Even if you don’t intend to host any large gatherings anytime soon, if you have children who will someday graduate from high school, if you ever plan to have a shower for a relative, or if your spouse will ever have a milestone birthday worth celebrating, there is probably at least one big party in your future.
How do you prepare for that without spending too much money all at once at the last minute? Start stocking your house with entertaining supplies and you’ll soon have everything you need for the perfect home party.
Great Things to Have
The Basics – You should have 12 of the basics that match: place settings (dinner plate, salad bowl, bread/butter plate), flatware, water glasses, wine glasses or goblets, and cloth napkins. These don’t have to be the finest china or fancy in the least. If you’ve got 12 of everything – and none of it is chipped – you’re set for a large dinner party.
Tables and chairs - Having extra tables and chairs is a godsend when extra guests show up or your party begins to grow. Have on hand at least two card tables and eight folding chairs, plus square tablecloths in off-white or neutral colors for the card tables. Square card tables are perfect for when one large table isn’t intimate enough, or you need additional seating throughout the house. A long folding table is good to have for outdoor parties and buffets.
Tablecloths – One without stains for each “version” of your tables. That is, the dining room table with no leaves to seat four, with one leaf to seat 6-8, and with two leaves to seat 8-10.
Serving trays - Stainless steel trays are best, because they look nice but can be popped in the oven to keep food warm.
Serving utensils – A large serving fork for serving meat, three or four large serving spoons for serving side dishes.
Crockpots – A large crockpot will let you make chili for a crowd, and a small crockpot will allow you to make hot dips , cocktail meatballs and other appetizers more easily and with less fuss and mess than using pots and pans.
Vases – Have three or four matching bud vases and a couple different large vases for centerpiece opportunities.
Baskets – Have several baskets in various sizes and shapes on hand for serving crackers, bread, chips and snacks.
The right glasses – White wine, red wine, champagne, martinis, beer, and mixed drinks all have a proper type of glass. Even if you rarely use them, have a few of each for when you’re entertaining. DrinkNation.com has photos of different glasses for different drinks. Nothing beats a copy of Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide.
Pretty Good Things to Have
A large coffee maker – The kind of coffee urn you see at banquets and buffets is a lifesaver if you have a really big party with lots of adults. You can make a ton of coffee and forget about it, since it won’t get that burned, strong taste from being in the pot too long.
A punch bowl – A warning: If you own a punchbowl, you’ll get requests to borrow it quite often. You may not think a punchbowl is used much these days, until you get one. If you’re hosting a luncheon, a brunch, a shower, or a tea, having punch in a punchbowl and serving it in tiny glass cups is the best.
Cocktail plates – Having 30 small cocktail plates means never having to buy paper when you have a cocktail party. Your guests will love eating off real plates. Get a set of plain white or clear glass plates and they’ll fit any holiday or theme.
Paper finger towels for the powder room – Guests using your bathroom poses a problem: You want to take out the raggy, everyday hand towel that’s in the bathroom now, but your guests won’t want to use the fancy, nice hand towel you put out for them. Disposable paper hand towels come in lots of patterns, colors and styles and can be put out in a nice tray for guests to use.
A good sound system - a decent CD player and some good speakers that can pipe music throughout your house.
