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Invitations

Invitations always set the tone for an event. They don’t have to be fancy, or even expensive, but they must create a sense of excitement.

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Invitations

Even if it is simply a phone call or an email inviting your guests, why not follow up with a pretty handwritten “to remind" card? After all, going to the mailbox is a drudgery, so a pretty envelope will jump out from the pile of junk mail and some kind of clever and unusual invite can literally be be a day-brightener for anyone who receives it. I am a bit bossy (all of my school report cards mentioned that) so I like to give some direction as to what to wear and what's in store. I think it creates a sense of excitement.

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Guest List

Just like good ingredients make a great recipe, the right mix of people is just as important for a perfect party. You want a balance and harmony of flavors. Some guests are like salt, elevating what is already there, and some are the red-hot chili peppers, really taking the flavor over. It is important to invite a mix of talkers, and listeners, people with different interests and some similarities. I also like to add one or two to the mix that always seem to be the life of the party or at least a little nutty! Another important factor is keeping the party size manageable for what you can afford and the space you have. I am not a fan of the huge parties where half of the phone book is present, and a mix of personal and professional. It is better to entertain two nights (or more) in a row if you have mixed obligations. Remember that just like in decorating, something being a little off really makes the rest of the scheme have a zing. And in the South, we all have a plethora of nutty relatives and friends, we just happen to call them eccentric.

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Music

Music creates the backdrop for the party, playing to the senses and creating an atmosphere most people really aren’t even aware of. That is just the idea—unless, of course, you are doing karaoke or a sing-a-long! Music should complement the mood, atmosphere and theme of the party but it should be so good it's unnoticeable. I love to download playlists by a theme, whether it's season, reason or mood, so I am all set for last-minute entertaining and can simply pop in an ipod and have instant background appeal.

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Music

Live music is great too and becomes part of the entertainment aspect of a party, whether it's a piano player, flamenco guitarist, or bluegrass trio.

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Building A Bar

If I have said it once I have said it a thousand times—a bar is not an after-thought! People usually head straight to the bar and it's where people tend to congregate, so make it pretty and make it useful, but most of all, make it well-stocked. I like to create a little mise en scène and style the bar with linens that reflect the feel of my event, pretty flowers, lots of interesting containers filled with ice, beer, and wine, and some snacks on the bar, just in case the bartender is on the meticulous side with making cocktails. Popcorn jazzed up with some spice or Parmesan cheese, nuts roasted in sea salt and herbs, or trays of ham on biscuits, pimento cheese on toast rounds, or tomato sandwiches made with decadent ripe summer tomatoes on rounds of Wonder bread and a little bit of Lawry’s mixed with Duke's mayonnaise (one of the great culinary wonders!) can make ideal bar snacks and no one will mind waiting just a few minutes more for a refill.

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Building A Bar

I love a signature cocktail and I like to create them to match the rest of my party theme. I almost always serve one special signature drink as soon as guests arrive and then set up small serve bars with a limited selection rather than a huge open bar.

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Food and Menu Planning

Serving the very best of what's in season and serve it simply and in abundance and you will never go wrong. People love to indulge, so indulge them. No one has ever left a party and raved on and on about a low calorie food.

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Food and Menu Planning

You can’t eat the flowers, so put the money toward the food when you’re planning your budget. If you’re passing trays of hors d’oeuvres, serving only one type on the tray looks better. Keep the platters full and fresh because no one ever wants to the take the last one. The same thing applies to a buffet. Empty platters look messy, so keep multiple dishes of the same item ready to go into rotation as soon as one dish looks empty. A buffet table is the focal point and part of the overall decoration of the party, so it's imperative it looks almost as good at the end of the party as at the beginning.

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Flowers

Flowers always look prettiest when they look like they were gathered from the yard, simple and loose, and seasonal. I love small clay pots of blooming flowers, geraniums, miniature roses, begonias or even herbs lined up on a beautifully-done table. I love that juxtaposition.

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Flowers

If you look at photos of how Valentino or the late Hubert de Givenchy entertained, you always see perfect tables with linens and crystal, and then simple, simple flowers. The key is that it's not overdone, so the details really stand out to create impact.

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Flowers

I love to grab a few bunches of flowers at the grocery store and then fill them in with a lot of stuff from my own backyard, including magnolia branches, whatever is blooming, herbs or English ivy or honeysuckle.

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Style

Polish your silver and yourself—a little sparkle makes everything better. Dress for the occasion. When entertaining at home, the hostess should always look comfortably glamorous and be a little more casual than her guests. The right outfit will not only woo and welcome your guests, but also ensure you are confident and at ease. Think long caftans in a flowy fabric that can swing and sway with you in saturated hues or pretty ethnic prints. Pair your dress with flat sandals that have a little shine or sparkle and layer on a handful of dainty necklaces, bracelets, and thin rings for some charm.

Oscar de la Renta caftan, $1,490, net-a-porter.com; The Row caftan, $2,190, net-a-porter.com.

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Style

Style a snug-fitting or camisole-type top with elegant palazzo pants. Look for necklaces that have weight and substance with a mix of metals and stones. The earrings should be slightly dressy, long, and with a graphic, bold feel. (Try fringe!) A chic pointy flat will finish the look and ensure all-night comfort.

Tibi top, $160, net-a-porter.com; Misook pants, $290, neimanmarcus.com.

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