Sorry again for the long gap between posts. December got extremely busy and is just now calming down a bit. My holiday potluck on December 5 was a rousing success, despite the dicey weather. People brought some great food and, judging from all the laughing and loud talking, really seemed to enjoy themselves.
One of my secrets to a successful party is to use small plates and cups. That way, no one can just fill up and then plant themselves in the same corner all evening. It forces people to get up multiple times and mix and mingle with the other guests. I use some brightly colored plastic plates and cups I got at IKEA years ago. They're supposed to be for children, but they're great for grown-up parties, too. Everyone comments on the festive colors and cute flower pattern. And they were dirt cheap. At the time, a sleeve of a half dozen cups was only $2.99. They're also unbreakable, which is good when guests get a little too eager with the vino.
Another way to get your guests to mingle is to NOT set out enough chairs for everyone. Again, it forces people to get up and mingle instead of sitting in one spot all evening. Of course, I bend this rule for anyone who has a physical problem (or a baby to hold) and really needs to sit.
Finally, I think it also helps to try to get a minimum of 8 people at your party. If there are fewer than 8 people, it can be hard to sustain the conversation without a lot of those awkward pauses. A smaller group will tend to all talk together, whereas a bigger group will tend to break up into a bunch of smaller conversations, with the participants coming and going as they go back to the table to refill their plates and glasses. So I guess the old saying is true: the more, the merrier!
One of my secrets to a successful party is to use small plates and cups. That way, no one can just fill up and then plant themselves in the same corner all evening. It forces people to get up multiple times and mix and mingle with the other guests. I use some brightly colored plastic plates and cups I got at IKEA years ago. They're supposed to be for children, but they're great for grown-up parties, too. Everyone comments on the festive colors and cute flower pattern. And they were dirt cheap. At the time, a sleeve of a half dozen cups was only $2.99. They're also unbreakable, which is good when guests get a little too eager with the vino.
Another way to get your guests to mingle is to NOT set out enough chairs for everyone. Again, it forces people to get up and mingle instead of sitting in one spot all evening. Of course, I bend this rule for anyone who has a physical problem (or a baby to hold) and really needs to sit.
Finally, I think it also helps to try to get a minimum of 8 people at your party. If there are fewer than 8 people, it can be hard to sustain the conversation without a lot of those awkward pauses. A smaller group will tend to all talk together, whereas a bigger group will tend to break up into a bunch of smaller conversations, with the participants coming and going as they go back to the table to refill their plates and glasses. So I guess the old saying is true: the more, the merrier!
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