Ladies’ lunches, showers,
spring tea parties, and casual dinners can all have your doorbell ringing and
your table filling up this season. If
you enjoy being the hostess, here is a list of supplies you’ll want to have on
hand for your spring event.
Glass drink dispensers – They
hold more and dispense more easily than pitchers. They look great in a grouping of 2 or 3 with
colorful liquid and perhaps fruit pieces on display. And they make self-serving easy for guests’
refills. Add in a chalkboard area for
drink labeling or a pretty gold dot design, and you have a fancy-but-easy drink
bar started.
Coordinating colorful paper goods
– One of the simplest places to display a party’s theme is in the paper goods,
and there is such a wide array of colors, styles, prints, patterns, and themes
available today. Dinner plates,
appetizer plates, dinner napkins, and cocktail napkins are easy, disposal, and
showy for any event. They help host a
crowd with less clean-up post-party.
Paper straws – For any girly
event, paper straws are a simple added touch that packs a party punch. Display them in a glass cylinder vase
alongside your drink bar or stake them in individually prepared glasses or
Mason jars. They can coordinate with
your paper goods and add another pop of festive color.
Sweet nibbles – Candy and
gumballs that start out as décor and ultimately double as small bites of sweet
treats can add a lot to a spring buffet.
Fill square or round glass vases with loose candy or gumballs or stick
lollipops into a layer of dried beans or split peas for an anchor. If they start to disappear, even better.
A signature – Be it a drink
or dessert, having a signature something for guests to enjoy at the beginning
or the end can be a memorable takeaway that stands out from the traditional
punch or slice of cake. Present it with
a little sign that shows off the crafty name you’ve given it that tells what it
is with a play on words or funny saying in the mix.
A takeaway – Let guests leave
with something small and thoughtful you’ve prepared that goes with the theme of
your gathering. A decorated cookie
wrapped in cellophane, another dessert bite in a mini box, or a glass bottle
drink with a custom label are all crowd pleasers that show you thought of
everything from beginning to end.
Take advantage of the fun
items and ideas that can boost your spring event to a raved-about party guests
are so thrilled they attended because you really know how to host.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 15th.
