Summertime Party Secrets - Make Your Home Party Central

We've all been to those parties where the next day you still feel that energy and wish the party didn't end! It makes you wonder what was it that was so special? The decor? The food and drinks? The guest list? The music? The entertainment? Something else? How do you set your home as the stage and place for something really fantastic fun and memorable?

The answer is that party energy and excitement is not a coincidence and carefully planned in the form of 5 basic steps to a successful party! They are the key ingredients that have been honed and practiced for years by Party Charlie, aka Charlie Scola, a renowned party and event planner who has organized and produced thousands of celebrations from the Hollywood scene, to Las Vegas Casinos, to political gatherings in Washington DC to weddings, and occasions of all sizes and your neighborhood perhaps!

I had the joy of spending time with Party Charlie on my radio show Home Wizards (listen here)where we chatted about how to throw any kind of party at home, any time, starting with our Summertime entertaining and fun.

Bottom line, the key is to think of your guests as VIPs and get inside their heads for everything from the idea, or theme, to activities, food and drinks and their arrivals and everything about your party will make them feel like a star and you the host with the most!

 Party Charlie’s 5 Planning Steps:

1 - Tempt Your Guests – with an Exciting Invitation

2 - Greet Your Guests – with a High-Energy Welcome – and their own Drink of the night

3 - Entice Your Guests – Festive Ambiance (This is where a theme comes in handy)

4 - Involve Your Guests – Give them something to do besides eat and drink!

5 - Serve Your Guests – Fabulous Food and Beverages ( Not just your favorites but theirs)

Creating Energy – the Party Charlie Way:

There is a formula to creating that excitement like the Oscar’s or Grammy’s or at the entrance of a cruise ship.  It’s not that people automatically arrive with that energy, but you as the party host must create it, and it starts with making your guests feel what we all want to feel – wanted, included, and special!

The energy flow continues after the party is over. A great tip from Party Charlie is to take pictures of all of your guests and then send them a thank you note with those pictures, to reinforce how special they are and how much you appreciate them

For more party planning help, from how to set the budget, to how to set the table, check out Party Charlie’s book Party Planning Secrets here.

And listen to my interview with Party Charlie here.

Party Theme Ideas for 4^th of July and more:

Dress as your favorite person in history

History Trivia in a bowl with prizes

Guests make their own sundaes or red white and blue cupcakes

Red White and Blue Non-Dessert – Blue Corn Chips, Sour Cream and Salsa

More Party Theme Ideas:

Art Deco

Arabian

The Beatles

Cars

Casino

Celebrity Lookalikes

Christmas in July

Circus

Egyptian

Elvis

Fantasy

Fifties

French

Futuristic

Halloween

Hawaiian

Hollywood

Jungle

Mardi Gras

Mexican

Movie Themes

Music – 20’s Rock, Disco, Rap

Nautical

Pajama party

Patriotic

Pet’s birthday party

Polynesian

Renaissance

Sports

Toyland

Western

 And don't forget a great music list!

Party on!

Cindy

cindy@cindydole.com