Some social events are best thrown in a large venue. Parties with hundreds of people on the guest list, as well as corporate parties, are best hosted in restaurants, party halls, and art galleries. However, if you’re looking for a more intimate environment with a smaller guest list, consider hosting your event at home instead.
There are many perks of hosting a party at home! It’s a more comfortable way for people who don’t normally like parties to host an event, and they’re a great way to show something off, like a new house.
Although catering events at home can be fun, they aren’t guaranteed to be successful. Throwing a party at home is different than throwing a party elsewhere.
Here are a few important things you’ll want to consider if you decide to host a party at your house.
Throwing a party for multiple guests at home can be stressful. That’s why we recommend hiring a caterer for your event. They will make sure all the food is cooked to perfection and served hot so you can focus on your guests.
The only question you have to answer is where the caterer is going to set up.
The obvious place to have a caterer set up is in the kitchen, but that’s not always an option. For example, it might be better to keep the caterer out of your kitchen if it was just remodeled to alleviate concern about it being damaged. The dining room or a sunroom might be a better option for your caterer.
You can also consider setting up smaller, distinct areas for your caterer. A drink station could be set up in the den and food prep done in the sunroom, while the plating of food could be done in the kitchen.
Getting the food right at your event is important, but it isn’t the only important feature of your party. There are a lot of big and small things that can make or break your event.
Save time and save yourself the headache of trying to do everything yourself by asking what else your caterer does. Most catering companies do a lot more than cook and serve food!
A few other services your caterer may provide include:
Outdoor events are particularly popular at home. By hosting your gathering outside, you can invite more guests, and your guests have more room to stretch out. Not to mention, it provides your caterer with more space to spread out, grill food in real time, and serve your guests.
Go ahead and plan an outdoor event. Just don’t be the person who gets stuck canceling that event at the last minute because of bad weather.
You should always have a plan B for outdoor events. A few rainy-day solutions for an outdoor party include:
Plan to assess the weather one week before your event. That way you have plenty of time to rent tents and propane heaters if they’re needed.
One of the most overlooked details of an at-home event is flow. Many hosts simply clean the house and open the door when guests arrive. However, our homes are set up for everyday living—not for hosting parties!
Plan how you’re going to create the perfect party flow well before your event begins. A few tips include:
Visualize the needs of your guests and try and imagine how they will congregate in your home. Be willing to arrange living room furniture differently and consider temporarily storing clutter that may be tripped on or bumped into.
Hosting an event at home has its perks, but it has its challenges too. It isn’t uncommon for hosts to become mortified when it’s time to pick up after the event is over. What do you do with all the leftover food? What about all the floral arrangements? Bags filled with disposable plates and cups can be especially anxiety producing.
Plan ahead to reduce your carbon footprint. Not only will a few small changes make your event eco-friendly, they can help you manage the mess when the party is over.
Use regular flatware, china, and glasses. Although that means you’ll have a pile of dishes to wash when the party is over, it’s something your caterer will likely help you with.
Ask your caterer if they can prepare leftovers for you and your guests. Other food items can be composted. Floral arrangements can be donated to hospitals, schools, and nursing homes.
Reducing your carbon footprint also means choosing a caterer that takes sustainability seriously. At Left Coast Catering, we cook in a solar-powered kitchen, we use sustainable, local ingredients in our recipes, and we use a detailed formula to ensure we cook just the right amount of food. Contact us today to learn more about the previous catering events we’ve helped plan, as well as how we can customize our services for your house party.
