5 senses of entertaining

It's summertime.  A time for outdoor barbecues, pool parties and soaking up the sun with friends and family.  I can picture it now...women sipping wine, little kids running and playing, men chatting by the grill.  These get togethers are fun, a great time to see friends, and even make the heat manageable.    

If you are hosting one of these events during this season of the sun, think about what will make your event shine and stand out from other parties.  The following gives you a structure to put in place every time you entertain and will certainly make your upcoming summer party a great event. 

I believe to make an event memorable, it needs to appeal to all Five Senses. When plan your event based on these senses, your party will definitely be one that will be different from the rest…

Sight

As soon as your guests walk through your front door or garden gate, set their sights on beautiful things. Fresh flowers, lit candles, or a beautifully set table create a welcome that captures more than a glance.

Sound

Whether guests hear ambient music, birds singing, or water falling, sound is an essential component of a successful party. It helps to set the mood, the pace, and the overall feeling of the celebration. No matter if you're hosting a backyard barbecue or a cocktail party, think about the atmosphere you desire and work to achieve that feeling through sound.

Smell

Smell has the power to remind us of our childhood, a moment in time, or a particular person. It has such a strong connection with our emotions, but is often ignored when planning an event.

Some easy and fairly inexpensive ways to create a wonderful smell that fits the occasion are through candles. Buy a candle that has been infused with the aroma that will delight your guests' noses. Fresh flowers are also a great way to fill the space with clean scents. Timing when you bake your dessert or hot appetizer also helps to create great smells when guests arrive.

Touch

Entice your guests to not only study your table and party decorations, but also make the party accessories either interesting or playful enough for guests to want to pick the items up. For instance, display photos of the guest of honor or strategically place memorabilia or items that enhance your theme all around your event space.

An unexpected way to appeal to your guests' touch is to send them home with a favor, a momento to thank them for coming.  Ideas include homemade lemonade in unique jars,  chocolate-dipped strawberries wrapped in cello bags, or a favorite recipe written on a pretty card.  Whatever compliments the event is a nice and gracious way to appeal to touch.   

Taste

Some may argue that food is the most important factor to a successful party. I would say that I agree. That is why I rely heavily on some key cookbooks to help me delight my guests' appetites. The Joy of Cooking and the Best New Recipe are some of my all-time favorite cookbooks. Generally, the recipes are easy and turn out wonderful, giving the perception that I know what I am doing in the kitchen.

By following the five senses rule every time you entertain, you will have all the bases covered.  Happy summertime and good luck with your next event! 

Meghann Kopecky

Meghann Kopecky is a new guest blogger for createmyevent.com.  She is also the President/Design Director of Urbanity, a company specializing in invitations, announcements and personal stationery. Urbanity inspires the connection of friends, family and new acquaintances through fun invitations, unique thank you notes, special announcements, or fresh entertaining ideas . Let the celebration begin.