How to make your party Picture Perfect

How to make your party Picture Perfect.mellower. You don't want your friends belting out
Have you ever walked into a party, be it a largetunes at the dinner table. You also don't want
wedding reception or a small dinner party withpeople straining to talk over the music - turn it
friends, and immediately thought "this is going todown. As the party hits full tilt, change the music
be fun"? On the flip side, sometimes even theto something with a good beat. While your guests
swankiest of events fall flat on their face when itwon't be listening to the words of the songs
comes to making a good impression. Chances are,they'll be feelin' the beat! If you get to stage 4
when you walked into the "fun" party itpartying, that's the time to crank up the tunes
immediately tickled all 5 of your senses. Whetherand put on your dancing shoes!
it was quite obvious or done on a more subliminalTaste: Obviously if you are having a dinner party
level, party planning for your guests' senses isyou already have this topic covered. Even so, be
your solution to a picture perfect party!sure to have something prepared and ready for
Sight: First of all, you want your guests to knowyour guests as soon as they walk in the door.
which house is having the party. This meansPerhaps it's a tray of bite sized crab cakes or a
turning on both the interior and exterior lights.glistening silver platter piled high with chocolate
While your party may be taking place strictly oncovered strawberries. Even if your party is not a
the first floor go ahead and turn on some of thedining one, food is just as important. You want
lights from the second story. This will give thefood everywhere and anywhere. As the drinks
house a welcoming and warm glow. Drop a fewflow and the evening progresses, your snacks
hints outside to give guests an idea of whatWILL get eaten - I promise.
awaits them inside. Lanterns in the trees,Touch: In relation to pulling together the perfect
luminaries lining the driveway, blooming flowers onparty, touch is not only in the literal sense (such
the front porch, perhaps even a small table set upas running your hand over something) it also
by the front door with snacks, drinks and freshapplies to various epicurean textures (that means
flowers. One of my favorite tricks is to buy aFOOD!) I try to make sure I serve something
huge basket, or two, of blooming flowers the dayhot, cold & room temp. I also serve something
before my party. Then, I drop this basket rightsalty, sweet, crunchy and soft. Now this can be
into the urns outside my front door and I amas simple as spinach & artichoke dip with chips
guaranteed giant perfect blossoms the day of the(hot/smooth & salty/crunchy) crudités (cold
party. It sure beats watering and coaxing flowersveggies) & dip (cold/crunchy&smooth) +
to grow weeks in advance! You can even buy achocolate chip cookies (room temp/sweet). Of
few extra baskets for inside your house - you'llcourse you can take this idea to the next level
have to move them outside the next day, butwith oysters Rockefeller, shrimp cocktail, +
they'll make a beautiful impression the day of thechocolate truffles. The idea is that this principle
party. I have even found that buying hangingcan be applied to both a beer budget and a
baskets is cheaper than buying cut flowers forchampagne soiree.
arrangements. Another favorite trick of mine is toSmell: From the front door all the way to the
pull out all those random yards of silk fabric Ipowder room, it's not so much what your party
have stored away for such an occasion. I love todoes smell like; it's what your party DOESN'T
keep a couple of yards of dupioni silk on hand (insmell like. This means taking out the trash (and
various colors) to pull out for parties. I'll fold it inmaybe even rinsing out the trash cans), cleaning
thirds for a coffee table runner, swag it overthe yard of any "dog presents" or the cat box, or
existing draperies, lay two contrasting colorscleaning up after any pet that you may have.
crossing my table for a tablecloth - the possibilitiesPerhaps you even address the animal itself -
are endless. Silk is so unbelievable luxurious yetRover could use a good shampoo or a trip to the
affordable. You can find great quality dupioni silkgroomer. There is nothing more off-putting that
fabric online for about $15 a yard.being all dressed up and visiting a friend's house
Sound: Don't ever discount the importance ofthat has a stinky smelly dog jumping all over you.
good music! It is imperative to a great party.At least you can take out the "stinky, smelly"
Equally important is the level at which the music ispart. Outside light some citronella candles which
played. You can't simply throw in a cool CD, hitnot only smell good, but deter those pesky
repeat and turn it up to level 10 - no no no. Yourmosquitoes. Be sure to add a small bouquet of
choice of music and audible level will have toflowers to the powder room. One of my new
change throughout the night. If you feel you willfavorite devices is candle warmers. They slowly
be too busy to attend to this task, you'll need tomelt the candles instead of burning them (great
assign to it. Lucky for me, my husband considersway to prolong the life of your candle) and the
himself somewhat of a music aficionado andsmell gently wafts through your home.
takes party music personally and seriously. In theSight, sound, taste, touch, smell - that's all it takes
beginning of the night when people are firstto throw a party that appears picture perfect. I
streaming in you'll want the music to fill the voids.can assure you it will all come together if you
The first few guests may not know each other"use your senses". Whether it's a 25th
and this great music will bridge the gaps. Chooseanniversary party with 200 guests or dinner with
popular and fun songs. If you have dinner planned,the boss, you can pull it off with a smile knowing
dim the music and put on something a littlethat you have the secret!