The Cocktail Party: Guess Who's Coming?

by Marjorie Dorfman | More from this Blogger

12 Oct 2006 09:26 AM

You've decided to have a party and now it's time to plan for the event. What's next? First decide who you don't want to invite and then work your way back from there. Consider some of the following options.

Extend invitations by phone if you are planning to invite no more than a dozen guests. The telephone has the advantage of gleaning immediate results, provided you can pin down the party of the second part, also known as the invitee. Learn from telemarketers who claim they can get their hands on their intended prey usually between the hours of 5pm to 9pm on weekday nights and 10-2am (way past my bedtime) on most weekends. Try to make all your calls on the same day. This way, if word gets out, no one can accuse you of inviting him or her as an "afterthought."

There is no reason why you should invite someone to your party that you don't want, but sometimes you may be forced to, especially if everyone invited works together. In my experience, the best way to handle this is to invite the person that you don't want anyway. Maybe they won't come and if they do, you can tell yourself that you don't have to buy Girl Scout cookies for at least two years.

If your party is going to be a bit larger, you might want to consider sending out invitations. A clever postcard is a good idea with mention of all the particulars concerning where, who, what and when. If you go this route, make sure you allow time for follow-up. One to three weeks ahead is cool, as any sooner the invitees may forget, and any later, there might be the problem of baby sitters and other plans.

If you will be inviting people who have never been to your home before, make sure to include a map with your invitation. Whatever you do, remember to have fun at your own party. Remember, that's why you are doing it in the first place. Isn't that so?

Related Reading:

"Cool Cocktail Parties"

Learn more about Marjorie Dorfman

Marjorie Dorfman is a freelance writer and former teacher originally from Brooklyn, New York.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger