About the Author
Lara Shriftman and Elizabeth Harrison are the principals at the high-profile public relations, special events, and marketing firn Harrison & Shriftman, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Famous for branding companies, marketing, and generating A-list publicity, their special events division has produced many highly publicized events. Their first book Fete Accompli was published last year.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter One
Partyplanning 101
So, you wanna throw a party? here’s how
IMAGINE THIS A gorgeous garden, twinkling with candlelight, and beautiful flowers blooming. Servers in white dresses circulate with trays of Champagne and delicious tidbits—like a sinfully delicious puff pastry stuffed with a smidge of cheese and charcuterie. Couples congregate on plush white sofas and sip cocktails by the bar while discussing the latest Britney Spears brouhaha and, wait, where did you get that dress? I must have it! As the evening charges on the tunes heat up and couples bounce onto the dance floor. Now that’s a party.
SOUNDS AMAZING, RIGHT? Trust us, it is. Unfortunately, the mere thought of putting together even a cocktail party for the neighbors can put some hosts into a cold sweat. Relax, take a deep breath, and listen up. Throwing a bash is simple, easy, and most of all, fun, yes, fun! To illustrate the point, we’ve distilled the finer points of party planning into ten easy steps.
TEN NO- FAIL STEPS TO A FAB FÊTE
1. WHAT’S THE SCOOP? There are thousands of reasons to throw a party: a birthday, half- birthday, anniversary (wedding, one year since you quit smoking or kicked the coffee habit, lost twenty- five pounds, and so on), holiday (Halloween, Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Jewish New Year … there’s even Columbus Day!), the summer solstice, winter solstice, upcoming wedding (engagement, bachelorette, bridal shower), award- show viewing of any kind (Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, People’s Choice, VH- 1 Fashion Rocks, MTV VMAs, and more), a new job … any momentous occasion worth saying woo- hoo!
2. CONCEPT Pick a theme, whether it’s a color or a full- on dress-up extravaganza, and go with it. Some of our favorites include: Leather and Lace, Golf Pros and Tennis Hos, Denim and Diamonds, CEOs and Secretary Hos, 70s, 80s, 90s, Dress as Your Favorite Celebrity, Barbie and Ken, Old Hollywood, Roller-Skating à la
Boogie Nights, Beach Party, Vegas Casino Night … anything goes!
3.ORGANIZATION PLUS We can’t emphasize this aspect more: the key to throwing any successful event is to be organized. Keep track of every single detail and we promise, your head won’t implode! Create a master list that details each and every component, from the guest list to the vendors to the flowers.
4.THE GUEST LIST Before you can get the word out about your fabulous, not- to- be- missed event of the millennium, you have to decide who and how many to invite. Is this a small, intimate gathering? A big blowout? Do you need a host committee? If you have a guest of honor, be sure to discuss who they want in attendance. Mix it up; invite new acquaintances and old faves so guests extend their social network. And don’t forget to overinvite! Out of every ten guests, plan on two no- shows. And always, always confirm guests. Not only does confirmation serve as a reminder to them, but ensures their attendance!
5. MONEY TALKS Okay, you know why you’re partying and who you’re inviting. Now you need to figure out how much you can afford to spend. Again, organization is important. Put together a dream list of everything you’ll need to pull this baby off and then estimate how much it will cost, then add 10 percent. Also, when constructing your bud get decide what is the most important aspect—is it invites or Cristal?
6.SPOT ON Location is everything! It could be your living room, backyard, the local park, the hottest new club in town, a swanky hotel suite, or a classic restaurant, like Mr. Chow, Dan Tana’s, Hamburger Hamlet, or Cipriani’s. Take into consideration how much space you’ll need to accommodate the guest list and what your bud get can handle. Be creative when choosing a location; think of a place where your guests will be delighted to spend the night.
7. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH If you decide to throw your bash at home, there are some basic steps you won’t want to forget. Namely, notifying the neighbors! The rebuffed girl- next- door could bring an end to your night, so let them know of your plans well in advance. Better yet, invite them over so they’re a part of the merriment or send a fabulous gift beforehand to butter them up.
8. THE A-TEAM Make sure your staff knows what is expected of them. This includes hired staff (catering, valet, servers, cleaning, and more) as well as the staff at a location such as a restaurant or nightclub. If you’re doing it at home, hiring help is still a must, even when you’re strapped for cash (your nephew would kill for an extra fifty bucks, wouldn’t he?).
9. GOOD VIBES. You don’t have to be a professional party planner to create a cool, interesting space. Think about your theme and what you can do to make it come to life. Consider the décor, lighting, music, and any extra- special touch that will make your gala the greatest ever.
10. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL. Most important, make sure that you are enjoying yourself, because if you’re not, you can be certain your guests aren’t having any fun, either!
take note Always use unscented candles at dinner parties; an overpowering scent can compete with the luscious smells coming from the prepared meal. Plus, you never know when a particular scent will turn a guest’s stomach. At cocktail parties or any other kind of event, feel free to pick scented candles, but pick one single light fragrance and stick with it. Don’t mix green tea candles with vanilla spice; separate they are lovely—but combined? Not so much! Ever wondered the secret of the best party in town? It certainly depends on the type of party you are throwing and who you are inviting. Take a tip from our hunky Hollywood men about town, Harry Morton and Hugh Jackman.
"Numero Uno. Hot girls. You can absolutely never have too many. Rule &ash;2: Copious amounts of alcohol. You need to loosen everyone up. Rule &ash;3: Amazing music. And last, top it off with flattering lighting. It can make a six look like a nine."
Harry Morton
"Having shots served to the guests at the door as they arrive."
Hugh Jackman
"People, music, food, and locale. All of the above should be great with preparation. The operative word is ‘best.’ The best of people, music, food, and locale."
Michael Michele
Take a tip from one of Hollywood’s greatest hostesses, Dani Janssen, and make a sure statement about what you expect from your guests. This doyenne of Oscar night throws an annual after- party that is the most coveted invite in town. She crafts (and cooks!) a late- night dinner for Hollywood royalty like Jack Nicholson, Clint Eastwood, and Billy Bob Thornton. The day of her party she never answers the phone, which is her way of sending the no- cancellation message. In fact, to cancel, or worse yet, be a no- show, on this once- a-year event means you may be deleted from the list.
So how did Dani cultivate this implicit set of rules? It’s simple—she creates a sensational evening and is tactfully honest about what she expects from her guests. Remember, it’s your party, so you call the shots!
MUST DINNER PARTY INVITES BE RECIPROCATED?
As party planners, Lara and Elizabeth encounter this issue more times than they can count. They throw and attend countless parties, both business and personal. As a rule, you shouldn’t expect a return invite unless you are going out of the way for a particular guest, perhaps by accommodating extra guests or something along those lines. If you’re in a position to reciprocate an invite, consider the type of event you are planning. Is it big? small? intimate? Will the invitee mix with the guests you’ve already invited? If not, then wait for an appropriate occasion or take them out to lunch or dinner. Also, be aware of guests who invite you to an event because they want to attend your once- a-year Halloween Bash. If you don’t want to feel beholden, then don’t attend their party.
Bottom line, more important than responding with a return invite is responding with politeness; a handwritten thank- you card will do.
TEATIME
Afternoon tea is perfect for bridal and baby showers, birthday parties, Mother’s Day, or whenever you’re looking for an alternative to the cocktail party. This British custom dates back to the early 1800s, but the tradition gained popularity during Queen Victoria’s reign and by the mid-nineteenth century, taking tea in the afternoon had become an established practice, with a complex set of rules and etiquette.
Needless to say, planning or attending an afternoon tea can be daunting, so to straighten out the confusion that often accompanies tea, we went straight to the authority, Christian Gradnitzer, executive chef at Jumeirah Essex House. This New York institution features homemade breads, scones, pastries, and sorbet alongside an assortment of loose- leaf black, green, herbal, and fruit teas. Tradition states that the proper way to take tea is to select from an assortment of finger sandwiches, followed by scones with jam and Devonshire clotted cream, and end with a selection of sweets. That being said, there are a slew of dos and don’ts when teatime rolls around. Gradnitzer lays down the law for the proper way of serving and taking tea.
for the guest "Never hold your teacup with your pinkie finger extended. This is considered rude in most social settings. Place your index finger into the handle of the cup up to the knuckle while placing your thumb on the top of the handle to secure the cup. The bottom of the handle should then rest on your third fi nger. The fourth and fifth fingers should curve toward your wrist.
"Do not clink your spoon against the cup while stirring your tea. Swish the spoon ...
