You just bought a house and you want to invite friends and family to see it and celebrate this important milestone in your life. If this is a new experience for you, you have probably never organized a grand opening before, and you may be wondering where to start. Such a party can be relaxed, fun and inexpensive, the important thing is to prepare it with a positive approach and a realistic plan.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Planning the Party
Step 1. Make the guest list
You should have the guest list available before you start sending out invitations. Be sure to include friends, family, and co-workers with whom you would like to share this experience in your new home.
- Limit the guest list to a small number of people. It should be adequate for the amount of space you have available.
- If you don't have a lot of space, you could have two or three smaller parties instead of a large one.
- Remember that having a lot of guests means organizing a more expensive party; if you don't have a large budget, try to narrow the list.
Step 2. Choose a date
It sure is nice to invite people home right after you move, but don't do it too soon. You should have time to empty the boxes, decorate and clean most of the house.
Planning a party two to three weeks after moving in gives you enough time to get ready and empty the boxes, and it also gives you an added incentive to settle in the house
Step 3. Send the invitations
Generally, they should be sent at least two weeks before the party. You can advise less in advance in the event of a more relaxed and informal opening.
- Use a social networking service or electronic invitations if you want to send invitations over the internet and cut down on expenses related to the party.
- For a more formal party, you could send out paper invitations instead.
- Be sure to include the date, start and end times on the invitations.
- Ask for a confirmation of receipt so you can properly plan your food and beverage shopping.
Step 4. Choose the menu you will propose on this occasion
Generally, at a housewarming party, snacks and easy-to-eat foods are offered while guests chat, visit your new home, and sip drinks.
- To choose the food, consider the time of the party. If it will be held in a time slot in which lunch or dinner is usually held, the guests will expect suitable dishes. For example, a party held between five in the afternoon and ten in the evening should generally offer a full dinner.
- Be realistic about the amount of time you have to prepare food. If you don't have much time to do this or are on a tight budget, try to prefer simpler courses.
- Here are some classic foods to offer: fresh fruit and vegetables with dips, trays with cheese and crackers, chips or croutons accompanied by dips, rolled meats, rolled meat with other foods, such as vegetables or fruit, trays of sandwiches and meatballs.
- If you have decided to offer hot meals to guests, you could prepare and serve them using a slow cooker, so you don't have to cook that much after the guests arrive.
- Make sure you have the right amount of plates, bowls, serving utensils and cutlery before guests arrive.
Step 5. If your budget allows, consider a catering service
You can partially reduce the pressure of preparation by hiring professionals to take care of the food for you. Just make sure you know how to serve it properly and plan well to pick it up or have it delivered to you on the day of the party.
Step 6. Choose the drinks you will be serving
Consult the guest list and decide which drinks you intend to offer based on the preferences of the guests. If you plan on serving alcohol, be sure to offer non-alcoholic options as well.
- If you serve alcohol, offer a variety of options, such as red wine, white wine, and two or three types of beer.
- For the occasion, you could make a special punch. Many guests like to try new flavors, and homemade punch (with or without alcohol) is often enjoyed at parties.
- Make sure you also have drinking water available for guests, whether it has been filtered in a pitcher or bought bottled.
Part 2 of 4: Preparing the House
Step 1. Empty the boxes
Make sure the house is ready for guests. If you don't have time to empty all the boxes, at least try to free the main rooms where your guests will stay: kitchen, dining room, living room and guest bathroom.
- Hide any boxes you haven't emptied in closets, or stack them discreetly in a corner.
- Remember that, during a housewarming party, guests generally want to see every room, so even those that aren't ready yet should be in order.
Step 2. Decorate the house
While people understand that your home won't be completely perfect during their visit, you should make the effort to hang some decorations. Totally bare walls often make a space seem unwelcoming, so hanging pictures or decorative items can make the difference between an overlooked and well-finished result for your new home.
- Be practical when decorating the house. If there are several children attending the party, it is not worth displaying flimsy trinkets on low shelves.
- Make sure the furniture and objects hanging on the walls are properly secured, so no guest runs the risk of getting hurt in your new home.
Step 3. Add decorative touches to finish the rooms
Strategically located candles, an air freshener and quality background music are enough to make a difference and improve the perception that guests have of your new home.
Make sure you provide enough toilet paper, handkerchiefs, and a towel or two in each bathroom
Step 4. Make yourself presentable
While people will mostly look at your home, it's important that you also look neat when you have guests. Wear comfortable clothes that flatter you. If you cook, you should wear an apron to protect your clothing from food stains.
Step 5. Take pets to a safe place
Some animals are sociable with other humans, but sometimes being in the midst of a large group of strangers is stressful. You could lock them in a room (with food and drinking water) when guests arrive. This helps you keep the house cleaner, and you won't have any problems with phobic or allergic guests. Also, your four-legged friends themselves will likely feel more comfortable.
Part 3 of 4: Interacting with Guests
Step 1. When a guest arrives, welcome them personally
Sure you have a lot to do, but it is preferable that you welcome each and every guest yourself as soon as they walk in the door. Don't let other guests let him in. This is the first impression you give of your new home, and greeting him personally allows you to start the party off on the right foot.
Step 2. Offer each guest a drink
When a guest arrives, hand him a drink. Briefly suggest the various options available and pour him a drink yourself. If he initially declines, show him where the drinks are and encourage him to help himself when he feels like it.
Step 3. Offer guests a tour of the house
You may be waiting for a large number of guests to attend, so you don't have to do many individual tours. Guests love to see all the rooms in a new home, wardrobes and pantries included.
- If you have rooms that haven't been completed yet, ask guests if they have any suggestions on how to use or organize the space. This distracts them from the boxes that are still full, and gives them the opportunity to be useful to you.
- You can safely tell guests that they cannot enter certain rooms. It's your home after all, and you don't have to show everyone every single room.
Step 4. Arrange the appetizers on the tables
You could bring all the food to the table at once, but also organize several courses. You could start with two or three trays of food and fill them when they empty or offer different dishes over the course of the evening. Encourage guests to eat, and ask them if they have any restrictions due to diets or allergies, so you can propose alternatives.
- You could keep food and drinks in separate areas to avoid crowding.
- Offering two or more eating spots is also helpful in preventing crowds.
Step 5. Talk to everyone
Try not to spend too much time with a single guest at the party, hang around the room and chat with everyone. Make sure all your guests know each other, and if you introduce two people who have never seen each other before, try to name a trait you think they may have in common.
Step 6. Please accept compliments on your new home
Remember that people may have different styles and views on décor, and that some of your guests may not have the privilege of owning a beautiful property. Always be kind and sincerely grateful that they went to visit you and celebrate the opening of your new home with you.
Step 7. Serve dinner when you think the time is right
If you're planning a traditional meal, invite guests to sit down when it's ready. Do this when a large number of guests are present, but don't wait too long, otherwise many will decide to leave.
Step 8. Serve the coffee and dessert
Towards the end of the evening, you could offer guests coffee and cake (if you haven't already offered trays of pastries). This lets the guests know that the party is over, and pouring some coffee before they drive home is a great way to help them protect their safety. Make sure you thank them for visiting before they leave.
Part 4 of 4: After the Party
Step 1. Clean the house
Sometimes, scrupulous guests help you clean up before they leave; if they don't, you could end up with a lot of mess after the party. Try to clean at least one room before bed, and take care of the rest of the house the next day.
Step 2. Write thank-you notes
It would be a nice gesture to thank all the guests who attended the party, but you should definitely send a card to anyone who brought you an opening gift. Letters sent by post are more formal, but emails also demonstrate a certain personal touch.
- Be sure to thank them for any gifts and explain how / when you intend to use these items.
- Name a specific moment of the party that you found particularly funny or touching to make the card more personal.
- Propose an additional future meeting to show that you appreciate their company.
Step 3. Enjoy your new home
Organizing a housewarming party has many benefits. For example, you rejoice that everyone has enjoyed your work. Take some time to savor the moment, and your new home. Remember that the party will be just one of the many memories you will associate with this place.
Advice
- Make sure guests know whether or not they can bring a companion.
- It helps you to know what your guests would like to drink.
- Don't expect to receive gifts. If they do, consider them a nice surprise but not necessarily a must.
- Discreetly write down the names of the people who gave you a gift, so you can write thank-you cards without making a mistake.
- You could offer a guest book or a creative poster to the guests so they can write you a welcome message.
