How 2 host an open house????

[akhenaten]

We have 3 children and live upstairs in a bilevel home (MY MIL has an apt downstairs).

We have always had small gatherings with family but have always wanted to be able to host more friends and neighbors...

I have considered an open house..but have never been to one.

Where do I start? What if everyone comes at the same time? We have had 24 comfortably and if people come and go it would be fine...but does it ever get too crazy??

It is one thing for adults to stand and chat ...but with kids ..we don't have an enclosed porch or anything....

Should I attempt it? How many to invite? do you send out different time frames ..to try and help with crowd control??

And then about the food...does it have to be main dish or has anyone done dessert only?

Any thoughts/ ideas/ experiences would be appreciated......

Thanks, Carol in NJ

 

[NMAmy]

I've had a couple of open houses at my home but I've never had one in the winter. I like being able to shoo the overflow out into the yard. Are you thinking of one for Christmas or at another time of year?

I had one for about 100 invitees this summer. Of course, I picked the HOTTEST day of the year so I did have a lot of people inside the a/c. We set up two tents and several tables in the backyard.

One thing to remember is that not everyone will come and if you give a fairly wide time range (say 12:00 -4:00) some will show up at the beginning and leave early and others will show up later.

You need to have enough room for people to eat and mingle. I had a friend who is a caterer do the food so I wouldn't have the added stress--we set up the living room with long folding tables covered nicely with tablecloths and removed the furniture so people wouldn't be tempted to clog up that area. We had a sitting area in our family room and our sunroom and the dining room table was pushed against a wall with drinks. We also had drinks in coolers. I have a fairly open floor plan so there was a good flow. If you have a small space to work with, definitely limit the number of invitees.

Good luck if you decide to do it! They're a lot of work but a whole lot of fun.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You send out invitations with an RSVP with a time that they could attend. Include your email.

Have finger foods on small platters so that they can be refilled from the fridge. Put dips "on ice" so that they stay cool.
I have a Pampered Chef tray that you can freeze and also a couple of trays that I can put ice at the bottom to keep things cold.

If you want to do some hot appetizers or food, use a crock pot and frozen or already prepared appretizers so you pop it into the oven whenever you feel like you want it.

When you have a lull, put everything away in the fridge, that should go.

I would say as far as the kids, make your children's bedrooms "kid friendly" for all ages, that way there is a place for them to go and play.

 

[akhenaten]

Thanks for the suggestions...
I was thinking of one for christmas....but you have me thinking that it may be better to do one in the summer.....

The kids bedrooms are smallish...but I can discuss it with them and "set up " specific play stations....
x box in one and games etc in the other.....

Any other suggestions are welcome!!

Carol