According to my college-aged daughter, springtime means #DARTYSZN (for those of you without texting teens, this translates to "daytime party season.") While an adult daytime party might be a little different from a college darty, one big element remains the same: It takes place when it's light and guests leave before it gets dark.
One of my favorite daytime parties to host at my house is a Kentucky Derby party. My husband and I have been hosting one for more than 10 years! It usually kicks off our spring social calendar. While we go all out with big hats, Southern food, and mint juleps, you can have a pretty amazing shindig with just a few key steps:
1. Date and Time. The Kentucky Derby is always the first Saturday in May. The race is always at around 6:45 pm (eastern time). Plan your party to start and hour or so before the race and end shortly after, say 5:30 - 8:00 pm (2.5 hours...not bad!)
2. Food. Unfortunately, your party will take place during the dinner hour, so you need to provide food. Keep it simple. We order BBQ every year and ask guests to bring appetizers or desserts to share. I tend to go overboard with food, so I also make Derby pie and Benedictine sandwiches and put out bowls of chips, dips, and snacks.
3. Drinks. Again, keep it simple. Serve mint juleps, water, and pop. If you're feeling generous, put out a bottle of wine or a cooler of beer, too. Keep in mind that more is better when it comes to beverages...you never want to run out of drinks.
4. Betting. Dollar bets are a fun way get get guests involved in the race. I put the names and silks of each horse running in the race on individual mason jars. Guests put their name on a slip of paper in the jar of the horse they want to win, then put a dollar in the pot. Whoever selects the winning horse splits the pot.
5. Attire. We encourage our party guests to don their favorite summer dresses, suits, and hats for the party. Silly hats are seen a lot at Churchill Downs, too (google or Pinterest "derby hats"). Keep in mind, some friends will be eager to dress up, others won't and that's OK.
6. Decorations. Decorate for your party with red roses ($15 for 2 dozen at Costco) and all your stainless and silver trays, cups, bowls, etc. I usually opt for red napkins and black or clear plates, so I can use the remainder at my Christmas party!
Many people shy away from hosting a party until their home is "just perfect." Here's some news for you: No one cares. It makes no difference to your guests if your kitchen is outdated or there's no art on the walls if your living room is tiny. Really. We hosted 30 people for a Christmas cookie exchange, less than 6 weeks after moving 600 miles with 2 dogs, 2 turtles, and 3 kids. Projects in our house were incomplete; boxes were unpacked; there were stains on the ceiling and the floor. Yet, folks came and had a great time. We did, too!
You see, while hosts make the party happen, it's the guests who make the party. So even if you're new in town and feel like you don't have a network of friends (definitely, been there), invite people you have just met, acquaintances you want to get to know better, and folks you think would add a dash of flair to your get together.
Hope your spring "darty" is fabulous! Cheers!
Note: This article was originally posted on my real estate blog "Sarah Sell My House."
One of my favorite daytime parties to host at my house is a Kentucky Derby party. My husband and I have been hosting one for more than 10 years! It usually kicks off our spring social calendar. While we go all out with big hats, Southern food, and mint juleps, you can have a pretty amazing shindig with just a few key steps:
1. Date and Time. The Kentucky Derby is always the first Saturday in May. The race is always at around 6:45 pm (eastern time). Plan your party to start and hour or so before the race and end shortly after, say 5:30 - 8:00 pm (2.5 hours...not bad!)
2. Food. Unfortunately, your party will take place during the dinner hour, so you need to provide food. Keep it simple. We order BBQ every year and ask guests to bring appetizers or desserts to share. I tend to go overboard with food, so I also make Derby pie and Benedictine sandwiches and put out bowls of chips, dips, and snacks.
3. Drinks. Again, keep it simple. Serve mint juleps, water, and pop. If you're feeling generous, put out a bottle of wine or a cooler of beer, too. Keep in mind that more is better when it comes to beverages...you never want to run out of drinks.
4. Betting. Dollar bets are a fun way get get guests involved in the race. I put the names and silks of each horse running in the race on individual mason jars. Guests put their name on a slip of paper in the jar of the horse they want to win, then put a dollar in the pot. Whoever selects the winning horse splits the pot.
5. Attire. We encourage our party guests to don their favorite summer dresses, suits, and hats for the party. Silly hats are seen a lot at Churchill Downs, too (google or Pinterest "derby hats"). Keep in mind, some friends will be eager to dress up, others won't and that's OK.
6. Decorations. Decorate for your party with red roses ($15 for 2 dozen at Costco) and all your stainless and silver trays, cups, bowls, etc. I usually opt for red napkins and black or clear plates, so I can use the remainder at my Christmas party!
Many people shy away from hosting a party until their home is "just perfect." Here's some news for you: No one cares. It makes no difference to your guests if your kitchen is outdated or there's no art on the walls if your living room is tiny. Really. We hosted 30 people for a Christmas cookie exchange, less than 6 weeks after moving 600 miles with 2 dogs, 2 turtles, and 3 kids. Projects in our house were incomplete; boxes were unpacked; there were stains on the ceiling and the floor. Yet, folks came and had a great time. We did, too!
You see, while hosts make the party happen, it's the guests who make the party. So even if you're new in town and feel like you don't have a network of friends (definitely, been there), invite people you have just met, acquaintances you want to get to know better, and folks you think would add a dash of flair to your get together.
Hope your spring "darty" is fabulous! Cheers!
Note: This article was originally posted on my real estate blog "Sarah Sell My House."
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