Moving house ranks as one of the most significant life events. Whether you’re up or downsizing or even moving to a completely new area, throwing a housewarming party is the perfect way to mark the occasion. Better still, the party will give you an opportunity to get to know your neighbors and make friends, which is especially important if you’ve moved to a new city.
#1 Make sure you’re fully moved in
It might sound obvious, but too many people leap straight to the party before they’ve actually completed the move! If you still have boxes lying around the house, appliances aren’t quite installed or you’ve still got a little unpacking to finish, leave the party until your home is more organized. Housewarming parties can be messy affairs. The last thing you want to do is try to tidy a house that hasn’t been properly cleared from the move.
#2 Use the garden
A garden gives you much more flexibility and opens up a range of possibilities for your party – and it cuts down on mess! Putting a gazebo in your garden and inviting guests to a BBQ or outdoor cocktail party is an excellent idea and means fewer people to tread dirt across your new floors. Decorations like hanging lanterns and fire pits make for a magical experience and you might also want to consider a private party bartending service. This means bringing professional bartenders in to mix your cocktails, measure your spirits and serve your drinks, making for a hassle-free evening. Just remember to create lots of shade if you’re hosting in summer or provide blankets if you’re hosting in winter.
#3 Invite the neighbors
If you’ve moved to a new area, this is the perfect chance to get to know your neighbors and make friends. Drop off an invite and let them know who you are, where you’ve come from and that you’d love to be part of the local community. Better still, encourage neighbors to bring guests, further enlarging your pool of contacts in the area. Using a housewarming party as an excuse to get to know everyone in your locale means that you’ll make some long-term friends and feel much more at home in the neighborhood.
#4 Choose a theme
Themed parties are always huge amounts of fun and you have lots of choices. Classic themes like the Roaring 20s (with their Great Gatsby style attire), carnivals and superheroes all make for an enjoyable evening. While fancy dress does give you the opportunity to let your imagination run wild, it is worth showing at least a little restraint. Picking a theme that’s difficult to put together can deter guests and shrink your attendee list. Opt for something fun but simple enough that people won’t have to spend a lot of time and effort.
#5 Invite online
Online invites save both time and money. Set up an event on Facebook and invite guests or use an email service to dispatch your invites. This gives you more control over the guest list and means that you’ll always be sure of how many people are attending. Better still, it simplifies the RSVP process (which can be done at the touch of a button). There’s nothing worse than sending out invites only for nobody to reply, leaving you in the dark about who will be attending. Online invites take this situation completely out of the equation, allowing for stress free preparation.
#6 Consider a gift registry
Following on from the previous point, this can also be done online, cutting down on hassle and time. It’s certainly not essential, but a gift registry is a good idea. Most guests will bring some kind of housewarmingpresent but making a wish list online cuts down on duplicate gifts and ensures that you receive items that you’ll actually use. There’s always a long list of essentials you need when moving to a new home, so collecting these into a registry can be highly effective. Guests won’t have to worry about picking up the right gift, and you’ll come away with a fully stocked new house.
#7 Keep food options simple
While it can be tempting to serve up a sprawling buffet, simple works best at a housewarming party. Light snacks and canapés are far better than more complex meals. Remember that guests will likely want to move around and socialize as they eat, so messy foods aren’t ideal. You’ll also be able to cut down on mess and waste if you keep things scaled back with recyclable paper plates and cutlery.