Guest Blogger: Tips for the Rookie Hostess

We have a guest blogger today - Kelly! She's one of our layout designers here at Fontaine Maury, so she's probably had her hot little hands on the goodies you've ordered!

Here are her tips for the Rookie Hostess:

I am not a natural hostess, so I have to work at it. The good news is that I am improving with each party that I host.

If you are following this blog, then you are probably already a fabulous hostess.

However, I suspect that some of you may be like me. You might need a little help.

Here are a few concepts to embrace so that you can survive (and enjoy) hosting a party.

• Plan and prepare ahead.

If it can be done ahead of time, by all means, do it ahead of time.

Preparing before the day of the event will go a long, long way to helping a hostess relax and enjoy the festivities.

Hosting newcomers may want to leave only light cleaning and the set-up of an hors d'oeuvres buffet as the remaining preparations for the day of the event.

• Be calm and carry on.

A hostess should always be gracious and adaptable when spills happen, guests arrive early or uninvited, and any other unplanned events occur.

Being stressed-out and frazzled can make guests feel uncomfortable or even worse... unwelcome.

• It's not about you.

After all the work that goes into planning and preparing a party, it can be easy to lose focus on what's important.

Sometimes a hostess will forget her manners and think the party is a reflection of her genius, but thankfully, it is not.

Parties are about the guests and in particular, any guest of honor.

Don't worry if every detail does not go exactly as planned. Just ensure that the guests have a good time. In the end, that is what a party is all about.