
The Importance of Nice Invitations
I cannot stress enough the importance of a beautiful invitation. This sets the tone for your entire event.
I know it has become trendy to send evites or Facebook invites. I also know that some of you will disagree with me on this point but let me make it very clear how I feel about this issue. I do not think eviting or any other kind of impersonal electronic invitation is appropriate for showers, weddings, and other formal events. I know these mediums of social interaction have their place in the world, such as kids’ birthday parties, community events and casual get-togethers, but using them as an invitation to a meaningful event in one’s life is just tacky.
The Guest List
Your party budget will usually dictate what size party you plan. I tend to like smaller get-togethers but as our little circle grows the list keeps getting bigger! When planning your guest list, keep in mind the comfort of your party-goers. You want folks to feel comfortable with each other. If you invite a hodge-podge of people with no connection, you are setting yourself up for an uncomfortable evening. Jorj and I decided to invite our Fourth and Cherry family as well as Tara’s and Phillip’s immediate families. You can see from the pictures that we had a great turn-out! (Our Fourth and Cherry family is always growing!)
I live in a tiny 980-square-foot house, but I am blessed to own a beautiful building with a nice big Café dining room! When I entertain, I usually do it at The Café! If you are planning a large party, consider renting a venue. If this is in the budget, it will make things a lot easier on you (the hostess). You will not have to worry about set-up and clean-up, and you will have help! If it is a smaller party or if you have a large home, then by all means have your get-together at your house! I think inviting people into your home is such a gracious way to make folks feel loved and included. It is so personal! People don’t open their homes up to guests much these days and if you do, you will see, it goes a long way to make your guests feel important. It is also so much fun to get to use all your pretty things!
Whether you are planning heavy hors d’oeuvres or a meal, you want to make sure that it is something that the guests of honor like! In this case, after much discussion with Tara and Phillip, we decided on traditional southern fare of pot roast cooked with carrots, potatoes, green beans and Vidalia onions. We served this up with warm yeast rolls and sweet tea, of course! I have found that simple meals like this are always a crowd pleaser and you (the hostess) don’t have to spend hours and hours in the kitchen preparing high maintenance, frou-frou food that no one wants to eat.
Decorating for an event is just one of my favorite things to do! For this party, I drew inspiration from the color palette that Tara has chosen for her wedding. Blush, Ivory and Navy set the tone for the evening! I also wanted the party to have a vintage feel as Tara, Jorjanne and I are all lovers of all things vintage! I spent a month scouring EBay for vintage pink damask napkins.
The Timeline
I am not one to like to play games or to feel the need to provide entertainment. If you get the right folks together, they provide their own entertainment! For this party, we had a short cocktail time while folks arrived and got comfortable. This was followed by a buffet dinner and dessert. When the bride and groom had finished eating we moved right along to opening presents! Your guests really appreciate it if you keep the evening moving!
If you are always looking for good party ideas and menu ideas, follow The Southern Mercantile on Pinterest. We are sharing new ideas every day!
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