How to Get Your Party Organized

So this weekend was our housewarming party- yay! In order to not go crazy and/ or forget anything, I like to set up a little timeline for myself that goes a little something like this:

3 – 4 weeks before

• Decide on a date/ time
• Decide on theme & if you’re doing a meal, hors d'oeuvres, brunch, etc. 
• Send out invitations (I use evite). People be busy yo’ and like to plan out their weekends accordingly.

2 weeks before

• Plan the official menu (I usually have some ideas in my head)
• Peruse Pinterest for ideas & what you want to make or do. I decided to use paint samples as food labels.

Weekend before the party

• Review evite to get guest count and estimate for those that haven’t responded. You can always ask them too!
• Make list of what to buy.
• Go shopping (separate trip) for all the booze, food, and decorations you need. I like to do it separately so I can focus on my party alone and not get mixed up with “gosh, do we want lasagna for dinner – what do I need for that?”
• Start a little pile of stuff in a designated area. I put decorations and non-perishables like red wine and bags of chips in that pile.

2 days before

• Begin baking/ cooking items that will last. I did chocolate chip cookies and brownies since they will keep longer than chopped veggies.
• Start cleaning areas that won’t get dirty like a guest room.
• Pull out serving dishes & put them in your “pile” (AKA as my squirrel stash). That way you know what’s going where. 

1 day before

• Prep other items that will last. I made the bottom layer of my 7 layer taco dip and cooked the bacon wrapped lil’ smokies and refrigerated them.
• Keep on cleaning and hiding junk in the closets :)
• Begin to chill wine, sodas, beer if you aren’t doing an ice bucket.

3-4 hours before

• Finish cooking, chopping fruit & veggies, etc. 
• Set the table if you are having formal dining.

2 hours before

• Get yourself ready. I made the mistake to get ready first thing in the morning and spelunked fruit tea all over my shirt I was planning on wearing :/

1 hour before

• Set out serving dishes, start warming up any crock pot items.

Party time! Guests arrive!

• Pull out refrigerated items and then have fun!
• Don’t forget to take pictures or ask for a friend to take some for you. I of course have no pictures except for the one prep pic :/

I follow this formula for Thanksgiving dinners to smaller brunches.

How do you plan for a party?

Any tips or tricks for an awesome party?