when you whip out a custom cocktail and a gorgeous charcuterie board with unique cheeses and spreads. They don’t need to know that that cocktail was secretly easy to make and you had no idea what half of those cheeses were either. All that matters, is that they feel special and that you created something exclusively for them. 

Create something unique.

Your guests are enjoying the ambiance, they’re loving the snacks, but what sets your gathering apart from that great party you went to last week? Simple. Customize elements of your party to fit your exact needs.

People love feeling like something was made just for them, and your guests are no different. We already touched on one fun way to do that: make a cocktail and name it after your event. For example, if it is your friend Kelsey’s birthday who loves tequila, make a pineapple margarita and call it Kels-a-Rita. This is a sure-fire way to make Kelsey, and all your other guests, squeal with glee.

You can also customize decorations, signs, menus, invitations, or maybe even a photo wall where friends can take photos and selfies with fun props. Get creative! If your party has an extended food menu, maybe print out a custom menu with the name of the celebration printed at the top. You can easily create something like this on Word or with a little help from a friend with design skills.

The same can be said for creating invitations or unique signage. If you’re feeling extra fancy, there are plenty of resources to create an ink stamp specifically for your event that you can use for menus, invitations, goodie bags, you name it. All of these unique touches will set your celebration apart from the next party, and the next, and the next. 

Prepare for anything.

Once you’ve nailed down the vibe, set out your menu, and made fun customizations remember to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.

Make sure you have extra food and drinks, in case someone forgot to tell you about their plus one. Ensure you have plenty of paper towels to clean up any spills or messes. Double check your RSVP’s to make sure you haven’t forgotten anyone. Whenever I entertain, I make a list for every possible thing I can think of. Research has shown that lists are a great way to guarantee you’ve accomplished everything you need to do, prioritize, make sure nothing is forgotten, and calm your mind.

When you can physically check something off a list and see all the tasks you’ve completed, you can rest easy knowing that you’ve prepared to the best of your ability. 

Have fun!
You’ve set the mood, you curated your menu, your celebration is unique, and you’ve prepared like a boss. Now the fun part. Enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Greet your guests with a smile, pour yourself a drink, and entertain like the host with the most you are. All you need to throw a great party is a little planning, a little time, and a lot of your personality. What makes a truly unique party is you. Be yourself, and have fun.