Wording for Invitations Start a Special Event

People like to dress appropriately for an event, be it a dinner out with friends or an important wedding. But host and hostesses should be clear when issuing invitations what the desired dress is. I’ve received many ambiguous related invitations over the years and wanted to help others dicipher the vague dress-requests they might receive.

-If you’re not sure how to dress, over dress for an event. Many people interrupt dressing for an event. You’ll feel less obvious if you over -dress.

-Formal. Black tie (tuxedo) for men, floor length gowns for women.

-Black tie preferred, optional or invited. Tuxedo is the preferred choice for men, if the man does wear a tux then the women should be in a formal floor length gown. However if the man does not wear a tux, he will wear a dark suit, white shirt and conservative tie. A women in this case will wear a short dinner gown or an evening suit, a skirt with matching jacket.

-Dressy casual. Dress pants with matching jackets but no tie for men and dresses or dark pantsuits for women.

-Business casual. Pressed dress pants or khaki twills with a collared shirt, but no tie. Never wear jeans to a business casual event. Socks and belts required for men. Women can wear pants or skirts with hose and a collared shirt. No flip-flops.

-Casual. Typically anything goes, but if you have never been with the host or hostess and it says casual, it’s better to over-dress until you have a better understanding of how they define casual.

To most people these two words, entertain and budget, are miles apart. But they dont have to be. Whether you are a young adult who wants to impress your friends, a new business owner looking to impress your clients, or a mom or dad who simply wants to take a break from the office to entertain a few friends you will find these tips useful.

No matter whom you are or what your background, we all enjoy getting together with family and/or friends. However, when money is a little tight you dont have to opt out of host or hostessing if you utilize some sensible alternatives.

Your first task should be to decide the theme for your event. This will help you to create your guest list as well as help you see what pre-party elements you can bypass and what areas you will want to make extra special.

If you are planning your wedding festivities you will want to focus on the comfort and enjoyment of your guests. For this type of event you could save a ton of cash that could be used for a more practical purchase like your honeymoon or your first home purchase by narrowing your guest list. After all is said and done only you and your immediate family and very best friend will remember your party. Most of your guests will remember the wedding. So have a larger wedding if you must, but limit the wedding party to save major dollars.

For most of us we simply want to entertain a few friends. Be sure to supply a comfortable amount of room for your guests. If yours is a dinner party you will want to ensure you have enough chairs for your entire guest list. If it is a cocktail party you can and should opt for “milling” room rather than so many chairs.

Another consideration is where you have your event. This can also either be costly or not. Here is a list of some inexpensive alternatives.

1. Your own home or backyard
   
2. Your local church Fellowship Hall
   
3. A local residential clubhouse
   
4. A local business or entertainment complex, i.e. skating rink, bowling alley
   
5. Park or picnic area
   
6. The beach or lakeside
   
7. Your family or friends home

The latter suggestion I offer with the thought of further spreading the expense by hosting a Progressive Dinner. These types of parties can be most memorable and fun.

Just what is a Progressive Dinner? Simply put, each course of a meal is prepared and presented by a different diner. My recommendation here is to plan carefully the route to minimize driving distance.

The next issue you need to decide is whether to give out invitations or not. Although a phone call is often less costly than a printed invitation you may want to consider sending them to at least some of your invitees. The more formal your event the more likely this should be done. Some ideas to consider that can help cut down on the expense here are:

1. Computer generated invitations
   
   
   
   1. Printed
      
   2. Emailed
      
   3. Online greeting cards

• Send Out Cards
  
• Online digital greeting cards
  
• Evite.com invitations

1. Hand crafted cards
   
   
   
   1. Quilled
      
   2. Stamped
      
   3. Embossed, or otherwise embellished
      
   4. Calligraphy

Hand crafting your invitations can be fun and will provide a unique invitation that may be cherished by the recipient for many years to come. You can even have a group of close friends or family members assist you with the invitations design and creation. Think about the laughs and memories you will be making at the same time.

Now that your venue is selected and your invitations are done next you will need to plan the menu. This is one area that can be easily controlled. If you want to really impress your guests but dont want to go over your budget I suggest you splurge on the dessert. This is the final thing your guests will consume and will therefore be the most remembered. If you are having a cocktail party you can do this with the hors doeuvres. Depending on your budget you can offer:

1. Homemade
   
2. Store bought
   
3. Catered
   
4. Shipped

Homemade can be time consuming and tedious. Store bought convenience items from your frozen food section will be far less so, but your deli or bakery may supply a fresher choice. Catered food, on the other hand, while expensive for an entire meal can be a nice alternative for those who want just one special course.

Mail order is fairly new as a viable alternative. You can mail order anything from steak and fruit to dessert. One of my favorite desserts to provide that always gets rave reviews are the tasty treats created with love and attention to detail from My Little Taste of Italy. This bakery located in Whittier, California provides the most authentic Italian pastries I have ever found. From their homemade cookies and cakes to their to-die-for Cappuccino Brownies you cant go wrong.

If you cant make up your mind what to order I suggest you go for the brownies. They are so well known and loved all over American that they have been dubbed, by Jan Verhoeff, “Orgasmic”.

While considering what you will serve also think about how you will serve it. While paper plates may be convenient for clean-up and a wise selection for your picnic be sure to invest in a plate that is strong enough to stand up to the task. For reliability you will find the coated paper products and Chinette(TM) plates perform the best.

However, if your party is indoors real plates and glasses add a hint of sophistication to your event.

A word of advice on beverages, “Go light”. Alcohol, beside the effect it has on people, can be one of the most expensive items you provide. To avoid this expense you might consider offering non-alcoholic alternatives or mixers and suggest your guests bring their own liquor. Another idea is to limit over indulgence by carefully calculating the number of servings per guest that you can afford and stay within your budget.

One last comment, if presentation is important for your event, the use of linens both on the tables and for guests will add class and beauty. This seemingly insignificant touch will absolutely be noticed and appreciated.

Copyright 2007 Ginger Marks

Ginger Marks and Kim Emerson are co-owners of Nibroc Marketing Solutions http://www.nibrocmarketing.com Ginger is also the author of “Presentational Skills for the Next Generation”, available through her company website at http://www.DocUmeant.net. My Little Taste of Italy can be found at http://www.mylittletasteofitaly.com/.

Dinner party etiquette, and indeed the subject of etiquette in general is wrapped up and disguised in layer upon layer of old school tradition!

I intend to dispel some of the mystique of dinner party etiquette. Here you will find easy, commonsense advice and tips to help you through any modern day formal or semi-formal dinner occasion.

Whether you happen to be hosting a party or attending as a guest, this information is for you……………this is dinner party etiquette for the new millennium!

Dinner Party Etiquette - the Basics

• Even in today’s fast and ever changing lifestyle, there is one very simple skill which if we don’t already possess, can easily be learned that is guaranteed to get you through even the most trying social occasion - good manners! Yes, something as simple as politeness and good manners will make up ten fold for any lack of etiquette know-how.
  
  
  
  
  
• And if you are not sure if your manners are good enough, pick a role model and compare your behaviour with them. This could be someone well known on screen or television, or perhaps a friend, colleague or business associate. Pay attention to how they behave around other people. Learn from them!
  
  
  
  
  
• Learn to be confident in yourself. Unease and nervousness in social occasions will undoubtedly make you feel uncomfortable and thus more prone to unnatural behaviour. A good tip before any important occasion is to go somewhere quiet on your own and sit or preferably, lay down. Close you eyes - and relax by taking long, slow, deep breaths. Then in your imagination, see yourself at that social event looking calm and confident. Imagine yourself interacting comfortably with other guests - you are a total success! Feel the experience - really let it sink in. This type of mental programming will assist you tremendously.
  
  
  
  
  
• As host or dinner guest, never allow yourself to be persuaded into believing that the more you spend, the greater the impression you will make! That may be true in certain (frivolous!) circles of society, but it is generally not so, and it is certainly quite unnecessary. Spend only that which you can comfortably afford.

Dinner Party Etiquette - Myths and Unnecessary Trivia

What rules? There are no rules!!

• We hear a great deal about rules of etiquette, as though they were written in stone somewhere, or part of the Constitution! What is acceptable to one person or one society may be totally unacceptable to another. If you must live by rules, then develop your own list of rules! Rules of etiquette steeped in history and tradition have very little real relevance in today’s society.
  
  
  
  
  
• Some folk firmly believe that unless you come from a background of substantial wealth and a particular upbringing, then you are automatically excluded from certain social choices. This is completely, and utterly, ridiculous! In my profession, I have performed the role of Butler at numerous very grand and formal social occasions for the wealthy and upper classes. And I do not exaggerate when I say that on occasions, the behaviour of some of those attending was truly appalling. Social background, education and wealth are no guarantees of good manners and proper behaviour!
  
  
  
  
  
• Often a dinner host or hostess believes that the more complex the menu, the more extravagant the occasion, the more elaborate the table setting ……the more he or she will impress the guests! That is far from the reality! A simple yet stylish, well executed dinner party delivered with thought, care and attention, will achieve a far greater result……..for a lot less stress!
  
  
  
  
  
• Dress code? Just as there are no rules in modern day entertaining, there is also…..no dress code! However, if it’s a formal affair and the host has clearly indicated a dress style (black tie, lounge suits, smart casual etc) then clearly, the dinner guest should respect that. As a host however, do consider carefully whether such a stipulation is really necessary. The trend these days is very much towards casual dining and generally speaking, most dinner guests will be more relaxed in that situation.

Dinner Party Etiquette - Social Behaviour

• If you are hosting a dinner party, use yourself as an example of what you consider to be acceptable social behaviour. Most dinner guests will take their lead from you - and if they don’t, they probably shouldn’t be there and are unlikely to be invited again!
  
  
  
  
  
• The art of conversation! The successful dinner party host should always encourage lively and varied conversation with honest opinions being expressed and shared. However, proper dinner party etiquette should encourage avoiding sensitive issues or subjects that some guests may find uncomfortable. As a considerate dinner host, if such a conversation is under way, discreetly interject and carefully change the subject. Or if that fails, interrupt by introducing the next course!
  
  
  
  
  
• For both the dinner host and guest, excessive behaviour of any sort is to be avoided. That should include excessive drinking, excessive talking (being overbearing!), excessive joke telling (particularly bad ones!!) and even excessive eating! A healthy appetite is to be enjoyed, over indulgence however, is not an endearing feature!
  
  
  
  
  
• To smoke, or not to smoke? Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the host or hostess to dictate on this. As smoking becomes less and less acceptable publicly, it is quite unacceptable to do so at a dinner table unless expressly invited to do so. It can be a sensitive issue. Personally, I would advise that the host makes another room available (perhaps where after dinner coffee will be served) for any guest wishing to smoke. Again, there are no strict rules on this subject - as dinner host, you must make this choice for your guests.

Dinner Party Etiquette - Place and Table Setting

• The days of making an impression by setting out enormous and extravagant place settings with numerous pieces of (sometimes confusing!) cutlery and glassware for an excessively long menu are thankfully, largely over. Keep the setting simple by putting in place only that which is required up to and including the main course. Cutlery for any following courses can acceptably be provided as the dinner progresses and concludes.
  
  
  
  
  
• Excessively large, elaborate table decorations and expensive, hall marked tableware are quite unnecessary (unless ofcourse they are family heirlooms!). A simple yet thoughtfully styled table using the best that you own and can afford can be very affective. Don’t be led into the trap of believing that your table must look like something off the front of a glossy home design magazine! I said earlier that there are no rules. Well infact there is one golden rule………..keep it simple!
  
  
  
  
  
• If you are hosting a large dinner party, then a table plan and place cards are essential. For a smaller party however, avoid such unnecessary protocol. Simply, casually direct dinner guests to sit where you would prefer them to.

This is dinner party etiquette for the 21st century. All of the above is no more than plain, common sense! And it is also about behaving responsibly and not offensively!

As a final word, please remember that the true art of entertaining has one prime goal………..that of pleasure! It should be enjoyed by host and guest alike. So at all costs, avoid being overly concerned about what is “right, and what is “wrong”. Do what you feel is right ……..and if you do happen to make the odd gaff - as long as you carry it off with grace, honesty and humility, you will happily survive the day! After all, it is only a dinner party!

Relax…………..and enjoy!

Are you planning a dinner party? Do you need to choose the
right flowers for your floral table centerpiece?

Choosing the right flowers can be frustrating and expensive
? or it can be simple and economical. Knowing three key
secrets makes it simple for you to choose the right flowers.
Then you can create a simple but beautiful floral
centerpiece.

The key is to have a plan and stick with it.

Have you tried to create a table centerpiece for your dinner
party without a plan? Then you know how easy it is to get
off track. Read on to see what happened to Sally because she
didn?t have a plan:

Sally wanted a beautiful table centerpiece. A little behind
schedule, she rushed to her local flower store to buy her
flowers. The selection was wide, the flowers looked so
lavish and the colors just sang. She thought it would be a
snap to choose her selection, hurry home and create a
stunning, perfect little masterpiece for her dinner table.

But fifteen minutes later she was still wavering between the
beautifully scented hyacinths, some striking pink lilies and
the tall, expensive orchids. In the end she left the store
with the tall expensive orchids.

Sally got home with flowers that cost her about four times
what she had planned to spend. She got home late because it
took her so long to decide. And she realized that the
orchids she bought just weren?t right for her centerpiece,
they were far too tall.

So she ended up with no flowers for her centerpiece and had
to rush back to the store.

OK, I confess, I was that Sally ? and more than once too.
But now I?ve learned three key secrets for choosing flowers
for my table centerpieces. Now I can add beauty to my dinner
parties and subtract frustration and stress from my day.

Here are the three key secrets.

1)Less choice means less stress. Eliminate impractical
choices. That means you shouldn’t choose tall flowers or
flowers that are scented for your table centerpiece.

Your flower arrangement should not be more than about 5
inches high. Otherwise your guests have to peer through the
floral bushes to see each other across the table.

So you can eliminate tall flowers unless you can cut them
down. Now you won?t be swayed by a beautiful but impractical
purchase. Sally?s tall orchids were stunning, but they
didn?t cut it for a sit-down dinner table arrangement.

Scented flowers are appealing, but not at the dinner table.
Don?t put highly scented flowers on the dinner table because
their aroma can fight with the food aromas. Some guests may
even be allergic to the strong scent as well. The scented
hyacinths Sally was eyeing would not be good choices for the
dinner table.

Now you can eliminate a large range of flowers before you
even get to the store.

Remember, less choice means less stress.

2)White works with everything.
White tablecloths work with
every color of flower.

White taper candles work with every color of flower.

White or crystal candlesticks work with any color of flower.

And white flowers go with everything.

How easy could that be?

3)Decide on your color before you go shopping
If you do want some color in your flowers, you already know
that any color will go because of your white tablecloth and
your white candles.

If you want color, select your color choices BEFORE you go
shopping. Don’t come home with a color that is lovely but
doesn’t work with your scheme. Making a color plan will
really help you avoid stress at the flower shop.

If your first color choice isn?t available
when you get there, go to your second choice.

If you see some flowers you absolutely have to have, but
they aren?t one of your choices, don?t change your whole
plan for the dining room table centerpiece. Just buy those
must-have flowers to decorate your living room. Then go back
to the plan and select one of your color choices for the
dining room table.

So don?t be like Sally. Put the three key flower-choosing
secrets to work for you:

1)Remember that you shouldn?t choose tall or scented flowers
for the dinner table.
2)Remember that white goes with
everything.
3)And if you want color in your flowers, choose
one or two colors before you go to the store, then stick
with your choices, no matter how tempting the other colors
are.

Now you have maximized your chances of choosing the right
flowers, and minimized your stress while you shop.

P.S. Did you know that with just three basic centerpiece
arrangements, you can cover almost every dinner party you
give over a year? See how on the Table Centerpiece page at
www.thedinnerpartyplanningsite.com

Joanie Williams has been giving small dinner parties for years. To get better at it she decided to gather tips and information from experts into www.thedinnerpartyplanningsite.com. She would love to hear your burning questions on hosting a dinner party.Ask
your burning question by clicking here while it?s still on your mind.

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What a great theme for a party with not a lot of expense. Don?t be deterred by the fact that Chinese New Year is not always on a weekend. I know it is hard to believe but people actually socialize Sunday through Thursday nights too. A party doesn?t have to be on a weekend. Just keep it light and inviting.

What do you need? Friends, Food & Drink, Chinese Dishes & Chopsticks, Laterns or Luminaries, Party Favors

How to execute? (Remember our basic entertaining rule ? always plan and have a list):

Guests: Make your guest list. We recommend that you keep the gathering small. 10 close friends who aren?t intimidated by a Wed night social event work well. However, when you have a small gathering it is important that every person attend so it doesn?t look like you have no shows. Make sure you get rsvps. If your friends are reliable email users, use www.evite.com and select the Chinese New Year themed invitation. If not, send out paper invitations 3 weeks in advance and follow up with a phone call.

Food: Find a local dim sum restaurant. Do not attempt this cooking yourself. If there isn?t one, use your local Chinese restaurant and order appetizers. Call ahead and ask them to fax you a menu or drop by and get one. While you are chatting, find out how far in advance they need the order and inquire about pickup vs delivery. Allow extra time if you are having it delivered.

Small Group (10-12 people): Choose 4-5 items and make sure you order enough pieces for each guest. Large Group: Choose 6-8 items and order ? the number of pieces as you have guests.

Order one or two sweet pastries using the same rule for number of pieces.

Beverage: If you are concerned about it being a ?school night? even though we told you to get over that, serve Chinese tea. If not, serve Chinese beer or select one Asian influenced mixed drink. This is not the occasion to stock the full bar.

Supplies and Decorations: Take a trip to Chinatown and pick up chopsticks, dishes, cups, lanterns or luminaries and little party gifts for your guests. Don?t want to go to Chinatown, shop from the comfort of your computer (or call us of course). Pearl River Mart in NYC has everything you will need and you can shop via internet if you aren’t in NYC. HOWEVER, make a list first. It is easy to get carried away and buy things you don?t need.

Lanterns range in price from $3 each up to $20. Make sure you have a place to hang them without starting a construction project. An alternative is a string of lights that have paper lantern globes on them. Luminaries are also great. Whatever you decide, you want candle or mood lighting for your party. Be creative but use Asian influences.

Chopsticks: Again, don?t get carried away. If you are not a regular chopstick user then don?t buy $5/pair sticks. You can get them in packs of 10 for $2.50 and they come in all different colors and shapes.

Tableware: If you are picking up the dim sum or appetizers right before the party, then you can serve them on platters/dishes or if the restaurant provided nice containers serve from the containers with chopsticks although we don?t recommend this method. If you are purchasing earlier in the day, you might want to invest in one or two tiered bamboo steamers. They run about $7 each. Otherwise, get some nice Chinese/Asian serving plates (square or oval).

Then you need dishes for your guests. This is very basic. Plates, tea cups if serving tea and dishes for sauces. Pearl River Mart has several different designs that come in melamine (approx $4/person for a whole set), which looks nice, doesn?t break and is dishwasher safe. It is less expensive than buying china or ceramic. However, if you eat a lot of Chinese food in a structured setting (take out on Sat night does not count) then you might want to invest in the real thing.

Favors for your Guests: This is Chinese New Year and not a regular dinner party so party favors are appropriate. Again, check out your local Asian stores for inexpensive trinkets. Again, it is CNY so ticky tacky gifts are OK. This is fun, not a gift to the visiting Ambassador from China. Put them in Asian style mini-gift bags or take away containers. Pearl River Mart has a whole section of CNY paraphernalia. I found a ton of Asian themed items for $1 each at Target a few months ago. You just never know where your party favors will be. Keep your eyes open.

The budget (112-195 if starting from scratch):
Decorations: $10-30
Tableware: $30-50
Beverage: $2-20
Food: $50-75
Gifts: $20

If you don?t want to spend that much on a party, here are some ways to cut the budget:

• Find a paper store that sells square small plates in paper. Select a pattern that is plain red or black or select something in an Asian style.
  
• Use Christmas lights instead of buying lanterns and luminaries
  
• Make Origami paper gifts
  
• Non-alcoholic beverages are always cheaper than alcohol

And now it is time to celebrate! (This article is not intended to be a how to for an actual Chinese New Year celebration. It is just a fun party idea for those who are bored with the traditional sit down dinner or cocktail party.)

If you are planning a party, you already know that food can be one of your biggest expenses. However, you can take several steps to cut your party food costs. It is not necessary to purchase expensive appetizers and beverages to throw a great party. A little imagination and effort can make your party a memorable occasion.

Here are some ideas and suggestions to help you save money on food when throwing your next party:

Have a potluck

A potluck is certainly cheaper than hiring a caterer and you will save a lot of time and money by having your guests prepare a dish to share with others. Potluck is fun and you will surely end up with an interesting assortment of foods. To make things simpler, include a suggestion as to what type of dish you would like your guests to bring such as a dessert, vegetable, or salad.

Finger foods are fun

Small sandwiches, chips, dips, and vegetable trays are relatively inexpensive and you won’t need to bother with place settings and bringing out your best china. Simply supply napkins and small paper plates and allow your guests to serve themselves from an assortment of bite size goodies.

Back to basics

Fruit and cheese are excellent choices for casual party foods that don’t require fancy place settings or dishes. Buy fresh fruit in season when you are likely to find certain varieties on sale and fill your table will a variety of cheeses, crackers, and perhaps olives and nuts.

Go Italian

If your party will be a dinner party where fingers foods are not appropriate, you can try spaghetti with garlic bread and salad, or you could find a good deal on pizza that you can have delivered. You will save time and it is quite easy to find a bargain on different types of pizza.

Thrifty Thirst Quenchers

For party beverages, two-liter soft drinks and bottled water are inexpensive and very easy to serve. Provide ice and cups and allow your guests to serve themselves. Tea and coffee are cheap as is lemonade that you make fresh or from concentrate.

Your party does not have to cost a lot of money to be a huge success. Look for sales on the foods and beverages you choose and plan ahead so you will have time to shop around be fore you buy.

Visit www.homeorganizationhelp.com for more ways to decorate your home quickly and easily, and www.freequickrecipes.com for delicious meal ideas.

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