The fete set

How to ensure your next gathering goes down easy.

For decades, classic TV fans have laughed themselves silly at episodes featuring notoriously disastrous parties thrown by Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show or the Crane brothers of Frasier fame. Despite the characters’ best intentions, their dinner parties, cocktail soirees and get-togethers would begin well but inevitably go down in flames – literally, in some instances.

Aparty gone bad isn’t amusing when it happens in reality, of course.

As you consider plans for holiday entertaining, experts suggest using strategic planning, offloading tasks to the professionals when you can – and most importantly, relaxing and have fun.

“Remember, it’s the people that make the party,” said Kellye Garrett, owner of Cowtown Concierge. “If you love entertaining, it will show.”

Get real

According to Julie Eastman, owner of Extraordinary Events & Design in Fort Worth, people tend to get stressed out when they take on too much by themselves and haven’t thought things through.

“Entertaining at home can be fun and rewarding – but you must have a plan.” Realistic expectations and a bit of poise under pressure will also come in handy, according to Melinda Massie, owner of Fort Worth-based Melinda Massie Events and Consulting “Obviously, we all want to throw a stellar event, but something can always go wrong,” she said. “It’s all about how gracefully we handle the problems.” The other major factor that adds to stress is not giving yourself enough time, she said.

“Planning a successful event takes quite a bit of time,” Massie said. “You have to allot for things like prep time for your vendors and shipping times for items you order online.”

By giving yourself some breathing room on the timeline, you won’t feel that stress if someone doesn’t return a phone call immediately or if there is a delay in shipping, she said.

Other pre-party stressors include lack of organization and failure to keep up with details.

“Use a ‘party calendar,’ where you record your task lists and manage your timeline,” said Garrett.

“This should have all the phone numbers, Web sites, and e-mail addresses for your important contacts in one place.”

Outsource, hire, delegate

It’s not cheating to bring in a few behind-the-scenes professionals who can help you take your party from frenzied to fabulous. In fact, experts recommend outsourcing whenever possible.

“Hire a professional caterer who will prepare, setup, serve and clean up for you,” said Bambi Bach, co-owner of Chateau at Forest Park, a Fort Worth reception hall.

Caterers will drop off food for your event or work the entire event for you, she said.

“Event planners will drape your tables, provide centerpieces and take care of food and drinks, plating and glasses – the whole she-bang.” Specialty housekeeping or concierge services can step in and provide a wealth of pre-and-post event services, including cleaning, dinner service, even pickups and deliveries.

“I like to be there for the three-part process: set up, the party and tear down,” said Dianelle Rivers-Mitchell, owner of Elegant Domestic Services, a Tarrant County-based residential and commercial cleaning company. “You can’t believe how stress-free It is to have someone in your home on hand to help you, so that you can focus on entertaining friends and family.” Besides helping her clients transform their homes into a shiny-clean setting for a memorable party, Rivers-Mitchell serves as a good fairy of sorts by providing subtle assistance during the party and taking the pain out of the morning after.

“I can help you greet guests, take their coats and make sure they get settled down,” said Rivers-Mitchell. “While they are mingling I am constantly checking the restrooms to make sure they are clean and tidy. If someone spills a drink, I’m right there to pick it up.”

After the party, the helpers clean up, leaving your house looking as though the party never happened, she said.

“We start cleaning up that night, breaking everything down and put leftovers into Tupperware.”

Downsize

Not surprisingly, given the zeitgeist of the late 2000s, professional party planners note that in-home entertaining is trending away from excess in favor of what Massie calls “stylish minimalism.” “These days it’s all about eliminating waste and excess,” said Massie. “We’re not seeing the grandiose displays that we did a few years ago.” The “less is more” approach can result in simple but dramatic decorating concepts, according to Massie.

However, the more simple the decorating theme, the bolder the colors can be, she said.

Bambi Bach agreed, adding that a unified approach is the way to go when for party decorations.

“Selecting one color for your party will give you high style and impact,” said Bach.

“Once you select your color, use it for linens, lighting, flowers, candy bars and signature cocktails.” Going “green” is also fashionable, noted Bach. Think organic and reusable, she said.

“Planning an environmentally friendly party means leaving your global appetite behind and thinking local,” she said. “Go to your nearest farmers market for delicious, in-season fruit and vegetables.”

Creative cuisine

Smaller food portions are in keeping with the trend towards minimalism, but that doesn’t mean hosts have to scale down creatively when planning a party menu.

“I think it’s fun to really mix it up when offering beverages, said Aimee Deputy, the senior manager for marketing and communications at Central Market.

Wine isn’t the only thing you can serve – it’s trendy to offer boutique beers, like Trappist Monk, she said.

“A lot of beer makers are offering special holiday brews that range from spicy to sweet. They are a lot of fun.” Deputy suggests asking a Central Market beer and wine expert for pairings as you are putting together a menu.

“Purchase an attractive, colorful washtub from Target or Crate and Barrel, fill it with ice and a mix of beverages and let your guests decide what to drink by serving themselves.” Other creative cuisine variations suggested by Deputy include substituting sliced specialty and flatbreads for crackers and a pyramid of chocolate party favors.

“Send guests home with something to remember you by,” she said.

“I am in love with these delicious, foil-wrapped squares of premium chocolate from John Kelly. You can stack them by the door with a little note to guests that thanks them for coming to the party.”

Entertaining 101

Give yourself some breathing room. Create a party planning timeline that allows for delays and mishaps.

Stay organized. Keeping your to-do list and contact information in one place will reduce stress and save time.

Hire an expert. Professional party planners, caterers and personal concierges can help with everything from invitations to food preparation to picking up your flowers on the day of the party.

Take out loaners. Local rental companies can offer you high-end lounge furniture, linens, even a complete set of items for a stylish tailgate party – for a fraction of the cost of buying them.

Don’t forget about parking. If space is limited at your home, consider hiring a valet service. Placing your party favors inside guests’ cars during the event adds a stylish, memorable touch.

Sources: Central Market

Chateau at Forest Park

Cowtown

Concierge

Elegant Domestic Services

Extraordinary Events & Design

Melinda Massie Events and Consulting