Before gearing up for the new year and new adventures, most of us are planning for end-of-the-year events! Throwing a party and entertaining your family and friends at home should not be a chore. Bring your ideas and style inspirations to life and make hosting a breeze with our tips and tricks!
1. Plan ahead.
Answer the basic questions. What is the date? Where will it be held? How many guests will there be? What type of party will it be? What is the theme? What is the budget? The faster you’ll come up with the answers, the faster you’ll be able to prepare and organize. Set your budget and write a checklist. The framework of your party is done!
Home catering is offered by Serafina.
2. Serve the best food!
They said that guests to any event will not remember what you wore but what you fed them. And so, serve food that will please their palates and make them come back for more. While home cooking and well-kept recipes are appreciated, events usually ask for dishes that are familiar with everyone. Also, you don’t want to tire yourself out before mixing and mingling with the crowd. The best option is to have your food catered by well-known restaurants and brands that have done catering a hundred times they can probably do it blindfolded.
SERAFINA makes the best authentic pizza and pasta in the city. Their party packages will make preparing for your events easy and stress-free. $$
NOZOMI’s Japanese food is always a crowd-pleaser. Their live cooking stations will surely delight your guests. They can even work with you on your theme, design, and supplies. Just provide the venue and they’ll be there. $$$
MARRIOTT HOTEL can take your food up a notch with their quality ingredients and world-class service. $$$
TIP: Don’t forget small snacks for guests to nibble on while they wait for the main meal. Keep these small bites simple and easy to eat. If you don’t have time to prepare or extra money to spend on these, go to your nearest grocery and pick up nuts, cheeses, grapes and chips. Dump in small pretty bowls and serve!
Decorate your home.
3. Clean and dress up your home.
Cleaning your house is of course the main thing to-do in your list. Provide your guests a serene feeling by keeping your house organized. Hide the clutter and pare down decorations. However, it’s a different direction if you’re having a themed event. Set the theme with decors, lighting, table setups, and flower arrangements! Stores of party supplies can be found all over Riyadh.
GOOD SHIP LOLLIPOP is the classic party supplier in Riyadh. From paper plates to balloons, to piñatas, to banners… you will find it in Good Ship Lollipop. This store has been around for decades and it’s no wonder it’s the go-to place for everything you’ll ever need in a party (especially your kid’s birthday party). $$
SPRING ROSE is probably the most popular flower supplier in Riyadh. They have nice flower bouquets for special occasions but they can also whip up floral arrangements for events. $$$
ALSHARK BOOKSTORE is one of Riyadh’s oldest bookstores. If you’re not fond of sifting through the riyalin stores variety of items, head to Alshark Bookstore in Olaya and find your party supplies in their more organized aisles. $
RIYALIN OR KHAMSA KHAMSA STORES are the perfect shops to look for cheap party supplies that you will need for a one-night event. These stores have products that correspond to themes you have in mind. Items are priced as low as SR 2 but the stores more worthy of seeking out are the ones selling everything SR 5. $
Table setting for those holiday gatherings.
4. Set your table.
If you have very limited budget on decors, focus on your table. Be it a casual or a fancy setting, get those plates, utensils, glasses and napkins out. Let your gorgeous dinnerware be front and center at your table. Let those dreamy tablescapes be the talk of the town.
NICE STORES is a regional brand of home furnishings and decor. They offer afforfable tableware and other kitchen tools. $
IKEA is a global favorite, originally from Sweden. Find fun and modern designs for your table (and home) from this popular furniture superstore. $$
POTTERY BARN will definitely add a level of elegance to your table setting with its fine collection of classic cutlery and china. It is pricey as its quality suggests. $ $ $
5. Converse, mingle and interact.
Finally, make it a night to remember! Dinner parties often need a nudge to get the ball rolling. As the host, it’s your role to introduce guests to one another, initiate conversation and maybe plan some fun activities like charades, Jenga or board games. Play some music while you’re at it and just in case you’ve got the right crowd, you might end up with a night of dancing or even, karaoke!
