You guys, we have been cooking up something big this summer, and I’m so excited to finally tell you all about it! A few months back I got coffee with Jen, a fellow event planner and blogger in NYC. We got to chatting, and started discussing potential collaborations. As an entertaining whiz, Jen is an expert when it comes to hosting amazing parties and gatherings- even in the tiniest of spaces. For a long time I have wanted to bring more of my event planning skills to the blog, but didn’t really have the time to do it on my own. But with two minds at it, everything seemed more possible!
Our goal was simple. We wanted to show people that you can host a great party even in the tiniest of spaces and on a small budget, and we wanted to show them exactly how to do it. We wanted to show a variety of spaces so folks could easily apply it to their own life (so you don’t only have to live in NYC), and give them the tools to make it happen- down to the recipes and event prep timeline! And lastly, we wanted to do it in a way that allowed people to truly work with what they had and not be forced to buy anything.
So we came up with four parties to hold and shoot.We’ll be sharing photos and downloadable planning tools for each party across the next four months. The first one goes up next Tuesday, September 4th, so get excited ! It’s gonna be awesome.
Now, let me introduce you to Jen so you can get to know her a bit better.
What’s your philosophy when it comes to entertaining? There are no rules. As a host it can be easy to get caught up in the details. I do my best to plan ahead, but as soon as the party begins I grab a glass of wine and try to set the tone for the evening. If I am relaxed and having a good time, so will my guests.
What do you want people to remember when they feel nervous or apprehensive about hosting a party? You don’t have to make everything from scratch. Keep it simple and focus on what you enjoy. If you love making desserts, order in dinner and make your favorite cookie recipe. Start out small, invite just one friend over for dinner after work and take the time to set the table. Just because you order in, doesn’t mean you can’t dress it up.
What’s your goal with this series? I hope to ease that initial anxiety people might have about entertaining at home. It doesn’t take a perfect set of dishes, or an actual dining room for that matter, to still feel comfortable entertaining your friends and family.
Isn’t she spot on? Be sure to check back here next Tuesday for the first edition of the series…small hint- it involves a rooftop!
Top photo by John Dolan
this is exciting! i’m always looking for new tips and tricks when entertaining friends and at the moment, my entertaining space is very small. looking forward to this series
xx
Thanks, Samantha! You’ll have to let us know how you like the first post. xx
Such a great idea, can’t wait to see it!