PLANNING and INVITATIONS

Picture this...

I'll pick a date, invite 9 friends and they can just turn up at an agreed time and we'll have a superb time, eat great food and there will be minimal fuss and cleaning up for me at the end!!

We'd love to think it is that easy. The impromptu, relaxed parties certainly are possible but even the most loosely planned parties still have a few key elements that dramatically improve the chance of all guests AND the host enjoying themselves.

Now if you are the host, the only surprise you want is someone turning up and presenting you with a 1964 bottle of Grange or some equivalent rare drop, almost all other aspects of the evening can be planned prior, anticipated or have a Plan B in place (it's fine to call for takeaway if something fails miserably.....just laugh about it and give your guests another drink). It's a breeze, check out "you're the host"

Now if you are a guest and you've planned to arrive and take over the kitchen for your 3 hour creation, use 4 pots, a frying pan, the mortar and pestle, every spoon, spatula and cooks knife AND the truffle shaver, think again!! A little bit of planning in the weeks leading up to the party can save you a heap of time and ensure that when you arrive at the party you can chill out, catch up or meet new friends and not sweat it out in the kitchen.

REMEMBER....the kitchen will be the creative centre for several other people on the night, so get in, do your stuff and get out. We dive into every aspect of what you have to do at "you're a guest"

Invitations

Smoke signals, flashing neon lights on a blimp, sky writing and morse code are all quirky ways to let your guests know the details of your party, but to keep expense and effort to a minimum we suggest the following options.

Really the only time you receive an elegant, hand written card invitation these days is for weddings. The event is significant, requires planning and will bring together a bunch of friends!! Sounds like your dinner party. Go to the local stationery store and look through their selection of blank or party invitations, or make one yourself. These days you can design your own pretty easily on your computer in Word, or if you have access to Desktop Publishing software put together a fancier version, but really Word will do.

Your other option is an eCard. Your main advantage with an eCard is that you can include alot more information in the invitation without much more effort than the most basic of invitations.

As well as including the usual time, date, address and occasion you can include directions or a map, additional information for the evening (such as Anna - 1st course, Anthony - 2nd course, Coralie - Dessert).

And the added benefit with an eCard is that with some you can track who has accepted, declined or has not yet RSVP'd.

You also have the option of SMS - this is a bit cold and not very personal, but if that is how you and your friends communicate then by all means, flick them out a textie with all the details.

Whatever option you choose you should always attempt to make it something special. You're going to the effort to bring a selection of your friends and family together so why not dress it up a little....and be sure to give atleast a few weeks notice for the party.