Love spending time with your friends, but hate the stress of entertaining? Feel like every time you host something it costs triple what you'd expected? Have no fear! I'm sharing some of my favorite tips and tricks to create a true experience for your guests - one full of great atmosphere, delicious food and real connection - so you can host effortlessly ... and on a budget!
1. Create a vibe with a soundtrack.
Imagine your party's a scene in a movie. Are you at a metal concert? A smoky, saucy New York lounge? A park in Paris? You can create any feeling in the world with the right soundtrack, from Dean Martin to Katy Perry to 90s R&B to Classical. Your music sets the tone and the pace of your party.
2. Light it up.
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Add magic to your space with big round Dollar Store candles. They're only $1 each, so go crazy. Get 10, 20 of differing heights and group them together in clusters throughout your space ... your guests will be impressed by the ambiance.
3. Multi-task your decor!
Been meaning to grab a basil or rosemary plant to have for cooking? Get one at the grocery store and use it as a centerpiece ... then keep it to grow and cook with!
4. Make a pretty (clever) menu.
I absolutely love this idea from SacramentoStreet.com ... Buy inexpensive brown bags that you use to house the bread, mini baguette or roll for each guest - but first, handwrite your menu on it with a Sharpie. You won't even need to get out your laptop or print anything out! Don't wait til the last minute though - you wouldn't want the Sharpie scent overpowering the food.
5. Choose impressive yet economical main dishes.
An organic whole chicken can be as cheap as $10! A giant fillet of wild caught salmon could be around that same price. Imagine, for $20, you have the main ingredients for delicious 2-entree-feast for 6-8 adults (depending on the size of your chicken and fillet.)
6. Stretch your flowers.
Good news! You don't need a massive flower budget to create a memorable centerpiece. Turn one grocery store bouquet of flowers into a spectacular, expensive-looking tablescape by separating the flowers into a line of Dollar Store bud vases.
7. Mind your palate, not the price tag.
Do you secretly love the $4 Trader Joe's Cabernet better than the $30 bottle? Get the one you love! Your budget will stretch, making your spread more bountiful.
8. Pretend like each guest is the only one.
When each of your guests shows up, greet them as if you haven't seen them in 10 years! Tell them how glad you are that they've come. Spend the first few minutes after their arrival giving them your undivided attention, asking them lots of questions and diving into their world. It'll make them feel so special that you didn't just wave from in the kitchen or give them a quick hug, only to return to the conversation you were having. Once you've finished making them your sole focus, connect them to a conversation with another guest so you can go back to circulating and hosting.
Hope these tips helped! Happy hosting.
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