The Hostess With The Mostest

Planning an event can be stressful at times, but it can also be a great deal of fun.  The stress tends to surface when you are feeling overwhelmed with the different aspects of planning.  The key component to ensuring your event goes off without a hitch is knowing how to be a great hostess.  Here are some of Mama's tips on how be "the hostess with the mostest".  

• Offer Variety.  Some of your guests might have particular food preferences or even allergies that you need to take into account.  Make sure you are prepared with a variety of different foods.  A general rule would be to serve a meat, fish, chicken and pasta- and be sure at least one item is vegetarian.  Show the same diversity with the drink selection as well by including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as offering a couple of diet options. 
• Relax the atmosphere.  Make sure the seating arrangements allow for each guest to be seated, while also leaving enough room for people to walk around and mingle.  Keep the lighting dim and the temperature cool to ensure everyone is comfortable. 
• Dress the part.  As the hostess of the event you will have to meet and greet every single one of the guests.  Your appearance (though you may not even realize it) will have an impact on how people perceive your event.  As a general rule, it is always better for a hostess to be overdressed than underdressed! 
• Welcome each guest.  All of your party preparations should be completed before your guests start to arrive.  When the doorbell rings- you should be there ready to take their coats, and welcome them into the party.  Be sure also to introduce them to any guests that have already arrived.  Mingling and making small talk may be the job of a good guest, but the job of great hostess is to encourage these new connections.  
• Be of service to your guests.  Even if you have the food set up on a buffet, or the drinks out on a bar, always be sure to offer one or both to each of your guests.  If you see that someone needs a drink, offer to replenish it for them.  Try to also keep an eye out if someone is drinking a lot of alcohol and is driving.  A great hostess will take measures to ensure that all of her guests make it home safely.  
• Relax.  As the hostess, you are literally the life of the party.  If you look like you are about to drop dead- your party is going to die off with you.  People start to feel like a burden if you appear stressed or tired.     Make sure you are always smiling, entertaining, and enjoying yourself.  

Have you been or known a great hostess?  Send us a comment and tell Mama about it!