About Gabrielle Johnson
When shopping finally becomes an Olympic event, editor Gabrielle Johnson is pretty sure she’ll take home the gold medal for Canada – after inquiring about the availability of other colours (lilac? chartreuse?) and politely requesting a discount. Every week, she shares a glimpse into what’s on her style radar.
I love to entertain. There’s nothing like the feeling of orchestrating the perfect evening, when the mix of people, food, drinks, music and conversation is just right. Hosting a fabulous party doesn’t require a lot of money or gimmicks, but it does take some thought and planning. Here are my tips for throwing a sensational soirée:
1. Clean your space the day before. I learned this one the hard way. I’m the type of person who can’t invite people over unless my home looks immaculate, but always leaving the cleaning until the last minute means I'm tired and frazzled by the time my guests arrive. The day of the party, you should be focused on food, looking fabulous and having fun — not chasing errant dust bunnies under the couch.
2. Serve a little too much food. I am filled with despair whenever I show up at someone’s house and there’s a tiny little spread laid out, making me wish I’d had the foresight to eat beforehand. Don’t cheap out. Make sure there’s enough food for each and every guest — then add three more dishes. Eating leftovers the next day is infinitely preferable to running out of food. The same applies for drinks (and alcohol doesn’t go bad, so you can never have too much).
3. When in doubt, add flowers/candles/twinkly lights. Think your space isn’t quite up to par, décor-wise? Mood lighting and fresh flowers cover up a multitude of sins. If you’re not a whiz at arranging bouquets, do what I do: take your favourite vase to a flower shop, inform the florist of your budget and have him or her whip up a fabulous custom arrangement. It’s the most affordable way to come out with blooms that look like a million bucks.
4. Great music can go a long way. This is especially true at the beginning of a get-together, when guests are starting to mingle and the conversation might not be flowing freely just yet. Take some time to create a playlist of party-appropriate tunes; you’ll want a range of music for different points in the evening, since not everyone wants to listen to your Best of AC/DC album during dinner.
5. Don’t be that hostess. You know, the one who bans red wine for fear of spillage and follows guests around with a DustBuster, sucking up rogue crumbs. Chill out. Inviting people into your home means you’re responsible for making them feel comfortable. Assuming your friends aren’t bulls and you don’t live in a china shop, things will probably be okay. If something does end up breaking or getting ruined, do your best to be gracious about it — and send your pals a bill the next day. (I’m kidding. Sort of.)
What are your tried-and-true entertaining tips?