Making Your Party Successful

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 13 May 1961, Page 2

Making Your Party Successful

Just before the guests arrive for any party most hostesses have that nervous worry—“will it be successful." There is no infallible way of making a party a success, but here are a few suggestions that may help the organisers of winter functions. A warm welcome gets the party off to a good start. A glowing light in the porch or hallway gives guests the feeling that they are welcome, and smooth arrangements for the removal of coats and wraps ease any early stiffness. Introductions should be clear, and a guest should not be introduced to too many others at a time. A better plan, especially if the party is fairly large, is to introduce your guest into a small group, preferably with some introductory remark about the new arrival's tastes and interests.

A good way of bringing out a shy guest is to give him or her some thing to do—perhaps collecting empty glasses, or bending round savouries. A cheerful fire adds to the enjoyment of an evening, but it should be guarded if there is likely to be dancing, for fear of skirts catching alight. Numbers The number of guests will of course vary depending on the size of the room and the type of party. Younger people usually don’t mind a crush, although very tiny children prefer smaller groups. A considerate hostess will tell her guests beforehand what sort of party it will be, so they can plan what to

wear, and do not fell embarrassed by arriving in clothes too formal or too casual. The mood of a party is very difficult to predict—it depends so much on the personality of the hostess and guests, and how they are feeling. But it can be helped along with the right sort of music. It is a good idea to have a selection of records, so that you can choose what will best flt the mood of the guests. If the home and the hostess are warm and friendly, the party will be happy too. And when it is over and the guests are leaving, what about a warm drink—perhaps cocoa or a bowl of hot souo—to speed them on their way?

Mairehau League of Mothers.—Mr A. B. Ryan headmaster of the Mairehau High School, spoke on aspects of post-primary education at the annual meeting of the Mairehau League of Mothers. Officers elected were:—President, Mrs F. R. Brierley; viee - presidents Mesdames M. E. Drummond. J. T. Mechselas; secretary Mrs K. F. Pyne; treasurer Mrs R. Shearer. The Christ’s College Old Boys' Association is holding a presentation cocktail party to honour Messrs H E. Solomon and T. W. C TothilL who have retired after many years of outstanding service. Tickets for this function, to be held from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. May 19, in the Memorial Dining Hall at Christ's College, are available to members and their wives at the association’s office.