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So you’ve moved into a new home, navigated all the stress that comes with it, and finally settled. You don’t have to worry about the prospect of the chain collapsing, the survey showing up something scary, or the seller getting cold feet.
This is surely an occasion for celebration - and what better way could there be to celebrate than by throwing a housewarming party? You can invite all your loved ones, and create unforgettable memories to associate with your new home.
There are certain housewarming party essentials that anyone considering hosting a housewarming party must bear in mind. Below is a quick housewarming checklist that will ensure you don’t forget any of the key elements of throwing a party that you and your guests will never forget.
The first thing you need to decide is how many people your new home can comfortably accommodate. You don’t want your guests to resort to sitting on the floor. If you’ve got more friends than your new home has room for, then you can always host two parties. Just be sure that the two parties aren’t obviously split into the close friends and the not-so-close friends.
It’s worth remembering that one of your objectives here is to acquaint yourself with the neighbours. Be sure, therefore, that you’ve extended them an invitation. They might well politely decline, but at least then they’ll be aware that you’re planning something, and you’ll be less at risk of getting off on the wrong foot.
Finally, it’s worth thinking about inviting over the people who’ve made the move happen. This might include relatives who’ve chipped in for the deposit, or builders who’ve constructed that knocked-through breakfast-kitchen for you. They’ll appreciate the invite, even if they have no intention of actually showing up.
Next, it’s time to decide when you’ll be hosting. If you’ve just moved in, then partying might not be the first thing on your mind. Some houses might require extensive refurbishment before you’re able to get the party started. That being the case, make sure that everything’s finished before you let people in. You don’t, after all, want your guests trampling through a construction site.
Your choice of food will depend on the style of party you’re going for. If you’re serving finger-food to a standing room of guests, be sure that everything is neat and tidy and unlikely to leave stains. If you’re hosting a sit-down meal, on the other hand, you’ll have a little more leeway. Cheese platters and miniature cakes will almost always go down well; soups and stews are much more problematic.
If your budget won’t stretch to food, you can host the party later in the evening, or just organise an inexpensive take-away to arrive midway through. If you’re ordering on behalf of several dozen people, you may be able to negotiate a discount. Try to avoid serving sub-par food; your guests may well prefer to fend for themselves.
Your guests will have varied dietary requirements, which you’ll need to accommodate. Some might be vegetarians or vegans, while others might have allergies. Some nutritional conditions are more severe than others, so spare your guests the potential embarrassment of making specific requests and serve a variety of food.
If you’re planning on throwing a garden party, then don’t forget to keep an eye on the weather forecast. If there’s a chance of rain, be sure that there’s either room to move everyone inside, or that you’ve provided a suitable canopy. Your guests will find it hard to remain upbeat if they’re soaked from head to toe.
There are several popular variations on the housewarming theme. What you decide will depend on your circumstances, and the amount of effort you’d like to go to.
A dinner party is the perfect format for smaller groups of guests. It’ll give you the opportunity to demonstrate your fancy new kitchen and dining facilities, and it provides a more intimate setting. If you have a few close friends and family that you’d like to entertain, then this is the perfect way to do it. Dress up your cutlery, break out the fancy glasses, and decorate the table with fresh flowers.
An open house is a fantastic, low-maintenance approach to throwing a housewarming party. You’ll choose a given timespan, and guests will be able to come and go whenever they like, even if they just pop in for an hour or so.
If you’re planning on inviting a lot of people, this option is probably best, as you’ll be able to spread out your meet and greets. The only drawback to this approach is the possibility that everyone may decide to make an appearance at once.
If it’s the middle of summer, a garden party is an obvious choice. You’ll have an excuse to light up your barbeque, and there’ll be less danger of red wine getting spilled on your newly-fitted carpets. Put together a bowl of punch and a few nibbles, and kick-start life in your new home. Provided that the weather is in your favour, it’s difficult for this one to go wrong.
This isn’t strictly a theme so much as a workday. The idea is that, with the help of a couple of dozen volunteers, you’ll be able to paint a given room, unpack all your boxes, or stock up your kitchen, in next to no time. This will save you hours of labour, and it can be great fun if you pick the right crowd. However, it isn’t for everyone – some guests might object to being enlisted as unpaid labourers. What’s more, some of them might not shine at their assigned tasks, which will just create extra work for you in the long-run.
We’d recommend that you get all the actual work done before your guests arrive; that way your party will be a great deal more fun!
For your best chance of throwing a successful bash, you should adhere to a few unwritten rules of etiquette. This will minimise the risk of offending your guests or making them feel excluded or unwelcome.
While Facebook events are a reliable means of getting the message out, they aren’t quite as special as a physical invitation arriving in the post. That said, if you don’t want to make a big a deal out of your housewarming party, then you can do away with paper invitations altogether. In doing so, you’ll save on funds that might otherwise be spent on food and entertainment (or loft-insulation).
Many of your guests will want to present you with a little something to mark the event. If you’d rather your guests didn’t bring anything, then you can simply say so on your invitations. Be prepared, however: some of your guests will inevitably bring along small presents even if you ask them not to.
On the other hand, you might elect to buy gifts for your guests. You can buy these in bulk and present them in small bags. Chocolates and alcohol are reliable crowd-pleasers.
Part of the purpose of a housewarming party is to show everyone around your new abode. If you’d like to do this, do it within the first ten minutes of them walking through the door – that way, they’ll be free to relax and enjoy the evening. What’s more, they’ll know exactly where the toilets are!
Housewarming invitations usually stipulate when guests should arrive. If you’d like to halt proceedings early, you could also state when things are due to wrap up. If you’re not fussed, you can write ‘until late’.
How many hours should a housewarming party last? The short answer is: as many as you can tolerate. It’s impolite to eject your guests from the premises, so you should be prepared to stay up late. With that said, if you arrange taxis for everyone at a given time, you’ll have the excuse to say goodbye. If it’s getting close to 4am and one of your guests can’t take a hint, you’ll be grateful that you planned ahead!
