Socializing and opening presents are at the center of bridal showers, but when games are planned, guests will have a more memorable and enjoyable time. The best activities are ones that the guest of honor will appreciate: a funny multiple-choice quiz about her childhood, or a lively true-or-false game. Don’t forget to award prizes to the winners; soaps, fancy chocolates, or scented candles would all do nicely.
Whether you’re hosting a group for cocktails or a formal sit-down dinner, the preparation stages for all parties tend to be similar. These time-tested suggestions will help you manage all of the details beautifully.
An awkward pause can open like a sinkhole in the middle of party patter, sending you and your conversation partner scrambling for safety. Here are some suggestions next time you need help reaching for the right words.
There are many upsides to throwing a really great party — the rush of self-satisfaction, the guaranteed invites to your guests’ future bashes, the matchmaking/networking/stand-up-routine-honing that you facilitate. The downside? It’s 2 a.m. and your college roommate and your husband’s golf buddy are still rooted to the couch, while your best friend is happily holding court in the kitchen with your dog walker.
There’s no question that a good theme, a cute cake, and clever favors help make a birthday memorable. But games and activities are at the heart of any happy celebration. A little foresight and some creativity will ensure that your next party goes smoothly and the guests remain cheerful and entertained.
A birthday party is magical. You don’t need to host an extravaganza, pay a fortune for entertainment and decorations, or rent the most opulent venue to thrill your child. Kids simply want to feel special, and know that the day will be filled with friends and surprises.
To ensure an easygoing atmosphere, set a drink menu in the same spirit. In other words, have a few good wines on hand in addition to nonalcoholic options and a standout cocktail or two, such as a specialty martini or sangria.
What makes a modern shower work is the same thing that makes any party great: inventiveness, thoughtful touches, a sense of humor, and good organizational skills.
A gift for your hostess need not be extravagant, but a little creativity does go a long way toward making this present surprising and special.
There’s an unforgettable moment on the road to your wedding: It’s when you walk into an event at which people from every corner of your life are gathered together for the first time — parents mingling with friends mingling with other relatives. And though you may feel a moment of alarm as you consider the stories they could exchange about you, there is something wonderful about this first glimpse of your family life as a married couple. For many couples, that moment occurs at their engagement party.
Instead of gift-boxing a tie for Dad this year, why not tie a gift box? Bow ties fit around many small gifts, and both the traditional and pre-tied kinds will work.
While your future in-laws traditionally plan and host the rehearsal dinner, you’re the best candidate to organize the actual rehearsal, since you’ll be the most familiar with all the details of the ceremony. Make certain that all who need to be there have been instructed about time, location, and logistics, including the order in which people walk down the aisle and where everyone stands at the altar.
Cook up a jar of this sauce and give it to the host of this year’s Memorial Day barbecue. For information on how to can, visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Try these tips courtesy of Chef Akasha, the organic caterer to the stars. If you don’t have enough dishes for everyone use products from Recycline, which makes plastic plates from old yogurt containers, rather than going with the usual disposable dinnerware.
Each place should be set with all the glasses that will be used during dinner (except dessert-wine glasses, which may be brought out when the dessert is served). The water glass belongs to the right of the plate, just above the knife. Wineglasses should be set to the right of the water glasses in the order in which they will be used.
Beautiful and durable, crepe paper lends itself to countless applications. In fact, a strip of crepe paper conforms perfectly to an egg’s shape. Glue bands of it to a bunch of eggs, affix tiny crepe blooms, and pile them in a bowl for a simple, elegant display.
Imitation gold leaf is less expensive. You may want to consider using the imitation leaf while learning the technique.
Even short stems stand tall when placed in a lofty glass compote. Here, brilliant violet Muscari latifolium and tight blooms of Ranunculus get a boost in a lush, dense display.
Saint Patrick would have approved of these little green accessories. According to popular legend, the fifth-century Christian missionary to “heathen” Ireland used a three-leaf clover to explain the Trinity.
Flowers and candy are the touchstones of courtship and romance. But handing over a bouquet and a box of chocolates isn’t the only way to show you’re sweet on someone.
Try when you have friends over, or when you’re looking for a tasty snack. Perfect for any occasion.
This delicious recipe can be prepared the day of and chilled, or one day ahead.
Try when you have friends over, or when you’re looking for a tasty snack. Perfect for any occasion.
Try this dip when you have friends over, or when you’re looking for a tasty snack. Perfect for any occasion.
Set the mood this Valentine’s Day with these romantic heart candles.
Hosting a party for The Super Bowl® this year? While watching the game will be the main event of your party for most of your guests, there will probably be some guests that are more interested in the commercials and half-time show. We suggest some other types of games to turn any non-football fan into [...]
Over the centuries, many symbols have come to represent love and marriage. These symbols are also popularly used as wedding themes to fill marriage celebrations with meaning and sentiment.
Why limit yourself to one color when you can choose a great combination for more visual impact? Here are 10 popular color combinations to get your creative juices flowing.
Flowers have always been important symbols at weddings. The ancient Greeks were the first people recorded that used flowers at weddings. Victorians assigned meanings to flowers, and brides assembled their bouquets with flowers to send a message on their wedding days.
As you begin planning your wedding, choosing a theme will most likely be one of the first things you consider. Many of the elements in your wedding will be determined by this theme, which can be something as simple as a flower or a particular style such as traditional.
You are unique — and you wedding should be, too! Here are our top 10 ideas for incorporating traditional elements with a unique twist with the idea of creating a wedding that’s unique, classic, elegant and that matches YOUR theme.
Are you planning a winter wonderland wedding theme? Here are some important ideas to consider to make it beautiful and enjoyable for you and your guests.
A detailed budget is a must when planning a destination wedding. Remember to budget a pre-wedding trip to research vendors and visit the site, even if you have hired a wedding planner.
If there’s any day in your life you’re guaranteed to feel like a princess, it’s your wedding day! So why not take that feeling and make it into the theme of your entire celebration?
The way you word your invitations will say a lot about the style of your wedding. Whether you choose a formal wording or an informal or fun wording that matches your theme, just be sure you stay consistent throughout all the elements of your invitation.
Invitations by Dawn provides brides and grooms a unique way to express their interests and personalities. Dawn’s expansive collection of custom printed wedding invitations, gifts, reception and ceremony accessories are sure to fit any couple - whether the wedding theme is a color, design, hobby or style.
The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s supply bountiful opportunities for expressing joy. We entertain. We cook. We worship. We decorate. And we exchange gifts.
Directions to the dinner party? Check. Appropriate attire? Check. Leaving yourself enough time to get there? Checkeroo. You’ve thought of just about everything. Everything, that is, but a gift for your host.
Unless you live on a houseboat off the coast of East Jabib, chances are you’ve gotten phone calls from friends who unexpectedly announce that they’re going to be passing through your neck of the woods.
Despite “assistance” from the plethora of high-tech gadgets we now take for granted, most of us feel more time-strapped than ever. That’s partially because a good percentage of the population—yours truly included—spends many hours each week on-line.
Okay, it’s quiz time. You done a giant favor for a friend and you’ve just received his only expression of thanks—via text message. What do you think? Would any of the texts below satisfy you as adequate for the scenarios described?
The time for holiday parties is upon us. Although many of these get-togethers will be diversions you’ll look forward to with great anticipation, in the case of annual office gatherings, you may not be quite so psyched.
Can it be ten years since the calendar retired “19-” in favor of “20-”? I’ll never forget standing in Times Square as the ball dropped on that historic night.
There may be nothing so regrettable as an invitation that ends with the words regrets only. I cringe anytime I receive a party notification with that instruction. The concept of “don’t call to say you’re coming…just call if you’re not coming” is, quite frankly, a recipe for party disaster.
We’ve all been there. After a fun night out for dinner with friends, the check is being passed around. Wallets and purses are pulled out.
Thomas P. Farley is a manners expert, author and consultant who has been interviewed on matters of etiquette by the New York Times, USA Today, CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS, as well as on radio stations across the country. As the overseer of Town & Country’s “Social Graces” column from 2000 to 2008, he helped that magazine’s readers grapple with topics as disparate as “Elevator Etiquette” and “Horrible Things People Do in Public.”
Each culture and religion marks the New Year differently. The Chinese lunar year, for example, commences in January or February; the Jewish New Year, which usually falls in September, commemorates what the Jews believe to be the anniversary of the world’s creation. But even where January 1 is the accepted date, customary observances vary.
This homespun stocking is a wonderful way to mark a first Christmas — as well as his second, third, and fourth. Every year, add a new felt shape representing some favorite memory or object that your little one loves.
A coating of fine glitter turns plain wooden dreidels into a display-worthy centerpiece, or string them together to create a shimmering garland.
Yes, location is everything. And, when planning a birthday party knowing where your party will be is half the battle. The beauty of having a party out of your home is you’ll have less to clean before and after, AND many locations provide the food, invitations, and party favors too.
It can be tricky finding the right birthday present for children under the age of five (5). There is so much to choose from, and it’s sometimes hard to justify spending a lot of money on a toy they’ll grow out of quickly.
Ask any kid. The cake is the most important part of any party, especially blowing out the candles. And, while we love traditional cake, it’s fun to pair it with other desserts that fit into the theme of the day.
Having a plan going into the end-of-year holiday season makes it possible to juggle all of the celebrations, decorating, shopping, parties, mailings, gift giving, vacations and so on.
When celebrating a birthday at a party place isn’t an option, having it at home doesn’t have to be stressful or any less fun.
There is so much to do during the holiday season, and it seems crazy to add a party on top of it all. But, it sure is fun to entertain, so that’s why we created this handy checklist to help you keep it together and enjoy the good times with loved ones.
As far as kids are concerned, before the age of four, a memorable birthday party is about cake and presents. Parents, on the other hand, see an occasion for a memorable party.
Michele Adams and Gia Russo took their passion for style, design, entertaining, parenting and family life in general, and fused it into the successful MiGi brand.
Many of life’s big moments are marked by a great bottle of wine (or two).
For the nostalgic, you can now cherish the memory even further by sending
those special bottles to Wine Punts who will transform them into unique
drinking glasses.
Sweater weather is on its way! As we tuck indoors during this chilly season, our thoughts on home entertaining turn to cozy fires and comfort food like hearty pastas, oven roasted vegetables and grilled meat.
With cooler days ahead and tougher financial times to come, it’s no surprise that potluck dinners are making a swift comeback.
Whether you are attending a game or concert it is necessary to remember the importance of a quality tailgate. Done right the tailgate can end up being the best part of the day! To ensure everyone’s tailgating experience is a success, here are five key tips to the perfect tailgate.
Going to a wedding without a plus-one can seem a bit daunting, but it also provides a wealth of opportunities to meet and mingle with other singles!
When you announced your engagement, the first response you probably got was, “Have you set a date?” There’s more weight to this question than excited friends and family realize: your wedding day has a Sun sign and can say a lot about your how your big day will go…
If a wedding is a couple’s public statement of commitment to each other, a honeymoon is their reward for months of planning, organizing and smoothing over family feuds!
Aside from deciding on the right location (and spouse!), picking out a floral arrangement is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make about your big day.
A wedding is the celebration of the loving union between two people — but the bride undoubtedly pulls the focus! However traditional or non-traditional your tastes might be, you’ll be putting extra thought into the ensemble you wear to say your vows.
It’s wedding season! You’ve got your designated plus-one, you’ve bought the gifts off the registry — now you just need to decide what to wear.
The official kick-off to a woman’s personal wedding season is the bridal shower. It’s a great time for the bride’s friends and family to celebrate the lover’s leap she’s about to make — and to shower her with gifts and encouragement!
It’s no surprise: planning that fairytale wedding can be less like a dream, and more of a drain! That’s why so many women find themselves taken over by a Dr. Hyde-esque persona: the wedding prep period can bring out the ugly and unleash anyone’s inner diva!
No other drink seems better suited to a celebration than Champagne, but when those special moments arrive, you’ll want to make sure that the Champagne is chilled to just the right temperature and, when the bottle is opened, there’s no overflow.
To make these handsome place-card gobblers, download the templates; print and cut out. Trace templates onto colored card stock; cut out (use scallop scissors for the base), and snip a small triangle for the beak.
Highlights of dark candles and orange-patterned accent plates add surprising contrast to a formally set dining table. Large resin turkeys that were gilded with faux gold leaf create a centerpiece, while smaller plastic ones, similarly treated, preen around the table with molded beeswax turkey candles.
Create a serene winter tableau with this simple arrangement: birch bark wrapped around glass cylinders filled with plants found easily at this time of year.
Given the economic climate these days, opting to stay home more versus going out to restaurants seems to be the norm. There are still some really fun and creative ways to learn about and enjoy wine, nonetheless.
Tired of attending the same-old bridal or baby showers? Where you sit around, drinking tea, eating crumpets, and watch someone open gifts? So were we. :)
One of the many silver linings of this macro-economic climate is that it’s inspiring many of us to spend more time at home. And re-engage old hobbies or pick up new ones
Man oh man are these economic times harrowing- talk about inspiration for a glass of wine. But the doozy of the economic climate shouldn’t but a damper on your wedding planning if you’re moving forward with your awesome celebration this year.
When starting your life together as newlyweds, what better way to begin your married life with “date night” over a bottle of wine? By starting your future with a new, shared hobby: wine tasting?
