How to Plan A Magnificent House Warming Party

Welcome your guests to your housewarming party.

A housewarming party is your time to bask in compliments and delightful 'oohs' and 'aahs' as your guests celebrate your new possession. Your house is the 'guest of honor'.

Things You'll Need

• A new place to live.
• Invitations
• Decorations
• Food and beverages

Instructions

1. House Warming Invitations

   -Have an artist or friend draw a sketch of your new house.
   -Cut out a mailbox shape from colored paper.
   -Find a picture of a worn down shack and photocopy it, to insinuate that it's your new home.
   -Tie a yellow ribbon around your invitation as a symbol of a welcome home.

2. House Tours

   -Everyone will want a tour of your new house and not everyone shows up at the same time.
   -Decide if you or someone else will give the tours.
   -The other can be the host to greet arriving guests and show them to the food, drinks, etc.
   -Let everyone walk around and mingle on their own. Provide your guests with a floor plan of your home. Label each room with its name and any interesting details you'd like to show off. Leave a tablet in each room to let your guests jot down their thoughts about the room.

3. House Warming Decorations

   Decorate lightly so your guests can see the personality of the house and how you've furnished it. Guests are more interested in seeing your new home than wanting to look at decorations.

   -A few balloons
   -A welcome banner
   -Burning candles and some fresh flowers
   -Place colorful hand towels and a new dish of fragrant soap in the bathrooms.
   -Tie yellow ribbons of welcome on the doors, chairs, tables, and other items inside the house, and even on the trees, mailbox and lamp post outside.
   -For place mats draw a map of your neighborhood to show nearby restaurants, movie theaters, parks, or other points of interest.
   -Have a guest book and encourage everyone to leave you wisdom, suggestions, and encouragement.

4. Food To Serve At Your Housewarming Party

   Food and drink are essential but keep them portable so that people can mill around. Finger foods are best and have several food stations in different areas of the house to encourage people to explore.

   The four ideal finger foods:
   -Dips (sour cream dips, salsas, guacamole),
   -Chips (potato chips, tortilla chips, pita chips, toast),
   -Stacked things (miniature sandwiches, pizzas, quesadillas),
   -Speared things (marinated veggies on toothpicks, kabobs).

   Beverages - Depending on the guest list you should have:
   -soda
   -water
   -wine coolers
   -bottled beer
   -non-alcoholic beverages
   -coffee/tea

5. Housewarming Party Activity Suggestions

   There will be people there from many aspects of your life, thus not knowing each other. A few activities will allow them to mingle amongst each other and find out how they know you.

   -Dedication ceremony with a ribbon cutting.
   -Extreme makeover. Get the group to plan how to rearrange or decorate a room based on the host's unique tastes.
   -What were they thinking? Choose a room that you hate. Have your guests guess the former owner's ages, occupations, and interests and why they decorated it that way.
   -If you've made changes or renovations, be sure to include before and after pictures for your tours.
   -Have a wine tasting event in the kitchen.

   Remember to cater to kids by having a separate area for videos and crafts.

6. Etiquette:

   -You can specify "no gifts" on the invitation if you don't want people to bring presents.
   -Register for gifts but do not include that on the invitation. Tell guest only if asked.
   -Unless everyone has brought a gift, open presents after the guests have departed.
   -Make sure you send a thank-you note to each person who brought a gift.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to cater to kids by having a separate area for videos and crafts.

Resources

• How to Host An Adult Birthday Party
• How To Host A Memorable Dinner Party
• How to Give a Housewarming Gift - Celtic Style